Cleveland Cavaliers head coach Kenny Atkinson was reminded once again how volatile his profession can be, as the Dallas Mavericks fired Jason Kidd shortly before Game 1 of the Eastern Conference Finals tipped off. The Hall of Fame point guard guided the squad to the NBA Finals just two years earlier. A few hours later, Atkinson suffered one of the worst losses of his career.
The Cavs endured a historic collapse against the New York Knicks, blowing a 22-point fourth-quarter lead and falling 115-104 in overtime. It was the kind of implosion that has fans calling for jobs. The 2025 Coach of the Year is likely safe heading into next season, regardless of how Cleveland fares versus the Knickerbockers, but the Kidd news proves just how quickly things can unravel in this league.
The Cavaliers as a group had a big reaction to the Mavs’ decision to cut the Hall of Fame point guard loose.
“AN HOUR BEFORE Game 1, in that same cramped visitors locker room at MSG, the Cavs players had been far more animated than they were postgame, with news quickly spreading that Jason Kidd had been let go as coach of the Dallas Mavericks,” ESPN’s Dave McMenamin reported.
While Kidd embarks on a new chapter of his career, the Cavs will try to reach the Finals for the first time sans LeBron James. Perhaps Kenny Atkinson and company will use this latest firing as the added sense of urgency they need in their series against the Knicks. Though, the Larry O’Brien Trophy should be all the motivation they require.