Cleveland Cavaliers head coach Kenny Atkinson has been honored with the 2024-25 Rudy Tomjanovich Award. This accolade, presented by the Professional Basketball Writers Association (PBWA), highlights an NBA coach’s interaction with both the media and fans, along with their on-court success.
During the current season, Atkinson guided the Cavaliers to an impressive 64-18 record, the finest in the Eastern Conference. He earned recognition for his engaging and thoughtful media interactions, spending ample time in discussions. This is his first time receiving the award.
“Kenny has consistently shown remarkable honesty, humility, and humor in his role, particularly during media sessions,” said PBWA president Howard Beck. “He is always eager to clarify the nuances of the game and tackle larger issues within the league.”
In the voting, J.B. Bickerstaff of the Detroit Pistons and Chris Finch of the Minnesota Timberwolves tied for second place. Other finalists, nominated by PBWA members, included Mark Daigneault of the Oklahoma City Thunder and Billy Donovan of the Chicago Bulls. The final decision was made through votes by the entire PBWA membership.
The award is named after Hall of Famer Rudy Tomjanovich, who coached the Houston Rockets and Los Angeles Lakers. He was celebrated for his professionalism and respectful approach in media communications. Over a 13-season coaching career, Tomjanovich recorded a regular-season mark of 527-416 and a postseason record of 51-39, leading the Rockets to back-to-back NBA championships in 1994 and 1995.
Each year, the PBWA honors a public relations team (the Brian McIntyre Award), a coach (Rudy Tomjanovich Award), and a distinguished player (Magic Johnson Award) who excel in their engagement with the media and fans. According to the PBWA’s guidelines, established in 2020, no individual or team can receive recognition in consecutive years.
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