Spanish
Clevelandm.. – Kenny Atkinson, current coach of the Cleveland Cavaliers, was awarded this Monday with the prestigious Red Auerbach Trophy, which credits him as the NBA 2025 Coach of the Year. The announcement positions him above other high-caliber finalists such as J.B. Bickerstaff and Ime Udoka.
Atkinson led the Cavaliers to a historic 64-18 record in the regular season, including a 15-game winning streak and three winning streaks of at least 12 games. Under his leadership, the team finished with the best record in the Eastern Conference, solidifying a highly successful season after taking over following Bickerstaff's departure.
“I got into this… it's a bit of luck too, isn't it?”, Atkinson commented upon hearing the news.
Bickerstaff, now at the helm of the Detroit Pistons, was second in the voting after achieving a surprising rise of a team that went from 14 to 44 victories. For his part, Udoka guided the Houston Rockets to their first playoff qualification in five years, reaching a record of 52-30 and second place in the West.
The award, decided by a panel of 100 international journalists and commentators, adds to other recognitions of the season such as Defensive Player of the Year (Evan Mobley), Rookie of the Year (Stephon Castle), and Sixth Man of the Year (Payton Pritchard), among others.
With this achievement, Atkinson concludes a memorable campaign, solidifying his name among the best strategists in the league and returning the Cavaliers to the elite of the NBA.
