The Cleveland Cavaliers finally got some good news following the exodus of members of Kenny Atkinson’s coaching staff.
According to Hoopshype’s Michael Scotto, associate head coach Johnnie Bryant is “expected to return to Cleveland” after losing the Phoenix Suns coaching job to his fellow Cavaliers assistant Jordan Ott.
Byrant joined the Cavaliers last offseason after serving in the same capacity under the recently fired Tom Thibodeau in New York. He was linked to the Knicks coaching vacancy after losing the Suns job.
He was the initial favorite at Offshore sportsbook Bovada at +240 to succeed Thibodeau. On June 6, the New York Daily News reported that Bryant “remains a top candidate.”
However, the Knicks appeared to be focusing on experienced coaches with former Sacramento Kings head coach Mike Brown and ex-Memphis Grizzlies head coach Taylor Jenkins scheduled to interview for the job.
Bryant’s odds (+350) to become the next Knicks head coach have dropped behind Brown (+105) and Jenkins (+175) at DraftKings.
Bryant’s expected return comes on the heels of the Cavaliers losing Ott (head coach) and DeMarre Carroll (assistant coach) to the Suns. Assistant coach Bryan Tibaldi also left for Providence College, while Cleveland Charge G League head coach Chris Darnell joined the Kings as an assistant coach.
Ripe for Head Coaching Opportunity
Getty Assistant coach Johnnie Bryant of the Cleveland Cavaliers restrains head coach Kenny Atkinson after Atkinson was ejected.
The 39-year-old Bryant has long been viewed as one of the rising assistant coaches who is ripe for an NBA head coaching opportunity. While with the Knicks, he interviewed for the Utah Jazz coaching vacancy in 2022, which ultimately went to current head coach Will Hardy.
Bryant started as a player development coach with the Jazz in 2012. In Utah, he forged strong relationships with the franchise stars Gordon Hayward and Donovan Mitchell.
When Thibodeau got the Knicks coaching job, Bryant was brought in to become his top assistant despite having no prior relationship with the veteran head coach. At the time, Bryant was an up-and-coming coach who was being groomed to become a head coach. The move was seen in league circles as a potential backup plan in case the Thibodeau hiring goes awry.
But as the Knicks continued to succeed under Thibodeau, Bryant left for the Cavaliers to reunite with Mitchell.
After Bryant’s departure, the Knicks promoted Rick Brunson, Jalen Brunson‘s father, to become the team’s associate head coach.
Candidates to Join Kenny Atkinson’s Coaching Staff
According to Scotto, the Cavaliers are interested in Dallas Mavericks assistant coach Jared Dudley and are considering Kings assistant coach Jawad Williams to fill their voids in Atkinson’s staff.
Dudley, a 14-year NBA veteran, has strong links to the Cavaliers. He played with Cavaliers center Jarrett Allen during their time together in Brooklyn under Atkinson and assistant coach Trevor Hendry.
But the Cavaliers have competition for the in-demand Dudley as Scotto reported that the Grizzlies and the Suns are also interested in him as well.
Meanwhile, Williams played for three seasons in the NBA, all with the Cavaliers from 2008 to 2011. After finishing his overseas career in Japan in 2022, Williams served as an assistant coach and director of player development for Nagasaki Velca in Japan’s B.League.
In 2024, the Kings hired him in the same capacity.
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