The wearing of a bow tie will be a different look for Mike Budenholzer.
The Hawks coach is glad to don the apparel in honor of Michael Goldberg for tonight’s game against the Wizards.
Goldberg was the executive director of the National Basketball Coaches Association for nearly 40 years. He died last week at the age of 73 at his home in New York City.
Budenholzer got emotional Friday morning speaking of Goldberg whom he has known all the way back to his days in the Spurs’ video room.
“I remember going back to being a video coordinator 20-something years ago,” Budenholzer said. “Him being worried whether the video guys were getting what they needed in the visiting locker room and we needed to make sure you have everything you need to keep the head coach and the assistant coach happy. I was like ‘I’m so far down the totem pole. You actually care about me?’
“Including becoming a first-time head coach and concern that everything in the contract was what it needed to be and he wanted to be an advocate for me. Including (lengthy pause) within the last month he was willing to do something for me that would have taken a lot of time, energy and effort. He’s just a good man.”
NBA coaches have worn bow ties in honor of Goldberg recently. The Wizards have been provided with bow ties for tonight’s game and may wear them as well.
Goldberg took over the NBCA in 1980. The association recently announced that it would give out a Coach of the Year award. It will be named after Goldberg. The Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame will give Goldberg its lifetime achievement award this year.
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