Kenny Atkinson’s first season at the helm of the Cleveland Cavaliers was nothing short of spectacular—and it earned him the NBA’s highest coaching honor. On Monday, Atkinson was officially named the NBA Coach of the Year after leading the Cavaliers to a 64-win campaign and the No. 1 seed in the Eastern Conference.
Atkinson beat out fellow finalists J.B. Bickerstaff of the Detroit Pistons and Ime Udoka of the Houston Rockets for the award. The win is laced with irony, as Atkinson replaced Bickerstaff in Cleveland just a year ago, following the latter’s dismissal in May.
Under Atkinson’s guidance, the Cavaliers produced the second-most regular-season victories in franchise history, marking a dramatic turnaround for a team that had struggled for consistency in recent seasons. The 64 wins tied for the fourth-most ever by a head coach in his debut season with a new team.
Atkinson’s journey to Cleveland began after his tenure as an assistant coach with the Golden State Warriors, where he was part of a championship-winning environment. That championship culture seemed to rub off quickly on the Cavaliers. The team exploded out of the gates, winning their first 15 games to match the second-best season start in NBA history.
The Cavaliers didn’t slow down as the season progressed. Between February and March, the team rattled off 16 straight wins—a new franchise record—further establishing Cleveland as a serious title contender.
Central to the Cavaliers’ defensive dominance was Evan Mobley, who flourished under Atkinson’s leadership. Mobley was named Defensive Player of the Year, becoming the first player in franchise history to earn the accolade, a testament to Atkinson’s system and his ability to develop young talent.
Atkinson now joins elite company in Cleveland coaching history, becoming only the third Cavaliers coach to win Coach of the Year after Bill Fitch in 1976 and Mike Brown in 2009.
The honour is a validation of Atkinson’s coaching philosophy—centered on discipline, defense, and player development—and sets the stage for what could be a deep playoff run for Cleveland. With a historic regular season behind them and their coach recognized as the league’s best, the Cavaliers have their eyes firmly set on the NBA title.
