Kenny Atkinson signals he expects to remain Cavaliers head coach
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CLEVELAND — Kenny Atkinson spoke Monday night as if he will be back on the Cleveland Cavaliers’ bench next season, despite a lopsided playoff exit that has raised questions about his future.
After the Cavaliers were swept out of the Eastern Conference finals with a 130-93 loss to the New York Knicks at Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse, the first-year head coach was asked directly about his job security. “That’s a question for Koby (Altman) and Dan (Gilbert),” Atkinson said, referring to the team’s president of basketball operations and majority owner. “It’s hard for me to sit here and speak for someone else.”
Even so, Atkinson’s comments suggested confidence in a return. “I have confidence,” he said. “In myself, in the group.” He added that roster discussions would come later but noted, “We obviously have to make decisions. It’s not gonna be the same roster. But I love this group.”
The Cavaliers entered the season as a popular pick to win the East but finished fourth in the conference. They survived back-to-back seven-game series against the Toronto Raptors and Detroit Pistons before meeting the Knicks, who controlled the conference-final matchup from start to finish. Cleveland trailed by as many as 45 points in Monday’s elimination game.
Atkinson earned NBA Coach of the Year honors in 2024-25, his debut campaign with Cleveland. Expectations rose quickly after that award, putting additional scrutiny on this season’s performance and on February’s trade that sent Darius Garland to the Los Angeles Clippers in exchange for James Harden.
Despite advancing to the conference finals for the first time in this era, the decisive loss to New York leaves the organization facing major offseason decisions about both the roster and the coaching staff.
Source: Hoops Wire
