The Cavaliers’ Wine & Gold Scrimmage at Public Auditorium had the usual mix of basketball and showmanship, but the moment everyone will remember belonged to Kenny Atkinson.
While players took turns in a half-court shooting drill, the coach stepped into the action and drained a shot on his first try. The crowd erupted, and Atkinson’s reaction made it clear he was just as caught up in the moment as everyone else in the building.
🫡 LEAVE IT TO COACH! #LetEmKnow pic.twitter.com/pKnQnBoZB6
It was a fitting little spotlight for a coach who has some shooting bona fides of his own. Atkinson played at the University of Richmond, where he averaged 18 points per game as a senior. He hit 41% of his threes that season and made 2.4 per game.
By now, Atkinson is already well-liked in Cleveland, and this only gave fans another reason to enjoy having him around. He’s entering his third year leading the Cavaliers, and the goal remains the same: get the franchise where only Tyronn Lue and David Blatt have taken it before, the NBA Finals.
The half-court shot was just one part of a lively day. The scrimmage also featured strong play from the team’s stars and karaoke from the rookies. With the season opener five days away, the whole event had the feel of a group that was loose and having fun.
Atkinson has reason to feel optimistic, too. The front office made moves this summer, and he has been praising newcomer Mario Hezonja. He also has two star guards in the backcourt and a frontcourt that has done its part in recent years.
The Cavaliers believe they have the pieces to handle what’s coming, and their first test comes Thursday against the Sixers. If Atkinson needs to keep contributing from deep to bring some extra juice, he’s already shown he can do it.
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Jarrett Allen Just Put Clevelands Biggest Lineup Question In Focus
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The encouraging part for the Cavs is that Allen sounded confident the group can be sharper with a steadier run together this year, especially if the roster gets the kind of uninterrupted stretch it lacked before. For a team that has spent plenty of time trying to answer how its best pieces fit in high-leverage moments, that kind of continuity may end up mattering as much as anything else. [Read more 🡒]
Jaylon Tyson Is Forcing A New Coaching Challenge For The Cavs
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The coaching challenge now is less about talent than tone. Atkinson said Tyson responds best to positive coaching, which is a useful note for a young player trying to carve out his place on a veteran-minded team, especially with Cleveland holding a team option on him for the 2027-28 season that must be decided by Oct. 31. For a player still trying to secure his long-term standing, the next stretch could say a lot about how the Cavs plan to handle him moving forward. [Read more 🡒]
Jarrett Allen Just Gave Cavs Fans Another Reason To Love Him
Jarrett Allen has long fit Clevelands vibe, and his latest appearance only reinforced it. On a Sunday before the Browns hosted the Ravens, Allen was out in the Muni Lot playing beer die with fans at a tailgate event, a relaxed bit of hometown mixing that always seems to land well with the citys sports crowd. It also came at a time when the big man is settling into his sixth full season with the Cavaliers, with his status as one of the teams more recognizable faces only growing over time.
For Cavs fans, the timing makes the moment even more notable. Cleveland is closing in on its regular-season opener against the 76ers, and Allen has already been part of recent preseason action as the team gets ready to start the year. The connection with the city has never really felt forced, and scenes like this are part of why he continues to be such an easy player for the fan base to embrace. [Read more 🡒]