An Update On Kenny Atkinson’s Job Security With Cavs
Could he be fired for Cleveland's disappointing 2025-26?
The Cleveland Cavaliers have been a huge disappointment this season after such a dominant start to last season. As of Monday, the Cavs were 15-14 this year. They’d dropped eight of 11, and no one really understands why this team is struggling so much. The talent is there.
Naturally, some people are pointing the finger at Cavs head coach Kenny Atkinson, despite the wonderful job that Atkinson did in 2024-25.
Marc Stein’s column for The Stein Line that dropped on Sunday even suggested that coaching circles are starting to wonder if Atkinson’s seat is growing a tad warm in Cleveland.
This report arrived on the heels of other reports suggesting that Cavs owner Dan Gilber is not pleased at all with the team’s losing ways and has recently taken a more hands-on approach.
Even so, an Atkinson firing is far from likely at this point, according to Hoops Wire’s Sam Amico, who cited Stein’s report in explaining why.
“Any talk of an imminent move appears premature,” Amico wrote on Monday.
“A source tells Stein that Gilbert’s frustration is unlikely to lead to a quick trigger being pulled. Gilbert was one of Atkinson’s strongest advocates during the hiring process, favoring him over James Borrego, who now finds himself running things on an interim basis in New Orleans. Bottom line? The noise is there. The patience likely still is, too. But the Cavs need to steady things soon, or this noise is only gonna grow louder.”
Atkinson’s NBA coaching journey began as an assistant with the New York Knicks from 2008 to 2012, followed by a stint with the Atlanta Hawks until 2016. He earned his first head coaching role with the Brooklyn Nets in 2016, guiding the team through a rebuild. Over four seasons, he compiled a 118-190 regular-season record, including a playoff appearance in 2019 where they fell in the first round to the Philadelphia 76ers.
After parting ways with the Nets in 2020, Atkinson joined the Los Angeles Clippers as an assistant for one season, then moved to the Golden State Warriors from 2021 to 2024, contributing to their 2022 NBA championship. In 2022, he nearly accepted the Charlotte Hornets’ head job but withdrew.
Hired by the Cleveland Cavaliers in June 2024, Atkinson led them to a historic 15-0 start last season, finishing 64-18. Atkinson earned NBA Coach of the Year honors in May 2025, along with the NBCA award in April.
