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The Cleveland Cavaliers were the top-seed in the Eastern Conference as they finished the regular season with a 64-18 record. While Kenny Atkinson was named the 2025 NBA Coach of the Year in his first season leading the franchise, they were eliminated in five games in the second round of the postseason for the second consecutive year.
Kendrick Perkins recently called out Donovan Mitchell for his inability to make a Conference Finals eight years into his career. He also accused the six-time All-Star of being behind the firing of J.B. Bickerstaff.
"A Donovan Mitchell-led team has never been to the Conference Finals," ESPN's Kendrick Perkins claimed Monday. "Donovan Mitchell, you got a coach fired. You got JB Bickerstaff fired. This is a fact. You had no communication with that man while he was there. You didn’t like him, right? Soon as he got fired, you signed a contract extension, right? You extended with the Cavs."
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It is unclear what role Mitchell played in Bickerstaff being fired, however, his extension was not signed until a month and a half after the coaching change. By the time he inked his new deal, the Cavaliers had already hired Atkinson -- while their previous coach had also joined the Detroit Pistons.
Meanwhile, Cleveland was hit by injuries for the second consecutive postseason. Darius Garland missed the first two games of the second-round series against the Indiana Pacers and was clearly not himself upon returning. Additionally, Evan Mobley and De'Andre Hunter each missed Game 2 of the series. Mitchell and the Cavaliers will look to bounce back next season as much of their core remains under contract.
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