The Cleveland Cavaliers are adding Donovan Mitchell favorite Johnnie Bryant as associate head coach under Kenny Atkinson, per Adrian Wojnarowski of ESPN.
Bryant comes from the New York Knicks, where he served as a top assistant under Tom Thibodeau. Before that, he worked as an assistant with ex-coach Quin Snyder and the Utah Jazz when Mitchell was there.
An NBA executive told Hoops Wire last month that he expected the Cavs to try to hire Bryant to “appease” Mitchell — though that was before Mitchell agreed to a three-year contract extension.
“The Cavaliers fired (JB Bickerstaff) because Donovan didn’t like playing for him,” the NBA exec said. “This coaching search shouldn’t be that difficult for Cleveland. Everything should be about keeping Donovan happy. They should hire Johnnie to appease him. Those two are really close. Johnnie knows what Donovan likes and doesn’t like on both sides (of the court).”
Bryant, 38, played college basketball as a point guard at the University of Utah from 2004-08. He was an assistant coach with the Jazz from 2014-20. and then the Knicks ever since.
He actually started his coaching career at the Bryant Sports Academy, a skill development program through which he worked with athletes of all ages, including former Jazz forward Paul Millsap and Milwaukee Bucks star guard Damian Lillard.
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