Cavaliers Finally Get Full Practice with Harden After All-Star Break

Cleveland holds first full team practice in weeks as they prepare for second half of season

Published on Feb. 23, 2026

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The Cleveland Cavaliers held their first full team practice in a couple of weeks on Wednesday after returning from the NBA All-Star break. Head coach Kenny Atkinson said the focus was on keeping things simple and getting new additions like James Harden up to speed. Harden, who was acquired by the Cavaliers on February 4th, has been impressive in his first few games, averaging 19.3 points, 5.3 rebounds and 8.7 assists. All-Star guard Donovan Mitchell noted the team still needs to work on building chemistry with Harden, but they've found a winning formula during their current five-game win streak.

Why it matters

The Cavaliers are currently fourth in the Eastern Conference standings, but only 1.5 games behind the second-place Boston Celtics. With a tough upcoming schedule, getting the team fully integrated and on the same page will be crucial as they make a push for a high playoff seed in the second half of the season.

The details

After only having film sessions and walk-throughs in his first three games, Harden was able to participate in the Cavaliers' first full practice since the All-Star break. Head coach Kenny Atkinson said the focus was on simplifying things and getting the new players like Harden, Dennis Schroeder, and Keon Ellis up to speed, while also providing a refresher for the veteran players. The team also spent significant time working on defense, an area they've struggled in, allowing the third-highest 3-point percentage in the league.

  • The Cavaliers traded for James Harden on February 4, 2026.
  • The Cavaliers held their first full team practice in a couple of weeks on Wednesday, February 19, 2026, after returning from the All-Star break.

The players

James Harden

A 17-year NBA veteran who was recently traded to the Cleveland Cavaliers. He is averaging 19.3 points, 5.3 rebounds and 8.7 assists in his first few games with the team.

Donovan Mitchell

The Cavaliers' All-Star guard who is fifth in the league in scoring at 29.0 points per game.

Kenny Atkinson

The head coach of the Cleveland Cavaliers.

Jaylon Tyson

A Cavaliers player who was surprised by Harden's defensive abilities.

Evan Mobley

The Cavaliers' reigning NBA Defensive Player of the Year who has missed the last seven games due to a left calf strain.

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What they’re saying

“We only have one practice. I think your first reaction is, 'Man, we've got to do all these things,' but just try to keep dialing back and keep it as simple as possible and then kind of add as we go.”

— Kenny Atkinson, Head Coach, Cleveland Cavaliers (sfgate.com)

“The offensive part, nothing's really surprised me, but defensively, he's actually pretty good. He got a couple blocks. He's definitely not what you call a cone.”

— Jaylon Tyson, Cavaliers Player (sfgate.com)

“We haven't even gotten to playing a two-man game together and what that looks like. So I think as we build, you'll start seeing that as well. But I think the biggest thing now is we found something that works.”

— Donovan Mitchell, All-Star Guard, Cleveland Cavaliers (sfgate.com)

What’s next

The Cavaliers have a tough upcoming schedule, with five games in seven days including a trip to Oklahoma City on Sunday and a home game against the New York Knicks on Tuesday. Getting the team fully integrated and on the same page will be crucial as they make a push for a high playoff seed in the second half of the season.

The takeaway

The Cavaliers' first full practice with their new-look roster since the James Harden trade shows they are still working to find the right chemistry and defensive identity. However, their current five-game winning streak and position in the Eastern Conference standings suggest they are on the right track to be a force in the second half of the NBA season.