Kenny Atkinson has admitted the Cleveland Cavaliers were left “depressed” after LeBron James chose the Philadelphia 76ers over a potential reunion with his former team.
The Cavaliers coach revealed that Cleveland had been anticipating James’ arrival and was excited about the possibility of working with the NBA superstar again.
Instead, James joined Philadelphia, leaving Atkinson to come to terms with missing out on a player he had hoped to bring into his plans.
Kenny Atkinson opens up on Cleveland Cavaliers missing out on LeBron James
Speaking to ESPN’s Dave McMenamin, Atkinson described the disappointment of expecting a free-agent move to happen before learning that it would not.
He said: “We were anticipating and excited to land LeBron and then you have that news, having gone through free agency a lot, when you’re expecting something to happen and it doesn’t happen, that first day or two, you’re just like, you’re depressed, quite honestly.”
“That’s the emotions of it,” Atkinson added.
His comments offer a glimpse into the Cavaliers’ hopes of bringing James back to Cleveland. However, his admission does not confirm how close the franchise came to completing a deal.
For Philadelphia, James’ decision represents a significant addition, but the Sixers still need to turn their roster into a team capable of competing consistently.
The early signs have been encouraging. Philadelphia rallied from 29 points down to beat Cleveland 114-106 in its home opener, giving Atkinson an immediate reminder of what his former target can bring to another team.
James finished with 17 points and 10 rebounds, while Tyrese Maxey led the Sixers with 32 points. Joel Embiid also contributed 24 points in the comeback victory.
The result added another layer to Atkinson’s disappointment, with James helping Philadelphia overcome the very team that had hoped to secure his services.
However, one win does not settle the bigger questions surrounding the Sixers’ season. James’ experience and production will be important, but Philadelphia must build on that performance if it wants to make its recruitment count.
For Cleveland, Atkinson’s comments reveal just how much excitement surrounded the possibility of a reunion. For the Sixers, the priority now is ensuring James’ arrival delivers more than an offseason headline.
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