Kenny Atkinson Named Coach of the Year by the NBCA

The National Basketball Coaches Association (NBCA) has awarded Cleveland Cavaliers head coach Kenny Atkinson the prestigious title of Coach of the Year. This recognition comes following an exceptional season in which Atkinson transformed the Cavaliers into a championship-caliber team.

Remarkable Turnaround in Cleveland

Taking the helm of a squad that reached the second round of the playoffs last season, Atkinson led the Cavaliers to an impressive 64-18 record. This marks a remarkable 16-game improvement and is notable for being the first time in franchise history that the team won 60 or more games without LeBron James on their roster since the 2009-2010 season. As a result, Cleveland secured the top seed in the highly competitive Eastern Conference.

Peer Recognition

Rick Carlisle, the Indiana Pacers coach and president of the NBCA, praised Atkinson, stating, “Kenny Atkinson has long been respected by his peers as an innovative and humble servant to the game. Congratulations to Kenny on a historic season along with this prestigious recognition by his peers.”

Other Nominees for the Honor

Several other coaches were also acknowledged for their exceptional performances this season, including:

• J.B. Bickerstaff – Bickerstaff’s leadership helped the Pistons return to the playoffs for the first time since 2019, dramatically increasing their win total from 14 last season to 44 this season.
• Mark Daigneault (Thunder) – Daigneault’s Thunder dominated the regular season, finishing with the best league record at 68-14, significantly outpacing the competition.
• Michael Malone (Nuggets) – Although Malone was released with three games left in the season, his impact had helped guide Denver to the fourth seed in the Western Conference.
• Ime Udoka (Rockets) – Under Udoka, the Rockets exceeded expectations, clinching a playoff spot for the first time since the 2019-20 season, despite facing a formidable Western Conference lineup.