Kenny Atkinson experienced some memorable moments coaching the Brooklyn Nets, particularly the surprising 2018-19 team that won 42 games and made the playoffs.
Now, over four years after his last game with the Nets, Atkinson is back on the sidelines, leading the Cleveland Cavaliers. His second chance as a head coach is off to a perfect start.
Atkinson and the Cavaliers aim to make it 11 straight wins to start the season on Saturday night when they host the Brooklyn Nets.
Atkinson took over the Nets during their rebuild in 2016 and remained until March 7, 2020. After his tenure with the Nets, he spent one season as an assistant coach for the Los Angeles Clippers and three seasons assisting Steve Kerr with the Golden State Warriors.
Hired on June 28, after Cleveland’s five-game Eastern Conference semifinal loss to the Boston Celtics, Atkinson has led the Cavaliers to a 10-0 start, which includes former Nets Jarrett Allen and Caris LeVert.
Six of Cleveland’s wins have been by double digits, and the Cavaliers have scored at least 130 points in five games, including Friday’s 136-117 victory over the visiting Warriors. The Cavaliers scored 83 points in the first half and shot 54.1 percent from the field, marking the eighth time in 10 games they have shot at least 50 percent.
In their latest win, Donovan Mitchell finished with a season-low 12 points. Darius Garland led the Cavs with 27, Evan Mobley added 23, and Ty Jerome scored 20 as Cleveland had six players in double figures.
The Nets are on their fourth coach since Atkinson’s tenure and have started 4-5 under coach Jordi Fernandez. Brooklyn missed a chance to go above .500, losing 108-104 in overtime at Boston on Friday.
Brooklyn scored the game’s first 12 points and held a two-point lead at halftime but struggled in the fourth quarter, shooting just 5-for-24 (20.8 percent).
Cam Thomas led the Nets with 31 points. Dennis Schroder added 20, and Cameron Johnson scored 18, but Brooklyn shot a season-low 41 percent and made only 10-of-38 3-point attempts.
The Nets used Ben Simmons off the bench for the first time this season, but he will likely sit out in Cleveland since the team has been holding him out of both ends of a back-to-back following back surgery in March.
