The Cleveland Cavaliers didn’t make many big moves in the offseason.
They barely changed the roster, and people weren’t nearly half as bullish as they are right now on the core four.
Following another disappointing exit in the playoffs, they parted ways with coach J.B. Bickerstaff.
Notably, that proved to be the best decision they could’ve made.
While Bickerstaff had done a solid job in Ohio, it was time to move on in a different direction, and that wound up being the best decision and outcome for both parties.
Now, the Cavs are thriving under Kenny Atkinson’s tutelage, and he just made history.
With the win over the Chicago Bulls, he just became the fifth coach in NBA history to win at least 63 games with his new team (via Cavs Notes).
With the win tonight @cavs coach Kenny Atkinson became the 5th head coach in @NBAHistory to win at least 63 games in his 1st season with a new team. #LetEmKnow
— Cavs Notes (@CavsNotes) April 9, 2025
Bringing Atkinson to Cleveland has changed everything.
He’s brought out the best in Evan Mobley and Darius Garland, both players whose characters have often drawn criticism and doubt.
The team has been much less dependent on the often-injured Donovan Mitchell, and everybody has played the best basketball of their careers.
This team is deep and versatile, and it seems like anybody can step up on any given night.
Also, they didn’t abandon their strong defensive identity from the previous era; they just took their offense to a whole new level.
Now, they just have to prove the doubters wrong in the playoffs, and while Atkinson is 1-4 in his postseason career, he didn’t have a team like this in his previous coaching stint.
NEXT: Stat Shows How Dominant Cavs Have Been This Season
