Kenny Atkinson to remain Cavs coach despite Knicks sweep in conference finals: Sources
The New York Times • • sports
Key Points:
- The Cleveland Cavaliers plan to retain coach Kenny Atkinson despite being swept by the New York Knicks in the Eastern Conference finals, with no major front office or coaching changes expected.
- Atkinson, who has three years remaining on his contract, led the Cavs to their first conference finals since 2018 and won NBA Coach of the Year in 2025, but faced criticism for key decisions during the postseason.
- The team, which had the most expensive roster in NBA history at $229 million, struggled with consistency and lost two Game 6s earlier in the playoffs before being swept by the Knicks.
- Owner Dan Gilbert acknowledged the team is “nowhere near where we need to be” but emphasized the organization's commitment to building on their progress rather than making immediate changes.
- Key players like Donovan Mitchell and James Harden expressed strong support for Atkinson, highlighting the coach’s positive relationship with the team amid ongoing speculation about his job security.