In a candid round‑table conversation, Draymond Green, Cavaliers point guard Darius Garland, and former NBA guard Baron Davis break down the influence of head coach Kenny Atkinson on Cleveland’s recent surge in the Eastern Conference. Green recalls Atkinson’s interview call and his reputation as a former assistant, while Garland describes how Atkinson’s first‑day meetings in Nashville planted confidence in the core four—Garland, Donovan Mitchell, Evan Mobley and Jarrett Allen—by urging them to embrace their "all‑star" identities. The discussion highlights concrete tactical adjustments, most notably Atkinson’s decision to push Evan Mobley out to the three‑point line, which opened floor spacing and boosted the team’s shooting efficiency (Mobley shooting around 45% from three). The trio emphasizes the importance of a transparent, real‑time coach‑player dialogue, with Atkinson providing on‑court notes, scouting insights, and personal feedback that help Garland refine his decision‑making as a point guard. They also praise Atkinson’s rare blend of deep analytical knowledge and a player‑first communication style—he understands advanced metrics but never overwhelms the roster with numbers. The conversation touches on Atkinson’s rigorous work ethic, his recovery from a serious quad injury, and his relentless presence in the gym and video sessions. Overall, the panel credits Atkinson’s confidence‑building, strategic spacing changes, and analytical‑player balance for the Cavaliers’ cohesive offense and their dominance in the Eastern Conference.
Chapters
Kenny Atkinson was assistant coach for us for 3 years. One of my favorite guys, man. I remember Kenny was interviewing for the job and he called me and he was like, what do you think about this job? You know, they got, I think, you know, they got Darius, they got Donovan. Like, what are you thinking? And I was like, well, I think they got the talent, you know, they have the pieces, but it hasn't worked. And he was so excited to get there, to get the job, number one. But then once he got it, or at the opportunity to get a job, but then once he got it and just seeing how he went to work, you know, I got to know him really well.
Mm-hmm.
And I love the way he have y'all moving the ball, man. When we played y'all the first time, I felt like my neck was like this, like, so I turned one time and somebody drove and I dropped and I turned my head for a second, the ball flew by my head and I turned to go back to where I was and you was way on the other side. I'm like, man, these dudes moving and moving this ball crazy. But what has it been like just having Kenny come in? What would you say it is that he did initially, because the season is the season, right? Like y'all got talent, got offense obviously, but what was some of the things that Kenny did initially before you ever even had a practice? Like summertime, what was some of the things that he did to ultimately get y'all rolling to the way y'all are now?
Man, just building that confidence in everybody. Like literally from day one. He came to Nashville and see me just to sit down and talk to me. He was like, I need you to be that all-star guard that you was. He told me straight up, like, I need you to go run a team and go do what you do. Go play with that confidence and that swagger that I've seen you with for the last 3, 4 years before this. So I mean, I took that and I just had that in the back of my head the entire summer. Like, I gotta get to work and I gotta go be me. And he did the same thing to Don. He did the same thing to Evan and JA. So, and that's our core 4 that's really locked in with each other. And then as soon as he got the job, we went to training camp. You know, a couple years ago with JB, he had Evan and JA in the, in like the dunker a lot more.
Mm-hmm.
Well, now Evan's on the 3-point line a lot more, spacing in the trail position. And he's now like, Kenny saw a lot of things that Evan could do on the floor, on the outside, like behind the perimeter. He can call, he can make the right reads and he's stretching the floor this year, shooting the 3-ball a lot more. So that's, that little slight change changed our entire offense for us. Just a lot more spacing for me and Don to get downhill to create for others. And then Evan just having that confidence in himself and his work, just shooting a tray ball with confidence. And I think he's shooting at like a 45% rate right now.
And it ain't on a 3 a game either.
Right.
He ain't shooting a 3 a game. Just that confidence in him just to shoot the tray balls just so he keep the defense honest. I mean, it changed the world for us.
Before Kenny coming to Nashville and having those conversations with you, did a part of you feel like you was possibly gonna ultimately need a change of scenery? You know, it hadn't been quite going the way it has started going for you in Cleveland. You kind of not feeling like yourself before having that conversation and Kenny assuring you like, "No, this is the guard that I need." Did a part of you feel like, "Man, maybe I need to change the scenery?" 'Cause that creeps into all our minds. I've been here for 13 years. Oh yeah. I can't tell you the amount of times I've been like, "Man, maybe I do need a change of scenery," like throughout the course of this journey.
