Atkinson wins Coach of Year in debut with Cavs
Briefly

Kenny Atkinson has been named the NBA Coach of the Year after a successful first season with the Cleveland Cavaliers, where he led the team to 64 victories and the top playoff seed in the Eastern Conference. He secured 59 of the 100 first-place votes, surpassing his predecessor, J.B. Bickerstaff. Under Atkinson's leadership, the Cavaliers excelled, with three players—Donovan Mitchell, Darius Garland, and Evan Mobley—earning All-Star honors. Atkinson focused on maximizing player potential, particularly Mobley, who significantly improved his performance, earning the Defensive Player of the Year award.
Kenny Atkinson of the Cleveland Cavaliers has been named the NBA Coach of the Year after leading the team to 64 wins and the No. 1 seed in the Eastern Conference playoffs.
Atkinson received 59 of the possible 100 first-place votes from the media panel, beating out Detroit Pistons head coach J.B. Bickerstaff.
Atkinson's biggest mission was unlocking Mobley, who the Cavs saw as a key to teamwide improvement and designed sets to challenge him as a playmaker.
Mobley tripled his 3-pointers, averaged a career-high 18.5 points per game and in addition to his first All-Star appearance was named Defensive Player of the Year.
Read at ESPN.com
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