Sports

Atlanta’s Mike Budenholzer Voted NBA Coach of the Year

Published

11 years ago

April 21, 2015

Atlanta Hawks coach Mike Budenholzer gestures to his team during the second quarter of an NBA basketball game against the Brooklyn Nets on Wednesday, April 8, 2015, in New York. Atlanta defeated Brooklyn 114-111. (AP Photo/Jason DeCrow)

PAUL NEWBERRY, AP Sports Writer

ATLANTA (AP) — After leading the Atlanta Hawks to the top seed in the Eastern Conference coming off tumultuous summer, Mike Budenholzer beat out Golden State’s Steve Kerr for NBA coach of the year on Tuesday.

Budenholzer, in his second year as a head coach, was honored after the Hawks went 60-22 during the regular season, the best mark in franchise history. They won their first division title since 1994, which also was the last time they held a No. 1 seed.

“He deserves it,” said Jeff Teague, the Hawks’ All-Star point guard. “He’s made me a better player. He’s made our team better. I’m glad to have him as my head coach.”

Budenholzer received 67 first-place votes and 513 points overall in national balloting by sports writers and broadcasters. Kerr, who guided the Warriors to an NBA-best 67-15 record in his first season as coach, received 56 first-place votes and 471 points.

A longtime assistant under San Antonio’s Gregg Popovich, Budenholzer went 38-44 with the Hawks during an injury-plagued debut year. But the Hawks surged to the top of the East in his second season, giving Atlanta its first coach of the year since Lenny Wilkins 21 years ago.

Milwaukee’s Jason Kidd finished a distant third in the balloting with one first-place vote and 57 points. Popovich and Chicago’s Tom Thibodeau were the only other coaches to receive first-place votes.

The Hawks had a troubled offseason after emails emerged showing owner Bruce Levenson made racially charged comments about the team’s fan base. Shortly afterward, it was revealed that Levenson’s emails were discovered during the team’s investigation into insensitive comments by general manager Danny Ferry during a conference call to discuss the potential signing of free agent Luol Deng.

Levenson announced he would sell his share of the team — a process that is still ongoing — while Ferry took an indefinite leave that lasted all season. Budenholzer, with help from assistant GM Wes Wilcox, was forced to take control of player personnel matters as well as his coaching duties.

Amid the turmoil, Budenholzer molded a tight-knit unit that has been willing to sacrifice individual stats for the good of the team.

“He’s a family-oriented person, and he spread that all throughout this organization,” Teague said. “He’s always been straight-forward with us. He’s never sugarcoated anything. A guy like that, he’s going to win awards like this.”

After a sluggish start, the Hawks suddenly got hot in December. They set a franchise record with a 19-game winning streak and in January became the first NBA team to go 17-0 in a calendar month.

The streak brought a commanding lead in the East, and Atlanta finished seven games ahead of the overwhelming preseason favorites, LeBron James and the Cleveland Cavaliers.

The 45-year-old Budenholzer was credited with bringing to Atlanta the fast-paced, team-oriented style that worked so well for the Spurs. The Hawks had six players average in double figures, with the five starters finishing between 12.1 and 16.7 points a game.

His philosophy was best epitomized when all five starters were honored as NBA players of the month for January, the first time the league has given the award to an entire unit.

The success led to a huge jump in attendance for a franchise that traditionally struggled to draw fans. Atlanta averaged a team-record 17,412 per game, an increase of more than 21 percent from the previous season.

Budenholzer and his assistants have spent a lot of time focusing on player development. Paul Millsap made the All-Star Game for the first time after coming to Atlanta. Teague emerged as one of the league’s top point guards. DeMarre Carroll became a valued starter after bouncing around to four teams his first four years in the NBA. Dennis Schroder, who barely played as a rookie, improved to double-figure scoring this season and leads Atlanta’s deep bench.

“He was really hard on me last year,” Schroder said of Budenholzer. “I was mad about it. But now I recognize that it really helped me. He’s an amazing guy. He really cares about me and the team. I love that.”

___

Follow Paul Newberry on www.twitter.com/pnewberry1963

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Seth Curry Makes Impressive Debut with the Golden State Warriors

Seth looked comfortable in his new uniform, seamlessly fitting into the Warriors’ offensive and defensive system. He finished the night with an impressive 14 points, becoming one of the team’s top scorers for the game. Seth’s points came in a variety of ways – floaters, spot-up three-pointers, mid-range jumpers, and a handful of aggressive drives that kept the Oklahoma City Thunder defense on its heels.

Published

4 weeks ago

December 4, 2025

Oakland Post

Seth Curry is a point guard on the GSW team.Photo courtesy of the Golden State Warriors.

By Y’Anad Burrell

Tuesday night was anything but ordinary for fans in San Francisco as Seth Curry made his highly anticipated debut as a new member of the Golden State Warriors. Seth didn’t disappoint, delivering a performance that not only showcased his scoring ability but also demonstrated his added value to the team.

At 35, the 12-year NBA veteran on Monday signed a contract to play with the Warriors for the rest of the season.

One of the most memorable moments of the evening came before Seth even scored his first points. As he checked into the game, the Chase Center erupted into applause, with fans rising to their feet to give the newest Warrior a standing ovation.

