Cleveland Cavaliers head coach Kenny Atkinson recently weighed in on the ongoing back-and-forth between Miami’s Tyler Herro and the Cavaliers’ Darius Garland, which has caught the attention of many this week.
Speaking with reporters, Atkinson made it clear that he doesn’t concern himself with the verbal exchanges between players, instead focusing on their on-court performances.
“I don’t control what they say at all,” the coach stated, emphasizing that any off-court talk doesn’t impact the game itself.
He then praised both players for their competitive nature, acknowledging their talent on both ends of the floor.
“Tyler is a great player, he’s an All-Star. Great competitor on both ends, much like Darius,” Atkinson continued.
“It’s like the playground, you got someone you’re going at at both ends and there’s some verbal stuff that’s overblown. But once the ball goes up, none of it matters.”
According to Atkinson, while the occasional trash talk and rivalry might stir up excitement, it’s ultimately the game itself that defines who performs under pressure, and all the noise is left behind once play resumes.
Heat Notes: Game 3 Loss, Starting Lineup, Ware, Herro https://t.co/BgSzV6DwyX pic.twitter.com/n2K13rRA7s
— Hoops Rumors (@HoopsRumors) April 27, 2025
