The Cleveland Cavaliers secured an emphatic 130-117 victory over the San Antonio Spurs last night, but there is no rest for the ascendant Cavs. Tonight, they face one of the toughest tests on their schedule: a clash with the Golden State Warriors.
For Cavaliers Head Coach Kenny Atkinson, the upcoming game is not just a high-profile matchup; it’s a reunion with the franchise that helped shape his coaching philosophy—and delivered him his first NBA Championship. Atkinson served as an assistant coach on the Warriors’ 2022 title-winning staff, and that experience continues to inform his approach as he guides Cleveland’s talented young roster.
In a conversation following the Spurs win, Atkinson reflected on the quick turnaround, his deep personal connection to the Warriors organization, and how he uses the wisdom gained in Golden State to mentor his own players.
A Special Game on the Schedule
When asked if he specifically looks forward to matchups against the team with whom he won a ring, Atkinson didn’t hesitate. “Yes, I look forward to that game,” he affirmed, explaining that the anticipation is driven by friendship and respect.
“I look forward to it because those are my friends. I have a lot of friends over there. So just from a relationship standpoint, I love seeing them,” he explained. Atkinson specifically noted the deep influence of his former boss: “Steve [Kerr] is a great mentor of mine, so that’s great. And yeah, it’s special when you play a team like that whom I had such great experiences with. I love seeing those guys.”
The quick turnaround pits the Cavaliers against the Warriors tonight, Saturday, December 6, 2025. Tip-off is scheduled for 7:30 p.m. ET at Rocket Arena in Cleveland, Ohio. The game will be broadcast nationally on NBA TV, as well as regionally on FDSOH (Cavaliers) and NBCS-BA (Warriors).
Bringing Bay Area Wisdom to The Land
Beyond the personnel reunion, Atkinson’s time with the Warriors remains a vital source of instruction for his current squad, who he knows are eager to absorb lessons from a true championship culture. He is not shy about leveraging his experience to reinforce key developmental points.
“I talk about those moments because I’ve learned, I learned so many great lessons,” Atkinson said. “You know, from Steve obviously, but also from Draymond and Steph. So, I’ll relate stories of stuff we went through in Golden State, and I’ll reference players.”
The lessons are specific, practical, and tailored to the roles of his Cavaliers stars. For the team’s engine, he points to a legend. “I reference Steph [Curry] a fair amount,” Atkinson noted, emphasizing the key takeaway: “His work ethic.” Curry’s storied diligence serves as a gold-standard blueprint for players like Donovan Mitchell and Darius Garland to follow.
For his budding defensive anchor, Evan Mobley, Atkinson draws parallels to the former Defensive Player of the Year. “Draymond [Green], and his leadership and defensive communication, I’ll say that to Evan,” he explained. Green’s vocal command and mastery of team defensive schemes are exactly what the Cavs want Mobley to embody as he develops into a league-defining presence.
“I think they like that. Obviously, our players respect that program a lot and I of course do, so [I’m] not shy about that,” Atkinson concluded, clearly comfortable in his role as both head coach and veteran guide.
Atkinson’s Journey: From Overseas Pro to Head Coach
Atkinson’s current role with the Cavaliers is the latest stop in a long and varied career that saw him transition from a 14-year professional playing career overseas—including stops in Spain, Italy, Germany, and France—to becoming one of the league’s most respected coaches.
His NBA coaching career began in 2007 as the Director of Player Development for the Houston Rockets. He quickly moved up the ranks, serving as an assistant coach for the New York Knicks from 2008 to 2012 under Mike D’Antoni, helping them to a 2012 playoff berth.
From 2012 to 2016, he was a key assistant for the Atlanta Hawks under both Larry Drew and Mike Budenholzer, where he helped guide the team to the Eastern Conference Finals in 2015. This success propelled him to his first head coaching opportunity with the Brooklyn Nets from 2016 to 2020. During his time in Brooklyn, he famously spearheaded a cultural rebuild that culminated in a playoff berth in 2019—a 14-win improvement over the previous season.
Following his Nets tenure, Atkinson returned to assistant coaching, joining the Los Angeles Clippers for the 2020-2021 season, where he helped them reach the Western Conference Finals. His next stop was with the Golden State Warriors from 2021 to 2024, culminating in the 2022 NBA Championship, before accepting the Head Coach position with the Cavaliers in the 2024 offseason.
The wealth of experience, from a Nets rebuild to a Warriors title run, is exactly the championship pedigree the Cavaliers organization sought. Kenny Atkinson is leveraging every lesson learned across his extensive career as he prepares his team for a defining clash tonight against the friends who once made him a champion.