The crowd’s reaction was a testament not only to Seth’s reputation as a sharpshooter but also to the excitement he brings to the Warriors. It was clear that fans quickly embraced Seth as one of their own, eager to see what he could bring to the team’s championship aspirations.

Warriors’ superstar Steph Curry – Seth’s brother – did not play due to an injury. One could only imagine what it would be like if the Curry brothers were on the court together. Magic in the making.

Seth’s debut proved to be a turning point for the Warriors. Not only did he contribute on the scoreboard, but he also brought a sense of confidence and composure to the floor.

While their loss last night, OKC 124 – GSW 112, Seth’s impact was a game-changer and there’s more yet to come. Beyond statistics, it was clear that Seth’s presence elevated the team’s performance, giving the Warriors a new force as they look to make a deep playoff run.

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Barbara Lee

WNBA’s Golden State Valkyries Kick Off Season with Community Programs in Oakland

“The Golden State Valkyries are more than a team—they’re a movement,” said Oakland Interim-Mayor Kevin Jenkins. “Their touchdown in Oakland marks a new era of opportunity, inspiration, and equity in sports. This partnership reflects our city’s deep commitment to uplifting women, investing in youth, and building a community where every dream has a place to grow. We’re proud to welcome the Valkyries to The Town.”

Published

8 months ago

May 18, 2025

Oakland Post

The Valkyries came to Oakland City Hall with a “Hoopbus.” Present were (from left to right): City Councilmembers Noel Gallo, Rebecca Kaplan, Zac Unger and Rowena Brown; Oakland Mayor-elect Barbara Lee, Valkyries President Jess Smith, a Valkyries team representative and Deputy Mayor LaNiece Jones. Photo courtesy Rebecca Kaplan’s office.

Team installs new nets at playgrounds, holds flag-raisings at City Halls in Oakland and S.F.

Special to The Post

The Golden State Valkyries brought the excitement of their inaugural season to every corner of the Bay Area with a full slate of community celebrations leading up to their historic home-opener against the Los Angeles Sparks at the Chase Center in San Francisco on Friday.

The week featured flag-raising ceremonies at city halls in Oakland and San Francisco, three “Violet Net” installation days at Oakland parks to encourage basketball play, fun “Hoopbus” takeovers at multiple schools presented by Kaiser Permanente, and player appearances.

In total, 90 violet nets were installed on 45 basketball courts across 34 public parks throughout Oakland this week. A list of the parks receiving violet nets can be found at Valkyries.com.

About the Golden State Valkyries

The Golden State Valkyries, the WNBA affiliate of the seven-time NBA Champion Golden State Warriors, were announced as the 13th WNBA franchise on Oct. 5, 2023. According to Norse mythology, Valkyries are a host of warrior women who are fearless and unwavering – flying through air and sea alike.

This brand is Golden State’s modern interpretation of Valkyries: strong, bold, and fierce. Tipping off during the 2025 WNBA season, the team is headquartered in Oakland and will play home games at Chase Center in San Francisco. For Golden State Valkyries’ assets, including team logos, visit valkyries.com.

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McClymonds High Names School Gym for Star Graduate, Basketball Legend Bill Russell

William “Bill” Felton Russell was born on Feb. 12, 1934, and died on July 31, 2022. He achieved fame as a U.S. professional basketball player who played center for the Boston Celtics of the National Basketball Association (NBA) from 1956 to 1969. He was the centerpiece of the Celtics dynasty that won 11 NBA championships during his 13-year career.

Published

11 months ago

February 18, 2025

Oakland Post

Bill Russell and Brian McGhee in McClymonds High School Gym, 2011. Photo courtesy of Brian McGhee.

By Ken Epstein

West Oakland’s McClymonds High School, “the School of Champions,” this week named the school’s gymnasium in honor of one of its most famous graduates, basketball legend Bill Russell (class of ’52).

Russell is widely known as one of the greatest basketball players of all time. In 2011, he received the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the country’s highest civil honor, from President Barack Obama for Russell’s contributions to basketball and the Civil Rights Movement.

The McClymonds’ naming ceremony was held on Wednesday, the same day as Russell’s birthday. Oakland leader Bill Patterson, a longtime friend of Russell’s, was scheduled to cut the ribbon at the reopening of the gym, which had been closed for several months for renovation. Russell’s daughter Karen was scheduled to attend the ribbon cutting.

Russell’s name and signature are now printed on the gymnasium floor.

Patterson was working at DeFremery Park when he met Russell. “I befriended him as a boy and during his years at University of San Francisco” said Patterson. “We stayed friends for the rest of his life.”

Said McClymonds Principal Darielle Davis, herself a McClymonds graduate, “We are excited to honor Bill Russell for his sports accolades and because he broke color barriers. He is part of our legacy, and legacy is really important at McClymonds.”

Brian McGhee, community schools manager at McClymonds and former football player at UC Berkeley, said that Russell meant a lot to him and others at the school. “He was a beacon of light and hope for West Oakland,” he said. “He did a lot for sports and for civil rights.”

Starting in 2018, Ben “Coach” Tapscott worked with Patterson and other McClymonds grads, community members, and former coaches to encourage the Oakland Board of Education to endorse the naming of the school gym, which finally happened recently.

“We worked hard to make this happen,” said Tapscott. “He’s an important part of McClymond’s history, along with a lot of other famous graduates,” he said.