Kenny Atkinson Q&A: 'I don't think there's a system that could slow James Harden down'
Kenny Atkinson Q&A: 'I don't think there's a system that could slow James Harden down'
Cyro Asseo, HoopsHypeFri, June 26, 2026 at 9:10 PM UTC
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Kenny Atkinson, the 2024-25 NBA Coach of the Year who guided the Cleveland Cavaliers to back-to-back postseason jumps before a 4-0 sweep at the hands of the eventual champion New York Knicks in this year's Eastern Conference Finals, sat down with HoopsHype for an exclusive interview at the 19th edition of adidas Eurocamp in Treviso, Italy.
Atkinson discussed what makes his return to Treviso a full-circle moment, the life lessons packed into a 14-year playing career across Europe, how he keeps his stars focused through noise and adversity, and why James Harden's basketball IQ made one of the trickiest mid-season roster moves he's ever navigated feel almost easy.
What does it mean to you to be here at adidas Eurocamp?
Kenny Atkinson: Well, for me, this is where it all started, kind of my first coaching experience. For coaches, it's kind of the same as it is for players. You're always looking for opportunities outside of the club you're with or the NBA team you're working for. How can I get more repetitions? How can I be around a development camp like this? I've tried really hard to come back here because a lot of coaches know what a great opportunity it is. So, in a way, this feels like coming full circle for me, coming back here and reconnecting with the adidas family, the aidas Basketball family, and, of course, a lot of European coaches and coaches from all over the world. It's a unique, unique camp, as you know. I just love being back here and spending time at this camp.
How special is it for you to be able to advise players who seek it as they work toward the next level?
KA: Yeah, we had a great question-and-answer session with VJ Edgecombe and FranzWagner. The campers asked some really great questions because these guys are trying to gain knowledge about how they can be successful at the next level. So yeah, you try to impart your experience. And for me, the great thing about being a coach is that I've had the chance to observe the best do it, the best players in the world, and see how they succeed, what their habits look like, how they work on their game, and how they take care of themselves off the court. So I think there's some credibility behind it when someone like Franz or VJ, or me, says something, because we're actually in the league. So this kind of intermingling between people who are in the league and adidas prospects who are trying to make the league is kind of the perfect combination. You feel like a mentor for these guys.
As someone who's built his career step by step, what do you tell your players about ignoring outside noise and staying the course?
KA: That's a big thing as a coach. How do you block out the noise? Because the greatest players have more pressure. I would say with talent comes responsibility, and with more talent comes more responsibility. So it's the media's responsibility, internal pressure, all of that. We're so process-oriented. We're not outcome-based. We really believe in the process. Take care of X, Y and Z, and the results will kind of take care of themselves. I think that frees your mind. When you're focusing on these kinds of micro tasks that eventually lead to a good result, that kind of relieves the pressure. The other thing I always give these guys advice about is keeping their circle small, and they do. As you well know, if the circle around you is too wide, it can get distracting, right? I just think it's super important. It helps you be more focused to keep your circle tight. Once you start getting too many people in your life, it becomes distracting. I know I do it as a coach. If you answer every text and try to please every person who's looking for a ticket or wants to come to a practice, it just gets to be too much. So, really limit your circle.
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What are you most proud of this season?
KA: I think we were 17-16 at one point. It looked like the wheels were falling off. Just how we kept it together, with expectations being so high, and we started playing a lot of young guys. We got through that with great leadership, starting with Donovan, then Evan, even before De'Andre Hunter came. Those guys kind of kept the ship afloat. As we got healthier, we really went on some good runs. Listen, success is relative, right? It's all about perspective. We did take a jump. We'd gone to the conference semifinals three years in a row, and this year we made it to the conference finals. I know it wasn't the greatest result, but we kind of ran into a buzzsaw. We could have played better, but we did make a jump. We did improve. There are steps to this thing. It just doesn't happen overnight. When you're one of the final four teams in the NBA, I think you're doing something right. We obviously have the hunger and ambition to do more, so I think it was a successful season on many fronts.
Was the equation harder to figure out, or did it become easier once James Harden came into the fold?
KA: It's a great point, and I was worried about that. How do we get this thing going in two and a half months? The thing that changed that equation was James Harden's IQ and ability. And I always know James is a system, just being by himself. But it was more like he's played in so many different scenarios in the NBA and his career that he adapted. It's probably the fastest adaptation I've ever seen with a player. We play a little differently, a little differently offensively, a little differently than what he's used to. He took off, took him a week before he was like, knew all the plays, knew our concepts. And it's like, so maybe if it's a different player, the adjustment would be a little harder. So he made our job as coaches so much easier. I always joke with us; maybe you could thrive in Princeton's offense. Or a double low post system. I don't think there's a system that could slow James Harden down. He's that talented, but also that cerebral. So, that made the transition a lot easier.
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This article originally appeared on Hoops Hype: Kenny Atkinson Q&A: 'I don't think there's a system that could slow James Harden down'
Source: “AOL Sports”
