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Atlanta’s Mike Budenholzer voted NBA coach of the year

Atlanta Hawks head coach Mike Budenholzer signals to his players in the first half of an NBA playoff basketball game against the Brooklyn Nets Sunday, April 19, 2015, in Atlanta. Atlanta won 99-92. (AP Photo/John Bazemore) Atlanta Hawks head coach Mike Budenholzer signals to his players in the first half of an NBA playoff basketball game against the Brooklyn Nets Sunday, April 19, 2015, in Atlanta. Atlanta won 99-92. (AP Photo/John Bazemore)

By Associated Press April 21, 2015 1 min read

ATLANTA (AP) – Mike Budenholzer of the Atlanta Hawks has been chosen as NBA coach of the year.

The second-year coach was honored Tuesday after leading the Hawks to a 60-22 record – the best in franchise history – and top seed in the Eastern Conference playoffs.

Budenholzer received 67 first-place votes and 513 points overall in balloting by sports writers and broadcasters. Golden State’s Steve Kerr, who guided the Warriors to an NBA-best 67-15 record, received 56 first-place votes and 471 points.

A longtime assistant at San Antonio, Budenholzer’s team was plagued by injuries and went 38-44 in his debut season. But the Hawks surged to the top of the East, giving Atlanta its first coach of the year since Lenny Wilkins in 1994.