The 2024-25 NBA season still hasn’t ended, yet the Cleveland Cavaliers have already lost some key members of their coaching staff.
That’s why it was refreshing to see them getting some help for a change.
More specifically, they’ve added a familiar face to the mix.
As reported by the team on social media, the Cavs hired Cleveland native Jawad Williams as an assistant under head coach Kenny Atkinson.
Welcome Home Jawad Williams!
The former St. Edward’s HS standout and Cavaliers player, joins Kenny Atkinson’s staff as an assistant coach. #LetEmKnow pic.twitter.com/qCx43ob0N7
— Cleveland Cavaliers (@cavs) June 18, 2025
Williams was a hometown hero at St. Edward High School who attended the University of North Carolina.
He had a couple of brief stints as a player with his hometown team and played overseas until his retirement in 2022.
He started his coaching career in Japan, serving as an assistant and director of player development.
Then, the Sacramento Kings brought him back to the United States to serve in those same roles.
Atkinson has always had a focus on player development, so his background will come in handy.
The Cavs have lost assistants Jordan Ott and DeMarre Carroll to the Phoenix Suns, Chris Darnell to the Sacramento Kings, and Bryan Tibaldi to Providence College.
At least they managed to keep Johnnie Bryant, who reportedly was a candidate to become head coach of the New York Knicks.
That’s what happens when your team succeeds, and it didn’t take long before Atkinson proved that hiring him was the right call.
Now, the Cavs have to continue scrambling to replace the other members of his staff who found bigger and better opportunities somewhere else.
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