Cavaliers’ Kenny Atkinson wins NBA Coach of the Year beating out previous Cavs coach Bickerstaff.
For the previous couple of years, with J.B. Bickerstaff as coach, the Cavaliers were a good team — they finished fourth in the conference both years. Last season they had 48 wins, had a +2.5 net rating, and advanced to the second round of the playoffs before falling to the eventual champion Celtics.
Cavaliers management wanted more, so it made a coaching change: Bickerstaff was out, Kenny Atkinson was in. With essentially the same roster in place, Atkinson’s Cavaliers started 15-0, finished with 64 wins (the second most in franchise history), a +9.5 net rating and were the No. 1 seed in the East.
That earned Atkinson the Coach of the Year award, the NBA announced Monday.
Atkinson got 59 first-place votes from the international panel of 100 media members, with 33 second-place votes.
Tyrese Haliburton ignites closing run for Pacers, who stun Cavs 121-112 in Game 1 of East semis
Discover
2025 NBA Playoffs: Predictions, storylines to follow in NBA conference semifinals roundtable
Discover
Engel & Völkers
|
Sponsored
Walk to Washington Park Denver Colorado | $1,725,000
Read More
Skip
Kings make the expected official, name Doug Christie as head coach
Discover
Nikola Jokic, Denver Nuggets advance with 120-101 Game 7 laugher over stunned Los Angeles Clippers
Discover
After being let go, Bicketstaff was hired by the Pistons, taking over a team that had the worst record in the NBA each of the past two seasons. He helped turn them around into a 44-win team that finished sixth in the East (and pushed the Knicks to six games in the first round). That earned Bickerstaff second in the Coach of the Year voting, with 31 first-place votes and 44 second-place votes.
The Rockets’ Ime Udoka finished third. The Thunder’s Mark Daigneault finished fourth in the voting (two first-place votes), and the Clippers’ Tyronn Lue finished fifth (one first-place vote).
Mentions
Cleveland Cavaliers Primary Logo
Cleveland Cavaliers
Detroit Pistons Primary Logo
Detroit Pistons
Houston Rockets Primary Logo
Houston Rockets
Related Stories
NBA: Charlotte Hornets at New Orleans Pelicans
Rumor: James Borrego, Dave Joerger possibilities to become next Suns head coach
Kurt Helin
NBA: Utah Jazz at Minnesota Timberwolves
Jazz extend coach Will Hardy with multi-year contract
Kurt Helin
2025 NBA Playoffs – Indiana Pacers v Cleveland Cavaliers – Game One
Pacers vs. Cavaliers Predictions: Odds, expert picks, recent stats, trends and best bets for May 6
Vaughn Dalzell
Boston Celtics v New York Knicks
Knicks vs. Celtics Predictions: Odds, expert picks, recent stats, trends and best bets for May 5
Vaughn Dalzell
nbc_roto_parlaynuggetsthunder_250505.jpg
02:23
Porter Jr., Williams props worth betting in Game 1
Oklahoma City Thunder v Memphis Grizzlies – Game Three
Nuggets vs. Thunder Predictions: Odds, recent stats, trends, best bets for May 5
NBC Sports Bet Staff
LeBron James on retirement: ‘I don’t know the answer to that right now’
Discover
Jamal Murray drops 43, sparks Nuggets to comfortable 131-115 win over Clippers, 3-2 series lead
Discover
WallStreetViral
|
Sponsored by Taboola
Explore Reliable Solar Energy Solutions for Nigerian Homes
Read More
Skip
John Haliburton, father of Tyrese, apologizes to Giannis Antetokounmpo after postgame incident
Discover
Stephen Curry and Buddy Hield lead Warriors past Rockets 103-89 in Game 7
Discover
About The Author
