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New Hawks coach Mike Budenholzer (left) and new GM Danny Ferry share a deep San Antonio bond

Budenholzer hoping Hawks learn finer points ofSpurs Way

Posted Aug 7 2013 1110 AM

If Mike Budenholzer wasnt comfortable in his own skin and wasnt well prepared for the task ahead the prospect of

what hes facing as the new coach of the Atlanta Hawks might have rattled him

But you dont spend nearly two decades in the championship bubble that is the San Antonio Spurs and not gain a

measure of unmatched confidence in the NBA

Sure the Lakers have won in the same fashion during that two-decade stretch and other teams have popped on and off

the championship radar during that time But no one has done it as consistently and with the same internal continuity as

San Antonio And Budenholzer Gregg Popovichs self-proclaimed right-hand man for so much of that time brings an

edge to training camp that some of his first-time contemporaries wish they had

8813 Budenholzer hoping Hawks learn finer points of Spurs Way | NBAcom

wwwnbacom2013newsfeaturessekou_smith0806new-coach-series-2013-mike-budenholzer-atlanta-hawks 713

Were going to find out whether the Spurs Way works without Tim Duncan Tony Parker and Manu Ginobili at the

controls Budenholzer takes over a Hawks team that had its roster gutted by free agency at the end of last season and

will work with a largely new cast of characters Its a roster he helped craft alongside his good friend and former co-

worker in San Antonio Hawks general manager Danny Ferry

That relationship with Ferry is what helped lead Budenholzer who had turned down countless opportunities to leave the

Spurs over the years to the Hawks

Having someone I can trust and work with who sees the game the way I do and who wants to work collaboratively

was a huge part of why I wanted to be here Budenholzer said Someone to hear all of my crazy ideas someone who

to argue with and who will argue back at me and we can agree or disagree and its not the end of the world all of that

is critical for me Ownership here is really strong and with Dannys influence all of those are the things a coach should

want in an opportunity

It certainly didnt hurt that the Hawks had basically a blank slate -- Al Horford Lou Williams and John Jenkins were the

only players with guaranteed contracts for the 2013-14 season when free agency began on July 1 -- to work with After

years of being intimately involved with the team-building process in San Antonio Budenholzer knew he needed the

same sort of input with Atlanta if he was ultimately responsible for the teams performance

The $30 million in cap space the flexibility that creates made this opportunity really attractive Budenholzer said I

knew I could help build the team from the Draft and in free agency but I also wanted to be able to have input on putting

this group together And that was the case

The Hawks fortified the roster with a number of moves none of which would be considered offseason home runs They

added Paul Millsap to replace Josh Smith and veterans Elton Brand and Gustavo Ayon to solidify that rotation They

also re-signed Kyle Korver drafted point guard Dennis Schroeder and acquired the Draft rights to center LucasNoguiera and got second-year shooting guard Jared Cunningham (from Dallas) Restricted free agent Jeff Teague

signed a four-year $32 million offer sheet with the Milwaukee Bucks which the Hawks matched That gives

Budenholzer another young point guard to work with much as he did with Parker years earlier

Mike Budenholzer InterviewHaw ks head coach Mike Budenholzer talks about Atlantas future and the

Spurs coming up short to the Heat in the NBA Finals

8813 Budenholzer hoping Hawks learn finer points of Spurs Way | NBAcom

wwwnbacom2013newsfeaturessekou_smith0806new-coach-series-2013-mike-budenholzer-atlanta-hawks 813

Bud is going to be great for Teague and their point guards because hes been in there shoes and been doing this for

years Parker said during The Finals when Budenholzers move was first announced He was always in my ear andalways on me about making the [changes] to my game that needed to be made Im going to miss him being here every

day Hes going to be great for that team and franchise

The Hawks missed out on the big prizes (and their top targets) of the summer Dwight Howard (Houston Rockets) and

Chris Paul (Los Angeles Clippers) So the big-name sizzle the Hawks were hoping to add never happened

Budenholzer doesnt exactly bring the name-recognition hype other candidates might but he more than makes up for

that often useless trait with a wealth of experience that few assistant coaches could match He not only served as

Popovichs lead assistant during a four-for-five championship run in San Antonio he also has an extensive scouting and

film work background including serving as the advance scout for the 2004 US Olympic team

Ferry wanted a coach who was more substance than style more hard work than hype He got that in Budenholzer a

coach whose basketball IQ is matched only by his world-class pedigree And as coach Budenholzer was determined to

find players with the same traits this summer

We wanted to put together a group that is really first and foremost great competitors Budenholzer said You have

to have guys that will compete every night every possession Bringing in a guy like Paul a guy with a really high

basketball IQ and how hard he plays was big In Paul and Elton and Gustavo Ayon we feel like were adding guys

who check all of those boxes and will play together as a group Theyre better as a group than they are individually

