American coach Kenny Atkinson has been leading Cleveland, the thrilling team at the start of the NBA season, since June, after a journey which took him extensively in France, notably this summer in the staff of the Blues, Olympic vice-champions in Paris.
Although the Cavaliers suffered their first defeat on Tuesday against champion Boston (120-117), their 15 victories in a row to start the season made an impression.
The Cavaliers, with their electric pace and fluid ball movement, lead the NBA in points scored average and offensive ratio (number of points scored per 100 possessions). They rely on Donovan Mitchell (25.3 points on average) but above all on multiple threats, with six players averaging more than 10 points.
“It’s quite rare. We have this incredible chemistry and immense understanding and respect for each other. It’s beautiful to see”commented Atkinson before experiencing his first defeat at the head of the « Cavs »obviously in the lead in the East.
His second NBA club
“What impresses me about their team is the division of dangers and their collective capital of trust, in addition to having two very strong +big men+”greeted ex-coach Jacques Monclar on beIN Sports, mentioning the two in-form interiors Evan Mobley and Jarrett Allen.
Behind this success is a new coach, Kenny Atkinson, appointed at the end of June to replace JB Bickerstaff, after an elimination in the 2nd round of the play-offs by Boston.
The 57-year-old American leads his second NBA team after Brooklyn from 2016 to 2020, which he recovered from decline then led to the play-offs in 2019.
Atkinson made his mark and his networks as an assistant with renowned coaches in New York (2008-2012, Mike D’Antoni), Atlanta (2012-2016, Mike Budenholzer) then at the Golden State Warriors with Steve Kerr (2021-2024), with a championship title up for grabs in 2022.
Cleveland Cavaliers head coach Kenny Atkinson during an NBA game against the Boston Celtics at TD Garden in Boston on Nov. 19, 2024 / Winslow Townson / GETTY IMAGES NORTH AMERICA/AFP
Before this classic career as an NBA coach, the ex-leader born in New York had spent time in the shadows on European and particularly French courts as a player, first in Montpellier in 1999 then at Golbey-Epinal, Mulhouse, Evreux and Nantes.
Having become an assistant in Paris, he was called by Houston in 2007 to supervise player development and thus began his NBA adventure.
“Asset”
Atkinson returned to France this summer as assistant to Vincent Collet, to lead the French team to a silver medal at the Paris Olympics.
Collet had explained to what extent the American had been valuable in his work analyzing opponents, particularly NBA players.
After two trips to the United States following his appointment, Atkinson showed himself to be busy on the Blues bench during a crazy final phase at Bercy, until the match for gold lost against the United States.
Among the French captains, Nando De Colo had enjoyed being around “a different culture”and Evan Fournier to emphasize “his knowledge of the game and NBA players”.
“Having someone who knows these players, who knows their personal tendencies, who knows their weaknesses, is a big asset”had added the tricolor to the 12 NBA seasons that left this summer for Olympiakos.
From his adventure with the Blues, Atkinson kept “six concepts that I want to apply in the NBA”he indicated in an interview with the French basketball federation.
Cleveland Cavaliers guard Donovan Mitchell (r.) and his coach Kenny Atksinson (l.) during an NBA game against the Celtics, in Boston, November 19, 2024 / Winslow Townson / GETTY IMAGES NORTH AMERICA/AFP
More than concepts, Atkinson partly brought with him Vincent Collet, who, after 15 years at the head of the national team and various French clubs, now works as a consultant for Cleveland, without being part of the staff.
If the play-offs are still far away, the start of the season and the quality of the game displayed can make the Ohio franchise dream, eight years after its only title in the wake of LeBron James (2016).
