Kenny Atkinson Sends Warning About Cavaliers’ First 15 Games

Kenny Atkinson expects the Cleveland Cavaliers to face adversity right away, the coach said Monday, pointing to the first 10 to 15 games on their schedule.

Last season's adversity left Cleveland more battle-tested, in Atkinson's view.

"Yeah, I think, like I said, since we've been here, this coaching staff, we've taken a step, and it's like, well, we want more, right?" Atkinson said. "We want more than what we did last year. That's part of this, and I think you've got to face that head on. And I think going through the adversity we went through last year, I think we're a bit battle-tested now, more battle-tested than before."

"And for sure we're going to be battle-tested. You look at our first 10 games, first 15 games, you're like, man, right off the bat, it's on," Atkinson continued. "We're going to go through some adversity for sure. 15-and-0 starts, they don't really happen in this league."

Cleveland started 15-0 in 2024-25, Atkinson's first season, matching the second-best start in NBA history. The Cavaliers did not lose until Nov. 19 at Boston, went 64-18, and fell to the Indiana Pacers in five games in the second round.

Atkinson was named Coach of the Year that season. Cleveland had hired him in June 2024 after three seasons as a Golden State Warriors assistant. His teams are 116-48 over two regular seasons.

Cleveland plays eight of its first 15 games at home. The stretch opens Thursday at the Philadelphia 76ers, then brings the Brooklyn Nets, Minnesota Timberwolves, and Washington Wizards to Rocket Arena.

The Wizards game on Oct. 28 starts a back-to-back that ends in Atlanta the next night. The Cavaliers close October with a Halloween game at the Milwaukee Bucks.

November opens with the Oklahoma City Thunder twice in three days, at home Nov. 2 on Peacock and on the road Nov. 4. Oklahoma City won the 2025 title and reached the Western Conference finals again last season.

Philadelphia and the defending champion New York Knicks follow on back-to-back nights at Rocket Arena, Nov. 6 and 7. The Nov. 6 game is an NBA Cup group game and LeBron James' first trip to Cleveland with the 76ers.

New York went 53-29 last season, then swept the Cavaliers in the conference finals on the way to the title.

After a trip to Charlotte on Nov. 9, Cleveland plays the Knicks again at Madison Square Garden on Nov. 11. A second back-to-back follows, at the Miami Heat on Nov. 13 and home against the Dallas Mavericks on Nov. 14.

Cleveland plays six games in October and 14 in November. The Cavaliers have 16 back-to-backs this season, tied for the most in the league. Their home opener against Brooklyn is Saturday at 7:30 p.m. ET.

Atkinson said owner Dan Gilbert describes the push forward as coming from the whole organization, not only the team.

"You guys obviously see the product on the floor, but I think we're doing a lot of things behind the scenes to push this thing forward," Atkinson explained. "I think Dan Gilbert always says that, like, it's the whole organization. It's like the community of the Cavs that push it forward. We obviously have a darn good team, but it's like, we really believe this."

"In the margins, what we're doing on the margins, behind the scenes, I can give you 15 examples of that, but I feel great about that," Atkinson added. "You feel when an organization is moving in the right direction, with us, with the team. Maybe every team seems like that. I just feel it. I feel the momentum of what we're doing just pushing us in the right direction to make that next step."

Atkinson has called the Cavaliers' new facility a recruiting tool.

Cleveland's 15th game is Nov. 16 against the Chicago Bulls at Rocket Arena, a week before a return trip to Chicago. The Cavaliers went 1-2 in the preseason.