Ferry on BudenholzerDanny Ferry joins to GameTime to talk about the recent hire of new Haw ks

coach Mike Budenholzer

8813 Budenholzer hoping Hawks learn finer points of Spurs Way | NBAcom

wwwnbacom2013newsfeaturessekou_smith0806new-coach-series-2013-mike-budenholzer-atlanta-hawks 913

That said there is still the issue of that 18-inch slide from the lead assistants chair to the coachs chair that has to be

managed And no amount of watching and learning on the job will change that Budenholzer might have learned from a

master in Popovich who handpicked Budenholzer for this life years ago when he recruited him to play at Pomona

College But he has to craft his own style and create a niche for himself in a league filled with dynamic personalities and

accomplished coaches

Based on his experience working with both men Popovich believes the Ferry-Budenholzer combination could be a

powerful one for the Hawks provided they stick to the fundamentals that have helped the Spurs thrive

If everybody feels empowered that they can without fear give their opinion on something and it doesnt affect their

position he said now you have something powerful working for your organization and now those ideas are out there

and they can be taken and they can be used and we dont give a damn where the idea came from I know Bud and

Danny will do it exactly the same way

Even after working in the collaborative environment used in San Antonio where a group of nine or 10 people (coaches

executives owners scouts video guys etc) would discuss and debate any number of team-related topics Budenholzer

assumes a totally different role in the Hawks war room

As a head coach you have to think about the entire group with every decision you make he said Up and down the

line front and back it has to be about the entire group and the bigger picture As an assistant you have lots of ideas andsuggestions that might be perfect for that moment and time but you dont think through all of the ramifications down the

road As a head coach its about being conscious of the whole group and whats best for us long term And thats on and

off the court

Life off the court might actually be a tougher transition for Budenholzer this season than anything hell deal with inside the

Hawks hoops cocoon Hell adjust to a new team franchise and city while his wife Mary Beth and their four children

remain in San Antonio this year

Ill adjust quickly Budenholzer said adding that the initial conversation about leaving San Antonio after 19 years was

filled with mixed emotions all around There is some excitement and nervousness and sadness particularly from the

family Theyre really excited for me but a little nervous about what lies ahead and what the future holds But the idea of

leaving that cocoon and home base naturally there is some uncertainty there But I couldnt be more excited and Im

looking forward to what were going to build here in Atlanta

Sekou Smith is a veteran NBA reporter and the author of NBAcoms Hang Time blog You can e-mail him here

Budenholzer IntroducedMike Budenholzer is introduced as the Haw ks new head coach

8813 Budenholzer hoping Hawks learn finer points of Spurs Way | NBAcom

wwwnbacom2013newsfeaturessekou_smith0806new-coach-series-2013-mike-budenholzer-atlanta-hawks 813

Bud is going to be great for Teague and their point guards because hes been in there shoes and been doing this for

years Parker said during The Finals when Budenholzers move was first announced He was always in my ear andalways on me about making the [changes] to my game that needed to be made Im going to miss him being here every

day Hes going to be great for that team and franchise

The Hawks missed out on the big prizes (and their top targets) of the summer Dwight Howard (Houston Rockets) and

Chris Paul (Los Angeles Clippers) So the big-name sizzle the Hawks were hoping to add never happened

Budenholzer doesnt exactly bring the name-recognition hype other candidates might but he more than makes up for

that often useless trait with a wealth of experience that few assistant coaches could match He not only served as

Popovichs lead assistant during a four-for-five championship run in San Antonio he also has an extensive scouting and

film work background including serving as the advance scout for the 2004 US Olympic team

Ferry wanted a coach who was more substance than style more hard work than hype He got that in Budenholzer a

coach whose basketball IQ is matched only by his world-class pedigree And as coach Budenholzer was determined to

find players with the same traits this summer

We wanted to put together a group that is really first and foremost great competitors Budenholzer said You have

to have guys that will compete every night every possession Bringing in a guy like Paul a guy with a really high

basketball IQ and how hard he plays was big In Paul and Elton and Gustavo Ayon we feel like were adding guys

who check all of those boxes and will play together as a group Theyre better as a group than they are individually

Ferry on BudenholzerDanny Ferry joins to GameTime to talk about the recent hire of new Haw ks

coach Mike Budenholzer

8813 Budenholzer hoping Hawks learn finer points of Spurs Way | NBAcom

wwwnbacom2013newsfeaturessekou_smith0806new-coach-series-2013-mike-budenholzer-atlanta-hawks 913

