2 hours ago
Kenny Atkinson, the 2024-25 NBA Coach of the Year who guided the Cleveland Cavaliers to back-to-back postseason jumps before a 4-0 sweep at the hands of the eventual champion New York Knicks in this year's Eastern Conference Finals, sat down with HoopsHype for an exclusive interview at the 19th edition of adidas Eurocamp in Treviso, Italy.
Atkinson discussed what makes his return to Treviso a full-circle moment, the life lessons packed into a 14-year playing career across Europe, how he keeps his stars focused through noise and adversity, and why James Harden's basketball IQ made one of the trickiest mid-season roster moves he's ever navigated feel almost easy.
Kenny Atkinson: Well, for me, this is where it all started, kind of my first coaching experience. For coaches, it's kind of the same as it is for players. You're always looking for opportunities outside of the club you're with or the NBA team you're working for. How can I get more repetitions? How can I be around a development camp like this? I've tried really hard to come back here because a lot of coaches know what a great opportunity it is. So, in a way, this feels like coming full circle for me, coming back here and reconnecting with the adidas family, the aidas Basketball family, and, of course, a lot of European coaches and coaches from all over the world. It's a unique, unique camp, as you know. I just love being back here and spending time at this camp.
KA: Yeah, we had a great question-and-answer session with VJ Edgecombe and Franz Wagner. The campers asked some really great questions because these guys are trying to gain knowledge about how they can be successful at the next level. So yeah, you try to impart your experience. And for me, the great thing about being a coach is that I've had the chance to observe the best do it, the best players in the world, and see how they succeed, what their habits look like, how they work on their game, and how they take care of themselves off the court. So I think there's some credibility behind it when someone like Franz or VJ, or me, says something, because we're actually in the league. So this kind of intermingling between people who are in the league and adidas prospects who are trying to make the league is kind of the perfect combination. You feel like a mentor for these guys.
KA: That's a big thing as a coach. How do you block out the noise? Because the greatest players have more pressure. I would say with talent comes responsibility, and with more talent comes more responsibility. So it's the media's responsibility, internal pressure, all of that. We're so process-oriented. We're not outcome-based. We really believe in the process. Take care of X, Y and Z, and the results will kind of take care of themselves. I think that frees your mind. When you're focusing on these kinds of micro tasks that eventually lead to a good result, that kind of relieves the pressure. The other thing I always give these guys advice about is keeping their
Atkinson discussed what makes his return to Treviso a full-circle moment, the life lessons packed into a 14-year playing career across Europe, how he keeps his stars focused through noise and adversity, and why James Harden's basketball IQ made one of the trickiest mid-season roster moves he's ever navigated feel almost easy.
Kenny Atkinson: Well, for me, this is where it all started, kind of my first coaching experience. For coaches, it's kind of the same as it is for players. You're always looking for opportunities outside of the club you're with or the NBA team you're working for. How can I get more repetitions? How can I be around a development camp like this? I've tried really hard to come back here because a lot of coaches know what a great opportunity it is. So, in a way, this feels like coming full circle for me, coming back here and reconnecting with the adidas family, the aidas Basketball family, and, of course, a lot of European coaches and coaches from all over the world. It's a unique, unique camp, as you know. I just love being back here and spending time at this camp.
KA: Yeah, we had a great question-and-answer session with VJ Edgecombe and Franz Wagner. The campers asked some really great questions because these guys are trying to gain knowledge about how they can be successful at the next level. So yeah, you try to impart your experience. And for me, the great thing about being a coach is that I've had the chance to observe the best do it, the best players in the world, and see how they succeed, what their habits look like, how they work on their game, and how they take care of themselves off the court. So I think there's some credibility behind it when someone like Franz or VJ, or me, says something, because we're actually in the league. So this kind of intermingling between people who are in the league and adidas prospects who are trying to make the league is kind of the perfect combination. You feel like a mentor for these guys.
KA: That's a big thing as a coach. How do you block out the noise? Because the greatest players have more pressure. I would say with talent comes responsibility, and with more talent comes more responsibility. So it's the media's responsibility, internal pressure, all of that. We're so process-oriented. We're not outcome-based. We really believe in the process. Take care of X, Y and Z, and the results will kind of take care of themselves. I think that frees your mind. When you're focusing on these kinds of micro tasks that eventually lead to a good result, that kind of relieves the pressure. The other thing I always give these guys advice about is keeping their
