At the end of last season, some Cleveland Cavaliers fans were uncertain about the future of their team.
Right now, things are looking better than ever.
The impact of head coach Kenny Atkinson cannot be overstated.
In his first year leading the team, Atkinson has taken them to the next level and made them true championship contenders.
Because of that, he has a great shot at winning Coach of the Year, according to Andy Bailey at Bleacher Report.
“He quickly (presumably before the season even started) figured out how to effectively stagger both the minutes and responsibilities of seemingly overlapping talents like Donovan Mitchell and Darius Garland at the guard spots and Evan Mobley and Jarrett Allen inside,” Bailey said. “And the way he wove everything together on both ends of the floor helped Cleveland finish the season with the league’s best offense and a top-10 defense.”
Bailey said that Atkinson “smashed” expectations, and that is a very valid description of his work.
The Cavaliers were far from the worst team in the East, but there was a lot of room for growth.
However, the front office didn’t make massive roster changes in the summer, so some people wondered how much success Atkinson would have.
Turns out, he didn’t need a new slate of players to push the Cavaliers forward.
He took the existing roster and helped it grow and evolve in huge ways, and nearly every player in Cleveland is better this year.
There has been tough competition for Coach of the Year in 2024-25, especially from JB Bickerstaff, who has done something remarkable with the Detroit Pistons.
But it feels like this prize is Atkinson’s to lose, and with good reason.
NEXT: Kenny Atkinson Sends Message About Cavs Bench After Close Loss To Pacers
