Mike Budenholzer paid his dues during a long apprenticeship with one of the NBA's most successful franchises and the hard work paid off as he was named head coach of the Atlanta Hawks on Tuesday.

Budenholzer, 43, spent the past 17 seasons with the San Antonio Spurs as an assistant coach, serving the past six years as the top assistant to coach Gregg Popovich.

Budenholzer takes over from coach Larry Drew. Drew steered Atlanta to a 44-38 regular season record. It was eliminated from the first round of the playoffs by the Indiana Pacers.

As an assistant coach, he helped the Spurs to a league-best 908-438 overall regular season record and NBA titles in 1999, 2003, 2005 and 2007.

"I have been extremely fortunate to be a part of the San Antonio Spurs organization," said Budenholzer. "I knew it would have to be a tremendous situation for me to leave and clearly coming to Atlanta as the head coach of the Hawks is perfect for me."

Reuters

(China Daily 05/30/2013 page22)