That said there is still the issue of that 18-inch slide from the lead assistants chair to the coachs chair that has to be

managed And no amount of watching and learning on the job will change that Budenholzer might have learned from a

master in Popovich who handpicked Budenholzer for this life years ago when he recruited him to play at Pomona

College But he has to craft his own style and create a niche for himself in a league filled with dynamic personalities and

accomplished coaches

Based on his experience working with both men Popovich believes the Ferry-Budenholzer combination could be a

powerful one for the Hawks provided they stick to the fundamentals that have helped the Spurs thrive

If everybody feels empowered that they can without fear give their opinion on something and it doesnt affect their

position he said now you have something powerful working for your organization and now those ideas are out there

and they can be taken and they can be used and we dont give a damn where the idea came from I know Bud and

Danny will do it exactly the same way

Even after working in the collaborative environment used in San Antonio where a group of nine or 10 people (coaches

executives owners scouts video guys etc) would discuss and debate any number of team-related topics Budenholzer

assumes a totally different role in the Hawks war room

As a head coach you have to think about the entire group with every decision you make he said Up and down the

line front and back it has to be about the entire group and the bigger picture As an assistant you have lots of ideas andsuggestions that might be perfect for that moment and time but you dont think through all of the ramifications down the

road As a head coach its about being conscious of the whole group and whats best for us long term And thats on and

off the court

Life off the court might actually be a tougher transition for Budenholzer this season than anything hell deal with inside the

Hawks hoops cocoon Hell adjust to a new team franchise and city while his wife Mary Beth and their four children

remain in San Antonio this year

Ill adjust quickly Budenholzer said adding that the initial conversation about leaving San Antonio after 19 years was

filled with mixed emotions all around There is some excitement and nervousness and sadness particularly from the

family Theyre really excited for me but a little nervous about what lies ahead and what the future holds But the idea of

leaving that cocoon and home base naturally there is some uncertainty there But I couldnt be more excited and Im

looking forward to what were going to build here in Atlanta

Sekou Smith is a veteran NBA reporter and the author of NBAcoms Hang Time blog You can e-mail him here

Budenholzer IntroducedMike Budenholzer is introduced as the Haw ks new head coach

8813 Budenholzer hoping Hawks learn finer points of Spurs Way | NBAcom

wwwnbacom2013newsfeaturessekou_smith0806new-coach-series-2013-mike-budenholzer-atlanta-hawks 913

That said there is still the issue of that 18-inch slide from the lead assistants chair to the coachs chair that has to be

managed And no amount of watching and learning on the job will change that Budenholzer might have learned from a

master in Popovich who handpicked Budenholzer for this life years ago when he recruited him to play at Pomona

College But he has to craft his own style and create a niche for himself in a league filled with dynamic personalities and

accomplished coaches

Based on his experience working with both men Popovich believes the Ferry-Budenholzer combination could be a

powerful one for the Hawks provided they stick to the fundamentals that have helped the Spurs thrive

If everybody feels empowered that they can without fear give their opinion on something and it doesnt affect their

position he said now you have something powerful working for your organization and now those ideas are out there

and they can be taken and they can be used and we dont give a damn where the idea came from I know Bud and

Danny will do it exactly the same way

Even after working in the collaborative environment used in San Antonio where a group of nine or 10 people (coaches

executives owners scouts video guys etc) would discuss and debate any number of team-related topics Budenholzer

assumes a totally different role in the Hawks war room

As a head coach you have to think about the entire group with every decision you make he said Up and down the

line front and back it has to be about the entire group and the bigger picture As an assistant you have lots of ideas andsuggestions that might be perfect for that moment and time but you dont think through all of the ramifications down the

road As a head coach its about being conscious of the whole group and whats best for us long term And thats on and

off the court

Life off the court might actually be a tougher transition for Budenholzer this season than anything hell deal with inside the

Hawks hoops cocoon Hell adjust to a new team franchise and city while his wife Mary Beth and their four children

remain in San Antonio this year

Ill adjust quickly Budenholzer said adding that the initial conversation about leaving San Antonio after 19 years was

filled with mixed emotions all around There is some excitement and nervousness and sadness particularly from the

family Theyre really excited for me but a little nervous about what lies ahead and what the future holds But the idea of

leaving that cocoon and home base naturally there is some uncertainty there But I couldnt be more excited and Im

looking forward to what were going to build here in Atlanta

Sekou Smith is a veteran NBA reporter and the author of NBAcoms Hang Time blog You can e-mail him here

Budenholzer IntroducedMike Budenholzer is introduced as the Haw ks new head coach

8813 Budenholzer hoping Hawks learn finer points of Spurs Way | NBAcom

wwwnbacom2013newsfeaturessekou_smith0806new-coach-series-2013-mike-budenholzer-atlanta-hawks 1013

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