Cavs’ Jarrett Allen: Kenny Atkinson Has Brought Warriors Experience To Cleveland

November 23, 2024

Jarrett Allen knows Kenny Atkinson. Obviously, given that Atkinson is Allen’s coach with the Cavaliers.

But Allen also played with Atkinson previously — as Atkinson was Brooklyn Nets coach from 2016-2020, and Allen played there almost the entire time.

During that stretch, Allen was traded to Cleveland. Atkinson was fired, then spent a year as an assistant with the Los Angeles Clippers, then another three with the Golden State Warriors. He landed the Cavs gig this past offseason.

Now, Atkinson, Allen and the Cavs are 16-1. How has Atkinson changed since Allen’s time in Brooklyn?

“In many ways,” Allen said in an exclusive interview with Michael Scotto of HoopsHype. “How he approaches the game and how he approaches players has changed. I think him stepping back and being in the assistant coach role (with Golden State), he was able to digest and learn about past experiences and learn under Steve Kerr. I think he’s brought all of that to Cleveland.”

The Cavs do suddenly look very much like the Warriors in style — with the ball moving, players cutting, and some lethal perimeter shooting. The eye test will tell you that Atkinson has even put Evan Mobley in the role of Warriors point forward Draymond Green, snaring defensive rebounds, bringing the ball up the floor and sometimes running the break.

As you know, the Cavs set a franchise record in going 15-0 (and 16-1, for that matter), but Allen suggested the best still could be to come.

“I knew we were going to be good, but I didn’t know to what extent,” Allen told Scotto. “Going 15-0 for anybody is surprising. Nobody can tell me differently nor expect to not lose a game in that stretch of time in the NBA. It’s special. I think we can do better, too.”

In other words, the sky’s the limit.

“I think we want to make it to the Conference Finals. I think that’s the expectation for everybody around the league. Put the floor there,” Allen said. “I think we’re a good enough team that if we play consistent enough, our bench is deep enough, and we have our starting lineup that’s pretty good.

“With all of this coming together and Kenny as the head coach, I think we can take this thing far.”