Cleveland Cavaliers’ Pickleball Antics: Cleveland Cavaliers head coach Kenny Atkinson recently opened up about his team’s attempts at pickleball, a sport far from their usual basketball routine. The team, seeking to break the monotony of the NBA season, took part in the recreational game as part of their ongoing strategy to keep spirits high.
Breaking the Routine
Atkinson, a strong advocate for diversifying activities during the long NBA season, explained the reasoning behind these off-court ventures.
“[The season is] too long, in a sense, to just grind it out every day. And I think mixing it up, with variety in what you do just kind of helps the spirit of the team.” – (Atkinson)
The Cavaliers have already tested their skills with wiffle ball and touch football, and Tuesday’s pickleball session was another attempt to introduce a fun challenge. However, according to Kenny Atkinson, not everyone is cut out for the sport.
Pickleball Skills: Mixed Results
While some players shone in their pickleball debut, others struggled to adapt.
“Well, I’ll just say this, there’s some guys, you know, they’re just hoopers. They just hoop. There are other guys that I’ve seen when we play wiffle ball too, you know, you got guys like, holding a bat, like this, (gestures holding a bat with a six-inch gap between his hands) which would never happen to any of us.” – (Atkinson)
Kenny Atkinson highlighted the difference between those with multi-sport experience and others who struggle with activities like pickleball.
“We have our multi-sport guys like Donovan [Mithell]. Darius [Garland], he’s a stud. And then we got some guys like, the racket just does not seem natural. So, I’m not going to get into particulars, maybe go and watch the video on it.” – (Atkinson)
Training for @PickleintheLand. 🏓 #LetEmKnow pic.twitter.com/VND89YSXQy
— Cleveland Cavaliers (@cavs) November 26, 2024
A Humorous Take on the Game
Though some struggled, Atkinson found the situation to be more entertaining than frustrating.
“That’s part of the fun of it. A guy takes his first swing or a backhand and everyone’s like, ‘What is that?’ Everyone just dies laughing. ‘Have you ever picked up a paddle?’ And that just makes it fun.” – (Atkinson)
The lighthearted atmosphere allowed for some humorous moments, but it wasn’t just about the game. Kenny Atkinson sees these activities as a way to keep his players engaged and break up the grind of daily routines.
Bringing Variety into Daily Practices
Incorporating variety, whether through pickleball or adding humor to film sessions, is a strategy Kenny Atkinson embraces.
“You always do the same warm-up every day. So I just have this thing about more variety. We’ll do the same thing with film. We’ll put funny clips in and, you know, kind of grab the guy’s attention a little, and then we get down to business.” – (Atkinson)
According to Kenny Atkinson, these activities help his players lock in when it’s time to focus on practice.
“And I always feel like, you get it back when you do that. It’s like, okay, they know the fun is over, and when practice comes, they lock in. And we had a good practice.” – (Atkinson)
News in Brief: Cleveland Cavaliers’ Pickleball Antics
Cleveland Cavaliers coach Kenny Atkinson recently shared his thoughts on the team’s attempts at pickleball. While some pickleball players excelled, others, like Darius Garland and Tristan Thompson, struggled with the game, particularly grasping rules like the kitchen.
Kenny Atkinson, however, found humor in the team’s performance, seeing the activity as a break from routine that boosts team spirit. These activities, including funny moments in film sessions, are designed to keep players engaged and provide a sense of variety during the long NBA season.
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