On Monday, Cleveland Cavaliers head coach Kenny Atkinson gained the NBA’s Coach of the Yr award. Nevertheless, primarily based on latest historical past, that is hardly a trigger for celebration.
If an NBA coach needs long-term job stability, arguably the very last thing he ought to do is incomes COY honors.
Of the ten earlier winners earlier than Atkinson, solely three (Steve Kerr, 2016; Tom Thibodeau, 2021; Mark Daigneault, 2024) are with the staff they gained the award.
Former Kings head coach Mike Brown, the 2023 winner, was fired 31 video games into this season, lower than two years after being named the league’s greatest coach.
Former Suns coach Monty Williams gained the 2022 award and was fired a yr later after taking Phoenix to the West semifinals.
Nick Nurse (2020) and Dwayne Casey (2018) additionally did not have a lot time to have fun their success, with Nurse lasting simply three seasons after profitable an NBA title and Casey being fired the offseason instantly following his COY win.
NBA groups do not hesitate to discard coaches, even ones with spectacular resumes. In April, the Nuggets shockingly fired former head coach Mike Malone lower than two years after profitable an NBA championship and regardless of posting a 471-327 (.590) document in 10 seasons.
The Grizzlies fired former coach Taylor Jenkins after he went 250-214 (.539) in six seasons, together with 44-29 by way of 73 video games in 2024-25.
Atkinson’s COY win will not shield him if the Cavs, who went 64-18 throughout the common season (their second-best document all-time) stumble subsequent season. If something, it’s going to solely apply stress on Atkinson to maintain Cleveland within the Jap Convention’s prime tier.
A lot for Atkinson’s Coach of the Yr accolade being a reason for celebration. Just lately, it has been a curse.
