Kenny Atkinson Named NBA Coach of the Year After Guiding Cavaliers to League-Best Record

Cleveland Cavaliers head coach Kenny Atkinson cemented his place among the NBA's elite tacticians Monday, earning the 2024 NBA Coach of the Year award for orchestrating the franchise's most dominant regular-season campaign. Atkinson, 57, steered the Cavaliers to a league-best 64-18 record—the second-highest win total in team history and the most victories ever by a Cavs squad not led by LeBron James.  

A Landmark Season for Cleveland

Atkinson's transformative impact was evident from opening night. The Cavaliers stormed out of the gates with a 15-game win streak, later becoming just the second NBA team to record three separate 12+ game winning streaks in a single season. By mid-March, Cleveland sat at 56-10, cruising to the Eastern Conference's No. 1 seed. The team's 121.9 points per game led the league, fueled by elite shooting (second in field-goal and three-point percentages) and a relentless offensive scheme that maintained defensive integrity. Cleveland ranked eighth defensively (111.8 points allowed per 100 possessions) and first offensively (121.0), securing a +9.2 net rating—third-best in the NBA.  

Voting Results Reflect Coaching Excellence

Atkinson secured 59 of 100 first-place votes, outpacing Detroit's J.B. Bickerstaff (31 votes) and Houston's Ime Udoka (7 votes). Oklahoma City's Mark Daigneault, the Clippers' Tyronn Lue, and Lakers' JJ Redick also earned recognition. The accolade marks Atkinson's first Coach of the Year win, a testament to his evolution after prior roles as an assistant under Steve Kerr (Warriors) and Ty Lue (Clippers).  

The "Core Four" and Strategic Mastery

Atkinson's success hinged on maximizing Cleveland's star quartet—Donovan Mitchell, Darius Garland, Jarrett Allen, and Evan Mobley—while deploying a deep bench. His adaptive system amplified offensive firepower without sacrificing defensive intensity, a balance few teams achieved. "We wanted to push the pace but stay disciplined," Atkinson noted earlier this season. "The league's evolving, and our staff focused on staying ahead of trends."  

From Apprentice to Architect

Before reviving Cleveland, Atkinson honed his craft under two championship-winning coaches. His four-year head coaching stint with the Nets (2016-2020) and subsequent apprenticeships with Golden State and Los Angeles shaped his philosophy. "Working with Steve [Kerr] and Ty [Lue] was transformative," Atkinson said upon joining the Cavs in 2023. "I studied their approaches—how they manage rosters, adjust schemes—and applied those lessons here."  

A New Era for Cavaliers Basketball

Atkinson's arrival signaled a cultural reset. The Cavaliers shattered expectations after a 48-win 2023 season, rewriting franchise records and establishing themselves as title contenders. "Kenny brought innovation and accountability," said Cavs president Koby Altman. "His ability to develop talent while winning at this level is special."  

As the playoffs loom, Atkinson's regular-season triumph sets the stage for Cleveland's postseason ambitions. For a franchise once defined by LeBron James' heroics, a new legacy is emerging—one built on depth, adaptability, and a coach who turned potential into dominance.