The Cleveland Cavaliers eagerly awaited the official announcement of their new head coach, Kenny Atkinson. There was a reason for the delay – Atkinson was in Paris with the French Men’s National Basketball Team, getting them ready for the 2024 Summer Olympics. France brought Atkinson on board as an assistant coach in December, and his influence was felt right away.
Olympic Success with France
Atkinson’s debut Olympics with France was a triumph, as he led a skilled team with NBA talents such as Victor Wembanyama, the NBA top newcomer, and Rudy Gobert, the NBA top defender. France had a good performance, winning two out of three matches in the group stage against Brazil and Japan. Even though they lost to Germany, they were able to recover in the quarterfinals by beating Canada and getting revenge on Germany with an exciting 73-69 win in the semifinals.
A Near-Gold Finish
In the final match for the gold medal, France competed against the United States, a dominant team with Head Coach Steve Kerr and star point guard Stephen Curry leading the way. Even with a strong attempt, France did not succeed, being defeated 98-87, while the U.S. secured its fifth straight gold medal. Curry’s skills in sharpshooting were on full display during the game, with his eight three-pointers standing out.
Hope for the Cavaliers
Fans of the Cleveland Cavaliers are optimistic. That recent coaching achievements of Kenny Atkinson in international competitions will lead to success in Cleveland. His track record of working with elite talent. Also leading a team to the Olympic finals indicates that he might hold the key to unleashing the Cavaliers’ capabilities. Furthermore, Atkinson’s guidance could be the key for the Wine and Gold to improve their standing in the NBA rankings.
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