Cavaliers hire Kenny Atkinson as coach: Cleveland signs ex-Warriors assistant to five-year deal, per report

James Borrego was reportedly the other finalist to replace J.B. Bickerstaff

By Sam Quinn Jun 26, 2024 at 10:27 pm ET• 2 min read

The Cleveland Cavaliers have hired Kenny Atkinson as their coach, signing the former Golden State Warriors assistant to a five-year contract, according to ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski. Atkinson, who previously served as coach of the Brooklyn Nets from 2016-20, spent the past three seasons in Golden State as a top assistant under Steve Kerr. He is known for running his pick-and-roll heavy offense and ability to develop young players.

Cleveland's coaching search began on May 24 when the Cavaliers fired J.B. Bickerstaff. It was immediately centered around two coaches: Atkinson and former Charlotte Hornets coach James Borrego. It had been widely reported that Borrego, not Atkinson, was favored to land the job, but Atkinson's candidacy gained steam later in the process.

Cavaliers owner Dan Gilbert, who had taken a step back from active leadership with the team in recent years, was reportedly heavily involved in the decision to hire Atkinson. The former Nets coach received an important endorsement from Michigan State coach Tom Izzo, according to Marc Stein. Gilbert is a Michigan State alumnus who tried to hire Izzo himself in 2010, so his word holds quite a bit of sway in Cleveland.