March 25, 2025
By KDA SPORTS
Cleveland Cavaliers head coach Kenny Atkinson is widely regarded as a top contender for NBA Coach of the Year, but not everyone believes he deserves the recognition.
During an appearance on ESPN’s First Take on Monday, former two-time All-Star Carlos Boozer downplayed Atkinson’s impact on Cleveland’s success this season. Instead, Boozer argued that Houston Rockets coach Ime Udoka should be the frontrunner for the award, claiming Atkinson inherited a team already built for success.
“Ime Udoka is the Coach of the Year, and nobody’s talking about that. Everybody wants to talk about Cleveland. (Atkinson) was gifted a team that already had All-Stars on it,” Boozer said. “I would say (JB) Bickerstaff in Detroit, because nobody expected Detroit to be in the top seven, top eight in the Eastern Conference. But the Houston Rockets started from scratch.”
Boozer’s comments seem to overlook the impact Atkinson has had in Cleveland. While the Cavaliers had a similar roster last season, they finished with a 48-34 record under Bickerstaff and fell in the Eastern Conference Semifinals. Under Atkinson, the team has already secured 57 wins with 11 games remaining, showing significant improvement across the board.
Meanwhile, the Rockets have made strides under Udoka, going from a 41-41 record last season to 46-26 this year. While Udoka deserves credit for his leadership and motivational approach, Boozer’s argument oversimplifies the situation.
Interestingly, Boozer began his NBA career with the Cavaliers, yet his remarks show little support for his former franchise. Regardless, Cleveland is on track to secure the No. 1 seed in the Eastern Conference—a testament to Atkinson’s influence and the team’s strong performance.