It crept in my mind a little bit, especially a couple times over the summer. But I mean, it was really, really my parents, bro. They was like, just stick with it. Like, you didn't have a great season last year with the injuries and stuff like that. And you and Don just now getting to really have a good feel for each other. Like, just stay with it just for another year. Then with Kenny coming in, I didn't know how it was gonna be. I didn't know how it was gonna work. But when we got to Sarasota in training camp, bro, it was off and running after that. Like, everything was just flowing. Our connection was pretty good at the time, but now it's really good. We can talk to each other often and on the floor. I get a lot of input from him. He get input from me and Don. So— I mean, it's like a working tandem right now, bro, in our relationship. And I remember even asking you a little bit, Draymond Green, about Kenny and how he was gonna be. And I mean, that's my dog, bro, to be honest with you.
I told you, you would love him.
I love Kenny.
Great coach. He know the game. And the one thing that I love, really love about Kenny as a coach is he knows those analytics, better than anyone, but he's not an analytical nightmare. He don't talk about that. Exactly. What I mean by analytical nightmare is he gonna tell you, "Hey, so notice about this number." He ain't throwing it in your face every day like, "Yo, these numbers say this, you need to." And to understand the analytics like he does, but have the feel that he has, that's a dangerous combination, man.
I had him in New York. He used to work me out. He was an assistant coach. He's sharp, he work hard, he efficient. He understand analytics, but he understand players. He like players.
Yeah.
He like hooping. And anytime you find a coach that like hooping and like hoopers, then you give him the little, you know, analytic stuff, it makes it, Perfect for the point guard. I was gonna ask you that with the relationship with the coach, like how important is it for you as the point guard this year to have that relationship and that communication with a coach like Kenny?
Yeah, it's super important, man. Me and Kenny, like we really like this right now. Like no BS, like it's my dog. Yeah. We even talked about the OKC loss this morning. He came up to me when I was getting recovery. He was like, we didn't shoot it well, but they kicked our ass. That's what it was.
That's period.
Yeah. And I just asked him, I was like, that's it? He was like, yeah, get ready for Minnesota. So, all right, you feel the same way how we feel. Like, onto the next one. We got another game coming up. Aaron Sherald will shoot arounds. Like, he's on the floor with me when I'm getting shots up. He's guarding me, trying to get over a screen. He going unders, giving me a hard— He's like, this, this what it's gonna be like in game. And then when I'm done, he'd go over and take a ball, go on the sideline, start working on his handles.
So what you doing?
Don't you gotta get a 10-day? He like, man, I just start. So it's super cool to just have like an active coach like that. Just always on the flow with us. Always getting input from us and then he can receive and then we can receive it as well. And just that communication part, bro, it really means a lot to me as a point guard and have like another point guard coach that actually been through it and she played the game and actually know and actually been around great players. Like that's one of my favorite players to ever play the game.
Yeah.
So I try to get like some little input from Kenny how, What was Steph doing? Like, what can I do to help my game? How can I get over this screen a little bit faster, get my feet down quicker to get into the shot? So just getting like little notes from him like that is super cool.
I know y'all just saw me laughing. I was laughing because a couple years ago, Kenny, with that same intensity, him and Lane, our video guy, got to talking some shit. And so, you know, Kenny like, Kenny, check up. Penny always check up, check rock, always first play towards quad.
Huh?
First play, he was pissed at Lane. He like, come on Lane, let's go. Come on now, you wanna fuck? Come on, let's go. First play towards quad.
I'm crying, dude.
That quad slowed him down before. I'm telling you, before when Penny first got here, before that quad, Kenny was like a machine. He work out all day, every day.
All day. Right?
Like all of that. He tore that quad, that quad slowed him down. That quad slowed him down for sure. I'm telling you, chasing you over the screen and all that, like that was Kenny. Like he got crazy energy and crazy shape. But, and eat, sleep, and breathe basketball. But that quad slowed him down.
He back to it now though, bro. He in the gym. He was, we was at OKC Shootaround. He on the stairs, hands up, running up the stairs. The ball handling drills. He was in a pool.
He enjoying all the amenities. So that's what I'd be doing. If I was coaching, I'd be doing the same thing.
