Atkinson had his introductory press conference on Monday, and he was ecstatic about the conversations the organization had already begun having about the potential coaching staff they were constructing.
“I just want to surround myself with coaches with positive energy,” Atkinson said when asked about his mindset of bringing in high-level assistants. “That’s the first thing. Surround myself with player advocates, and it takes a group to do this.
“As a coaching staff, sure, I’m kind of leading it, but I think one of my strengths is being super collaborative. I lean on ideas. I love information. I love when coaches bring me information. This is definitely not going to be a top-down situation. So, more importantly, it’s more important to bring in a strong staff. And we’re gonna do that.”
Ott was an assistant coach under Atkinson for two years of Atkinson’s four-year tenure as the head coach of the Brooklyn Nets. Ott also reunites with Jarrett Allen and Caris LeVert, who he helped coach in Brooklyn.
The Nets retained Ott for two more years under Steve Nash after Atkinson’s departure before Ott left for Los Angeles to be an assistant under Darvin Ham with the Lakers.
Not only do Atkinson and Ott have chemistry working together, but they have both had the opportunity to learn in high-pressure environments where the expectation was conference championships and NBA championships. Learning how to manage star personalities like LeBron James and Anthony Davis is crucial in a scenario where former Cavs head coach J.B. Bickerstaff seemingly lost the locker room at the end of his tenure in Cleveland.
“It was like getting an MBA. It’s like getting a doctorate in basketball,” Atkinson said of the learning experience from previous coaching experiences.
After Ham’s stint with the Lakers came to a close after the 2023-24 season, Ott emerged as a finalist for the head coaching vacancy in Charlotte. Ultimately, Charles Lee won the Hornets position, creating the pathway for Ott to join the Cavs and rejoin a team led by Atkinson.
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