Report: James Borrego and Kenny Atkinson are ‘neck and neck’ in Cavs coaching search

The Cleveland Cavaliers’ search for a new head coach reportedly features a “neck and neck” race between James Borrego and Kenny Atkinson.

The two current NBA assistant coaches are emerging from a crowded field as the Cavs look to replace J.B. Bickerstaff, who was fired last month after Cleveland was eliminated from the 2024 NBA Playoffs with a second-round loss to the eventual champion Boston Celtics.

The NBA season ended Monday night with the Celtics’ Game 5 victory against the Dallas Mavericks in the 2024 NBA Finals. That led to a report linking the Cavs to Mavericks assistant coach Alex Jensen regarding the vacancy, but this latest report seems to indicate the former G League coach is a long shot at best.

This past season, Borrego served as an assistant coach for the New Orleans Pelicans. A former head coach for the Orlando Magic and Charlotte Hornets, the 46-year-old reportedly has seriously impressed the Cavaliers during the interview process.

He reportedly also has drawn some level of interest from the Los Angeles Lakers, the only other NBA team with a current head-coaching opening. Interestingly, NBA insider Brian Windhorst has said that the Cleveland job is considered more desirable than the L.A. position.

Atkinson was an assistant coach for the Golden State Warriors this past season. The 57-year-old previously was the head coach of the Brooklyn Nets. Ironically, back in 2022, Atkinson initially agreed to replace Borrego as the head coach of the Hornets before backing out and choosing to remain with the Warriors.

Finding a new head coach is just one major item of business the Cavaliers will be dealing with this offseason. Perhaps even more importantly, now that the 2023-24 season has ended, they are able to resume their attempt to secure star Donovan Mitchell for the long term with a new contract extension.

Whoever is hired as Cleveland’s new head coach will be trying to get the team back to the NBA Finals for the first time since a run of four straight appearances that ended in 2018. The Cavs will be trying to win a championship for the first time since their only title, earned in the 2016 NBA Finals with LeBron James and Kyrie Irving.