Atkinson is the first Cavaliers head coach to win the prestigious award since Mike Brown in 2009. He won the award over Detroit Pistons head coach J.B. Bickerstaff and Houston Rockets head coach Ime Udoka.

Bickerstaff was up for the NBA's Coach of the Year award, but on Monday night it was announced that the award went to Cleveland Cavaliers head coach Kenny Atkinson.

Cleveland's Kenny Atkinson, who watched from the sideline as Donovan Mitchell, Darius Garland and Evan Mobley had All-Star seasons for the Cavaliers, has been named the NBA Coach of the Year after leading the team to 64 wins and the top seed in the East.