In the Eastern Conference Finals, a pair of former Golden State Warriors assistant coaches squared off for the chance to punch a ticket to the NBA Finals. After four games, it was Mike Brown’s New York Knicks that ran away with the series, ending Kenny Atkinson and the Cleveland Cavaliers’ season by way of sweep.
Despite being swept in the conference finals, Steve Kerr’s former assistant isn’t going anywhere. According to ESPN’s Shams Charania, Atkinson is set to return as Cleveland’s head coach next season.
Via @espn on X:
Atkinson joined the Cavaliers in 2024, leading Cleveland to the No. 1 seed in the Eastern Conference in his first season. Atkinson was named NBA Coach of the Year in his first season as head coach of the Cavaliers. However, the Cavaliers were bounced in the second round of the postseason in five games by the Indiana Pacers.
In his second year in Cleveland, the No. 4 seed Cavaliers advanced all the way to the Eastern Conference Finals for the first time since 2018. After eliminating the No. 1 seed Detroit Pistons in seven games, the Cavaliers quickly ran out of steam against the New York Knicks.
Each of the Cavaliers’ losses to the Knicks was by double figures, including a 37-point loss in Game 4 to end their season.
Alongside Donovan Mitchell and Evan Mobley, Atkinson will have to figure out how to push the Cavaliers to the next level in the Eastern Conference.
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This article originally appeared on Warriors Wire: Report: Former Warriors assistant remaining with Cavs after ECF loss
Reporting by Tommy Call III, Warriors Wire / Warriors Wire
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
