The Cleveland Cavaliers are set to sign Golden State Warriors assistant coach Kenny Atkinson and make him the franchise’s head coach, according to ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski.

Atkinson has been an assistant for the Warriors for over three years, winning a title with the team in 2022. He notably agreed to coach the Charlotte Hornets in 2023 but ultimately chose to remain with Golden State. Now, Atkinson will take over a Cavaliers team fresh from an Eastern Conference semifinals appearance and again take on the head coaching challenge. 

Atkinson was the head coach of the resurgent Brooklyn Nets team that made the playoffs in 2019, coaching D’Angelo Russell into an all-star season with young studs Caris LeVert and Jarrett Allen. In Cleveland, he will be reunited again with Allen while bringing his touted player development prowess with the franchise to unlock the potential of young star big man Evan Mobley.

Atkinson was one of the final two head coaches that the Cavaliers screened. The other one was James Borrego of the New Orleans Hornets. The Cavaliers valued Atkinson’s player development program and envisioned Mobley going through it, helping with the final hiring decision.

With the head coaching vacancy done and sealed, Cleveland will now turn their attention to closing a deal for star guard Donovan Mitchell, as the two sides negotiate a full max extension deal to keep the all-star in the city.