For Hawks' Mike Budenholzer, 'it's not that complicated'

Jeff Zillgitt | USA TODAY Sports

Mike Budenholzer knew at an early age he wanted to coach.

"What do you want to be when you grow up? A teacher and a coach," Budenholzer recalled. "It seemed liked something I would really enjoy. There wasn't a lot of wavering and doubt about what I wanted to do."

San Antonio Spurs Gregg Popovich says he knew Budenholzer, one of his longtime assistants and now the coach of the Atlanta Hawks, would be an NBA head coach about 10 years ago.

"You have a pretty good feel for when someone's gone around the block enough with the ups and downs of what the league really is, what it takes to win, what you want to stay away from because it helps you lose and you know when somebody's been around long enough to understand that," Popovich said.

Budenholzer, 45, has led to the Hawks to a 43-10 record entering Wednesday's first-half finale, best in the Eastern Conference and earning him the task of East All-Star coach. Halfway through his second season as Atlanta's coach, he has established himself as one of the top coaches in the league. He's a strong candidate for coach of the year this season.

Hawks players recognized right away Budenholzer was ready to lead an NBA team.

"I've always felt a majority of coaches are either players' coaches but they're not good X's and O's guys or they're super-heavy on the X's and O's but they have a hard time relating to players," Hawks guard Kyle Korver said. "There's some exceptions but not a lot. Bud is the best I've ever been around who gets both the locker room and X's and O's.

"He very quickly earned everyone's respect by both his approach to the game and competitiveness he shows, his desire to win and how he treats you every day. He never plays mind games with you. He's so up-front. Everyone knows where they stand at all times."

The effect has been palpable. The Hawks have had three winning streaks of at least five games, including a league-best 19-game streak this season. Atlanta is fifth in offensive efficiency and ninth in defensive efficiency, and teams that fall in the top 10 in both generally excel in the playoffs.

Budenholzer spent 19 seasons with the Spurs, first as a video coordinator for Popovich and later as his lead assistant.

There's inclination to label Atlanta the Spurs of the East, and there's some truth to that. Atlanta's tough defense and selfless ball-movement on offense, along with Budenholzer's two decades with Popovich, lead to those comparisons.

"It's good solid, fundamental basketball, and that's what the Spurs have done at a high level for a really long time," Budenholzer said. "Hopefully, high school teams are doing it, college teams are doing it, and eighth grade teams are doing it."

Popovich added, "Bud believes in the things we believe in but after that, he's his own man and he's adjusted things — taken things we've done that he likes and thrown other things in the toilet because he thinks they stink and added his own stuff. Beliefs are the same and how to play philosophically but after that, he's put his own stamp on that team."

Budenholzer says the key to his team's success this season is communication. His with the team and the team with each other.

"The more we communicate with each other, the greater chance we have for growth, improvement and success," Budenholzer said. "If you can't communicate what it is you want and expect, it's hard to hold them accountable and have high standards and high expectations."

Hawks forward DeMarre Carroll discovered that when Budenholzer texted Carroll and admitted a mistake.

"He's not afraid to say he made a mistake. We really respect that," Carroll said. "He calls you often and sends you text messages after games. Most coaches don't do that. The game is over, and they don't have communication until the next time they see you.

"But more than that, he's a great person. He cares about his players. That's hard to find in the NBA. He's got all the aspects of a great coach."

Budenholzer doesn't think he has a coaching philosophy. "A 'philosophy' sounds more profound and complicated than anything we're doing," he said. "I do believe in guys playing ball, making reads and making decisions and playing off each other and covering for each other.

"Big-picture, that's something we're embracing and encouraging — playing together and playing with confidence and opportunities and sharing with your teammate.

"It's not that complicated."

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But if it were that easy, everyone would be doing it.

Budenholzer, like Popovich, prefers he not be the story and that attention goes to players. It's admirable but impossible, given the season Atlanta is having.

Budenholzer is the son of basketball coach. His dad, Vince, won a high school state title in 1971 and is in the Arizona Coaches Association Hall of Fame. The younger Budenholzer grew up in a gym.

"I was at practices and games and ballin' in the crib," he said. "I have vivid memories, and it's obviously a big part of who I am today."

Budenholzer played college ball at Pomona College, the same school where Popovich coached. Though Budenholzer didn't play for Popovich, Popovich brought him to the Golden State Warriors when he worked for Don Nelson.

"I first brought him on in a no-pay, be-quiet, don't-talk-to-me basis," Popovich said. "From there, I brought him as a film guy in San Antonio, and he moved his way up."

Budenholzer was also instrumental in helping Hawks players move beyond the inappropriate incident in which Hawks owner Bruce Levenson and general manager Danny Ferry made racially insensitive comments on separate occasions. Budenholzer stressed the best way to re-earn fan trust was to win.

Levenson and his ownership partners are selling the team, Ferry is on an indefinite leave of absence and Budenholzer oversees basketball operations, reporting to Hawks CEO Steve Koonin.

Koonin was so impressed with Budenholzer's knowledge of player personnel and the salary cap that it was a no-brainer putting Budenholzer in charge.

The Hawks have had three streaks of winning at least five games, including a season-best 19-game streak. Atlanta is fifth in offensive efficiency and ninth in defensive efficiency, and teams that fall in top 10 in both generally excel in the playoffs.

It has been a speedy transformation, getting it done in just his second season.

"We have a great group of guys. We have very good players," Budenholzer said. "They're very unselfish, they're smart, they have high character and really fit well together. It's the players and the way they're made up. There's been small, incremental improvements on an individual basis and on a team basis and it all starts with the players. They really believe in each other and what they're trying to do."

Popovich is impressed.

"I've watched them more than I've watched us, I think, because I've enjoyed it so much," he said. "He's doing a fantastic job, and it has very little to do with O's and X's. It's about putting a program together. All coaches know O's and X's. We all know that. There's no secret plays. He's not running anything secret that nobody's seen before or anything like that.

"It's about the program, it's about the process, it's about putting a group together that believes in each other, plays for each other, feels responsible for each other and gotten over themselves. It's all those things he's instilled. They've bought in, and they walk the walk."