After leading the Cleveland Cavaliers to a franchise-best 64 wins in the 2024-25 NBA season, Kenny Atkinson is now NBA Coach of the Year, but away from the court, the 58-year-old keeps his family life tightly under wraps.
Kenny Atkinson has built one of the more quietly impressive careers in modern NBA coaching. The Cleveland Cavaliers head coach, born June 2, 1967, in Northport, New York, spent over 14 years playing professional basketball across Europe before dedicating the next two decades to coaching.
By now, most fans know his coaching record inside out. Far fewer know much about the people he goes home to.
Kenny Atkinson has two children with his wife, Laura Atkinson (born Laura Ann Waller): a son, Anthony, born in 2008, and a daughter, Annika, born in 2010.
Both are currently teenagers attending Gilmour Academy, where they are preparing for varsity basketball.
The 58-year-old has always kept family matters away from the spotlight, and Laura shares that same instinct for privacy. That said, a few confirmed details have emerged over the years.
Kenny Atkinson’s Kids: Anthony and Annika Following Their Father’s Footsteps
Anthony Atkinson, now 17, and his younger sister Annika, 15, have grown up around professional basketball their entire lives.
Their father was coaching the Brooklyn Nets by the time Anthony was eight, and both kids have apparently caught the bug.
According to multiple reports, Anthony and Annika are both preparing for varsity basketball at Gilmour Academy in Ohio, the school they have attended since the family’s relocation to Cleveland.
It’s a natural path, really. Kenny didn’t just play professionally for over a decade; he played in five countries, including Italy, France, Spain, Germany, and the Netherlands, retiring only in 2004. That kind of basketball immersion tends to filter down.
During his tenure with the Brooklyn Nets, the family lived at a beach house in Quogue, New York. After Kenny left Brooklyn in 2020, the Atkinsons eventually settled in Cleveland following his appointment as Cavaliers head coach in June 2024.
The kids have since enrolled at Gilmour Academy, a private school in Gates Mills, Ohio, where the basketball program is well-regarded at the high school level.
Whether either child pursues the sport beyond high school remains to be seen. But the early signs suggest the Atkinson name may have legs in the game for another generation.
Who Is Kenny Atkinson’s Wife, Laura Atkinson?
Laura Atkinson, born Laura Ann Waller on January 21, 1980, in Kansas, is now 46 years old. She attended Shawnee Heights Senior High in Tecumseh, graduating in 1998, and then attended Baker University.
She and Kenny met by chance during one of his trips to Chicago, where he was visiting a friend. Their relationship grew from there.
Kenny has shared very little about their personal life publicly, though they once revealed that their marriage proposal was characteristically blunt. His exact words: “You’re marrying me!”
Laura regularly attends games and has been seen at NBA events alongside Kenny, but she doesn’t seek out media attention. The couple quietly participates in community and charitable work, without making it a headline.
Kenny has spoken warmly about the stability she provides, which matters a lot in a profession where coaching changes and relocations are constant.
FAQs
How many siblings does Kenny Atkinson have?
Kenny Atkinson has four brothers named Mike, Steve, Tom, and Brian.
What is Kenny Atkinson’s net worth?
Kenny Atkinson’s estimated net worth is $12 million as of 2025.
Which teams has Kenny Atkinson coached?
Kenny Atkinson has served as head coach of the Brooklyn Nets (2016–2020) and Cleveland Cavaliers (2024–present), with assistant coaching stints at the New York Knicks, Atlanta Hawks, Los Angeles Clippers, and Golden State Warriors.
What did Kenny Atkinson do with the Golden State Warriors?
Kenny Atkinson served as an assistant coach for the Warriors from 2021 to 2024, helping the team win an NBA championship in the 2022 NBA Finals.
How old is Kenny Atkinson?
Kenny Atkinson is 58 years old, born on June 2, 1967, in Northport, New York.
