NBA Honors Mitch Johnson and Kenny Atkinson as Coaches of the Month for February 2026
The National Basketball Association has announced its Coaches of the Month for February 2026, recognizing outstanding leadership in both conferences. San Antonio Spurs head coach Mitch Johnson secured the Western Conference award, while Cleveland Cavaliers head coach Kenny Atkinson claimed the Eastern Conference honor. This dual recognition highlights a month of exceptional team performances and strategic coaching brilliance across the league.
Mitch Johnson Guides Spurs to Flawless February Record
Mitch Johnson led the San Antonio Spurs to a perfect 11-0 record in February, marking the team's longest winning streak since the 2015-16 season. Despite playing only three home games at the AT&T Center during the month, Johnson's leadership propelled the Spurs to the league's best performance, earning him his second career Coach of the Month award. He previously won the Western Conference honor in December after guiding the Spurs to an 11-3 record that included an NBA Cup Championship Game appearance and a strong 6-1 road performance.
The Spurs' February dominance was exemplified by a 114-103 victory over the East-leading Detroit Pistons on February 23, their largest margin of victory for the month. Detroit coach J.B. Bickerstaff praised Johnson's appointment as Gregg Popovich's successor, noting the 39-year-old coach's exceptional qualities. "He's an extremely talented coach, great dude, great communicator, great leader," Bickerstaff stated before the game, acknowledging Johnson's interim role last season after Popovich's health issues.
Johnson's coaching achievements will be celebrated alongside other Spurs honors when the team returns from their Rodeo Road Trip. Dylan Harper earned Western Conference Rookie of the Month, while Victor Wembanyama secured both Western Conference Defensive Player of the Month and overall Western Conference Player of the Month awards.
Kenny Atkinson Earns Third Career Coach of the Month Award
Cleveland Cavaliers head coach Kenny Atkinson has been named Eastern Conference Coach of the Month for February 2026, marking his third career win of this prestigious award, all achieved with the Cavaliers. This latest honor follows two previous wins last season, placing Atkinson alongside Mike Brown and the late Lenny Wilkens as the only coaches in franchise history to win Coach of the Month three or more times.
Under Atkinson's guidance, the Cavaliers posted an impressive 8-3 record in February, tying for the third-best record in the Eastern Conference. The team's performance was highlighted by a seven-game winning streak from February 1-20, including five consecutive road victories, representing a season-high run. With James Harden joining the roster, Atkinson's strategic adjustments proved highly effective.
The Cavaliers demonstrated exceptional defensive prowess throughout February, ranking fourth in the league in opponent three-point percentage and sixth in opponent field goal percentage. They held opponents under 100 points three times, including three of their four lowest opponent scoring totals this season:
- Holding the Los Angeles Clippers to 91 points on February 4
- Limiting the Brooklyn Nets to a season-low 84 points on February 19
- Restricting the New York Knicks to 94 points on February 24
Offensively, the reigning NBA Coach of the Year led the Cavaliers to rank third in assists per game, fourth in three-point percentage, fourth in steals per game, while leading the Eastern Conference in points per game and field goal percentage. Cleveland recorded three games with at least 130 points and four games with at least 120 points, outscoring opponents by an average of 10.9 points throughout the month.
These coaching honors reflect the significant impact both Johnson and Atkinson have made on their respective teams, setting high standards for leadership and performance as the NBA season progresses toward the playoffs.
