In the NBA, the term “superteam” usually conjures images of massive egos and even bigger expectations. But in Cleveland, the vibe is different. It’s less of a Hollywood production and more of a gritty, high-octane laboratory experiment. At the center of it all is a backcourt pairing that, on paper, looks like a video game cheat code: Donovan “Spida” Mitchell and James “The Beard” Harden.
During a recent sit-down with Cavaliers head coach Kenny Atkinson, I tried to dig into the psyche of a man tasked with managing two of the most ball-dominant, offensively gifted guards in the history of the game. Our exchange was a mix of veteran savvy, a little bit of “coach-speak” humor, and an honest look at the challenges of NBA chemistry.
The “Brooklyn Ghost” and the Cleveland Reality
I started our conversation by bringing up Atkinson’s history. Before he was the architect of this Cavs resurgence, he was in the lab with Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving in Brooklyn. He’s seen the Golden State dynasty with Steph and Klay up close. I asked him if this Mitchell-Harden pairing reminded him of any of those legendary duos.
Atkinson, with a wry smile and the quick wit of a man who’s lived through the “Seven Seconds or Less” era and the “Isolation Era” alike, didn’t let me get away with the comparison easily.
Brandon “Scoop B” Robinson: “Coach, what’s up, boss? You talked about KD, you talked about Steph, you had experience in Brooklyn working with duos… Kyrie and KD.”
Kenny Atkinson: “Not a lot of experience… I wish they were on the court. That would have helped too. You know, they were on the practice court.”
The room erupted.
It was a hilarious, candid acknowledgement of the “what if” that haunts Brooklyn fans. But as I told him, we weren’t there to start trouble or relitigate the past. We were in Cleveland. And in Cleveland, the stars are actually on the floor.
The Redundancy Trap vs. The Dual-Threat Reality
The core of the skepticism surrounding a Mitchell-Harden pairing has always been the “one ball” theory. Both men are elite pick-and-roll navigators. Both are used to having the offense revolve around their gravity.
Atkinson didn’t shy away from that reality. “I don’t know, it’s hard to compare because they’re all so different,” he told me. “This is different. I think you have two great pick-and-roll ball handlers at the same time. So that is a little different. And that’s part of our challenge as a coaching staff to make this all fit.”
He admitted what the pundits whispered: “You could argue there might be some redundancy there.”
However, what Atkinson is seeing on the hardwood is a breakdown of that redundancy through sheer IQ. In the modern NBA, having one elite playmaker is a necessity; having two is a luxury that breaks defensive schemes. When Mitchell is the primary ball-handler, Harden becomes the world’s overqualified “spacer” and secondary creator. When Harden initiates the “Step-back” symphony, Mitchell becomes a lethal off-ball cutter and catch-and-shoot threat.
The Stats of the Synergy
To understand why Atkinson is optimistic, you have to look at how the “equilibrium,” as he calls it, is manifesting in the box score.
| Metric | Donovan Mitchell (Avg) | James Harden (Avg) |
| Usage Rate | 29.5% | 26.2% |
| Potential Assists | 8.4 | 14.2 |
| True Shooting % | 60.1% | 59.8% |
Atkinson noted, “The equilibrium was pretty good. The balance is pretty good.” That balance comes from a mutual respect that usually takes years to build, yet seems to have blossomed overnight in the 216.
The “Character” Clause
Perhaps the most insightful moment of our exchange was when Atkinson pivoted away from X’s and O’s and toward the locker room.
“That all starts with character,” Atkinson said firmly. “If you’ve got good characters like that, usually it works itself out.”
In the past, critics have questioned Harden’s “fit” in various systems. But in Cleveland, under Atkinson’s egalitarian system, Harden has embraced the role of the elder statesman/facilitator. Meanwhile, Mitchell—the face of the franchise—has shown a willingness to cede possessions to the former MVP to keep the defense off-balance.
It’s a “Character over Chemistry” approach. If the players are willing to sacrifice, the chemistry becomes a byproduct, not a chore.
Why It Works: The Atkinson Philosophy
Kenny Atkinson isn’t just a coach; he’s a development specialist. He’s the guy who helped turn D’Angelo Russell into an All-Star and helped the Warriors refine their motion offense. In Cleveland, he’s blending the Harden “Iso-Ball” efficiency with the Mitchell “Downhill Attack” speed.
The challenge Atkinson highlighted—making it “all fit”—is actually the Cavs’ greatest weapon. If a defense sells out to stop the Mitchell/Jarrett Allen lob, Harden is standing on the wing ready to dissect the rotation. If they stay home on Harden, Mitchell is blowing past his primary defender with a first step that looks like it was shot out of a cannon.
The Verdict
My conversation with Coach Atkinson revealed a man who is both realistic and rejuvenated. He’s not haunted by the superstars of his past; he’s energized by the “redundancy” of his present. He’s found a way to take two alpha dogs and turn them into a pack.
As the Cavs continue their march toward the postseason, the Mitchell-Harden experiment stands as a testament to what happens when elite talent meets elite coaching. It’s not just about having two of the best guards in the world; it’s about having a coach who can laugh about the past while building a championship-caliber future.
As Kenny told me, “So far, so good.”
