Cavaliers: Kenny Atkinson fourth in franchise history to coach All-Star Game

It was only a foregone conclusion. The NBA announced Friday that Cavaliers coach Kenny Atkinson and his coaching staff will serve as coaches representing the Eastern Conference during the 2025 NBA All-Star Game in San Francisco on Feb. 16 at Chase Center. With the Boston Celtics' 117-96 loss to the Los Angeles Lakers Thursday, the Cavs (36-7) clinched the best record in the East through games played Feb. 2. As a result, Atkinson has earned a spot as a head coach in the NBA All-Star Game for the first time. In addition, an assistant coach from Atkinson's staff (likely either Johnnie Bryant or Jordan Ott) will serve as a head coach for one of the other four teams. The other two head coaching spots in the NBA All-Star Game will be filled by Oklahoma City Thunder head coach Mark Daigneault and an assistant coach from his staff. Oklahoma City previously clinched the best record in the West for games played on Feb. 2. The All-Star Game features a new mini-tournament with four teams and three games. Three teams will be made up of NBA All-Star selections, and the fourth team will be the champion of the Rising Stars competition Feb. 14. It is the first time in Atkinson's career that he and his staff have been honored with coaching the NBA All-Star Game. This also marks the fourth time in franchise history that a Cavs head coach has been selected to coach in the NBA All-Star Game (Tyronn Lue in 2016, Mike Brown in 2009 and Lenny Wilkins in 1989). In his first season as Cleveland coach, Atkinson led the Cavs to an NBA-best 36-7 record heading into Friday's game in Philadelphia. Cleveland is off to its best start in franchise history and is tied for 13th best in NBA history. Atkinson, 57, won East Coach of the Month honors in November and December and also led Cleveland to a 15-0 start, marking the longest winning streak in franchise history. Cleveland also secured a 12-game winning streak from Dec. 13 to Jan. 9 and is the only team in the NBA this season to have two winning streaks of at least 10. Atkinson's 15-0 mark was the best start to a tenure with a team for any coach in NBA history. Cleveland enters Friday leading the NBA this season in offensive rating (120.9), 3-point percentage (.394), assist-to-turnover ratio (2.23) and atop the East in field-goal percentage (.496), points per game (121.7) and points per game differential (10.1). They also ranked in the top 10 in the NBA in defensive rating (ninth, 111.1) and 3-pointers made per game (second, 16.1). Cleveland's offense has scored 130 or more points 10 times, already doubling the franchise record for most games in a single season with 130 or more points. Jersey sales Cavs guard Donovan Mitchell, who was voted in as a starter on the East All-Star team Thursday, is ranked 15th in the NBA's top-selling jerseys. Golden State guard Stephen Curry is first. Also, the Cavs are ranked sixth in top-selling team merchandise and the defending champion Boston Celtics are first. Contact Bob Finnan at rfinnan30@gmail.com. Follow him @BobCavsinsider on X.