Kenny Atkinson has been crowned the 2025 NBA Coach of the Year, steering the Cleveland Cavaliers to an impressive 64-18 season, topping the Eastern Conference. El Nuevo Diario recalls that this prestigious award highlights how a pivotal stint in Latin American basketball, specifically with the Dominican Republic’s national team, marked Atkinson’s rise to prominence in the NBA.
The newspaper remembers that 10 years ago, in 2015, Atkinson took on the challenge of coaching the Dominican squad with the goal of securing the team’s first-ever Olympic Games qualification. The deal, announced by then-general manager Eduardo Najri, was for one year with an option for an additional year. The Dominican team would compete in the 2015 FIBA Americas Championship, held in Mexico from August 25 to September 6.
At the time, Atkinson was an assistant coach for the Atlanta Hawks, where he worked alongside Dominican star Al Horford, who played a crucial role in recommending him for the position.
In an interview with “La Voz del Fanático” (ESPN 104.5), Atkinson revealed that his journey to the Dominican bench stemmed from extensive research and a meeting with Najri following the NBA All-Star Game.
“We discussed a lot about Dominican basketball’s structure and my interest in FIBA basketball,” Atkinson explained.
The coach also mentioned constant communication with Horford, although the center’s participation in the tournament was contingent on the birth of his first child with former Miss Universe Amelia Vega.
Without Horford or Jack Michael Martínez, the Dominican team advanced to the second round with a 2-2 record but lost their next four games, eliminating their chances of qualifying for both the Olympics and the repechage. With a final balance of 2-6, Atkinson’s cycle with the Dominican Republic concluded after just eight official matches.
Following this experience, Atkinson embarked on his NBA coaching career as the head coach of the Brooklyn Nets from 2016 to 2020. In 2025, he reached the pinnacle with the Cavaliers, becoming the third former Dominican national team coach to lead an NBA franchise.
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El Nuevo Diario
DR1 News
7 May 2025