The Cleveland Cavaliers have reportedly found their new head coach, and it’s someone who has earned a reputation for player development: Kenny Atkinson.
Atkinson will get a chance to coach up a young Cavs core, and according to ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski, the organization is especially excited about the impact the new skipper will have on rising star Evan Mobley.
It’s no secret that Mobley has virtually all of the tools necessary to evolve into one of the NBA’s elite players, but his development has moved slowly at times since he put together a stellar rookie season.
On defense, Mobley was a star the second he stepped foot on an NBA court, but it’s his offensive game that still has plenty of room for improvement.
The 23-year-old did have a solid rookie season on offense, averaging 15.0 points per game while immediately being trusted as a starter. But over the next two seasons, he didn’t take the scoring leap that many were looking for, with the youngster maxing out at 16.2 points per game in the 2022-23 season before averaging 15.7 points per game this past season.
To his credit, he has gotten more efficient each season, and in the 2023-24 campaign, his 3-point shot looked better than ever. But he remains a bit timid at times, and he will likely need to become more aggressive in order to truly reach his full potential.
With any luck, Atkinson will be able to help, and the Cavs will reap the benefits. If Cleveland does ultimately keep its current core together, it’s entirely possible that the team’s ceiling will depend on how much Mobley can improve.
Winning a playoff series for the first time in years wasn’t enough for the Cavs to keep former head coach J.B. Bickerstaff around, a clear indication that the organization has bigger goals than just marginal playoff success. Under Atkinson, Cleveland will look to get to the next level and ultimately contend for another NBA title. The Cavs haven’t reached the NBA Finals since 2018, when hometown hero LeBron James was still with the team.
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