Atkinson urged young players to learn to take on a supporting role.

Cleveland Cavaliers head coach Kenny Atkinson said that it is certainly a good thing for young players to aspire to become superstars, but if they can learn to play the role of a supporting player for their core teammates or stars, they will be able to establish themselves more effectively in the NBA.

In the 2025/26 NBA season, the Cleveland Cavaliers made it all the way to the Eastern Conference Finals. However, in the fourth round, despite scoring by Donovan Mitchell, Evan Mobley, and James Harden, they were ultimately eliminated by the New York Knicks with a series score of 0-4.

Cleveland Cavaliers head coach Kenny Atkinson said, "I think one thing young players need to understand is that most players in the league eventually become supporting role players, so these players have to be willing to do the things that aren't easy."

"I think this is the hardest thing for players to understand, but as players, you have to understand that if you want to get playing time in the NBA, you usually have to support the team's core players and the whole team."

Atkinson said, "It's not just about doing the dirty work on the court, but also about being a great teammate off the court, maintaining a positive attitude in the locker room, and connecting everyone."

“We often use the term ‘connector,’ meaning someone who can be a connector both on and off the court. Only players who can do that have a chance to establish themselves in the NBA.”

In addition, Atkinson said, "Like Sam Merrill, he's a shooter. He comes on the court, shoots, and plays good defense, that's his role. But he doesn't stray from his role, and that helps the team win. That's how you win in the NBA. That way, the team's stars will respect teammates like that."

"These are some things that young players don't understand yet. I will convey this concept to them. They will become role players, so it's best to do a good job on defense, rebounding, and everything else that they are supposed to do."

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