Particle.news
Download on the App Store
9 ARTICLES
·
3w ago

Kenny Atkinson Named 2025 NBA Coach of the Year in Decisive Win

Atkinson led the Cleveland Cavaliers to a 64-18 record and the Eastern Conference's top seed, earning 59 first-place votes in a commanding victory.

Apr 28, 2025; Miami, Florida, USA; Cleveland Cavaliers head coach Kenny Atkinson reacts from the sideline against the Miami Heat in the third quarter during game four for the first round of the 2025 NBA Playoffs at Kaseya Center. Mandatory Credit: Sam Navarro-Imagn Images/File Photo
Image
Image
Image

Overview

  • Kenny Atkinson secured the 2025 NBA Coach of the Year award with a near-record margin, earning 59 of 100 first-place votes.
  • In his first season with the Cleveland Cavaliers, Atkinson guided the team to a 64-18 record, the second-best in franchise history and its first 60-win season without LeBron James.
  • Atkinson's leadership transformed the Cavaliers' offensive approach, emphasizing ball movement and efficiency, resulting in a league-best offensive rating of 7.2 points above average.
  • Fellow finalists J.B. Bickerstaff and Ime Udoka were recognized for their turnarounds, with Bickerstaff tripling the Detroit Pistons' win total and Udoka leading the Houston Rockets to the No. 2 seed in the Western Conference.
  • This marks Atkinson's second coaching honor this season, having already been named the National Basketball Coaches Association's Coach of the Year by his peers.