CLEVELAND, Ohio — Are the Cavs too nice to win a championship? That question has haunted Cleveland basketball discussions for years.
The 2025-26 Cavs are doing everything they can internally to leave “nice” behind and embrace something far more valuable: accountability.
In the latest Wine and Gold Talk podcast, cleveland.com Cavs beat reporter Chris Fedor and host Ethan Sands pulled back the curtain on a culture shift happening within the organization — one that started on Day 1 of training camp with head coach Kenny Atkinson setting a tone that was anything but gentle.
“Day 1 of training camp, Kenny Atkinson, the head coach, decides to set a tone. What’s the theme of this season? Figure out the freaking playoffs,” Fedor revealed on the podcast. “He puts 11-15 right in front of their face and that’s the Cavs playoff record over the last three years ... he wanted the team to have to own that.”
That confrontational approach might have seemed harsh, but it was just the beginning of a new standard being established in Cleveland.
The accountability continued after the season opener against New York, where Jarrett Allen’s underwhelming four-rebound performance became the focus of an off-day film session.
As Fedor described it, teammates directly challenged Allen: “Even if we’re not getting you the ball, you can’t have four rebounds. You can’t be physically manhandled that kind of way. You can’t just no show.”
This directness extended beyond just coach-to-player interactions.
When the Cavs let a 25-point lead against Brooklyn dwindle to a single point in their second game, Donovan Mitchell didn’t celebrate the eventual win. Instead, he delivered a blunt message to his teammates.
“Donovan Mitchell’s like, nah, [expletive] this, no celebration here. I know it’s the first win, but no, that should not have been a narrow escape against that caliber team,” Fedor shared.
Perhaps most telling about this new culture is how it’s permeating throughout the entire roster. Even role players are holding stars accountable — something previously unheard of in Cleveland.
“Even players like Sam Merrill, who just got a new contract, might feel like his voice is a little bit more respected,” Sands explained on the podcast. “But you’re calling out Donovan Mitchell saying, well, if you’re going to talk about defense, you gotta do your job too.”
This accountability revolution isn’t happening by accident. It represents a purposeful shift driven by a team that recognizes its past shortcomings.
The 11-15 playoff record that Atkinson highlighted serves as both motivation and a warning: being “nice” isn’t enough.
What makes this approach particularly notable is the positive response it’s generating. When Allen was challenged after his disappointing opener, he responded with strong performances against both Brooklyn and Milwaukee.
When Atkinson confronted Evan Mobley at halftime of the Bucks game about his shot selection, Mobley delivered a season-high 23 points in the second half.
“I think one of the big things that stands out to me is how has Jarrett responded to being called out,” Fedor noted. “Each time something has come up with this Cavs team, from an accountability standpoint, whoever it has been that’s been on the other end of that, there’s been a positive response.”
The real test for this newfound culture of accountability will come during the grind of an 82-game season and, ultimately, the playoffs. But the early signs suggest the Cavaliers are building something different — a team willing to have the difficult conversations necessary to reach championship levels.
For the complete breakdown of the Cavaliers’ culture shift and insights into how it’s playing out in real time, check out the full Wine and Gold Talk podcast episode with Fedor and Sands. Their insider perspective provides context you won’t find anywhere else on the Cavs’ transformation from “too nice” to championship contenders.
Here’s the podcast for this week:
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