Atlanta Hawks' Mike Budenholzer beats Steve Kerr to NBA Coach of the Year prize

By Pascal Lemesre, Football League Editor

Published: April 21 2015 | 16:28

Last updated: April 22 2015 | 20:57

Atlanta Hawks coach Mike Budenholzer edges out Golden State Warriors counterpart Steve Kerr to win the 2014-15 NBA Coach of the Year award.

Mike Budenholzer of the Atlanta Hawks has been named the 2014-15 NBA Coach of the Year after edging out Steve Kerr of the Golden State Warriors in a close race for the award.

The 45-year-old received 67 first-place votes from a panel of 130 sportswriters and broadcasters, finishing on a total of 513 points to edge out rookie coach Kerr (471).

The duo were the only ones in contention for the Red Auerbach trophy, with third-placed Jason Kidd of the Milwaukee Bucks amassing 57 points.

Budenholzer led the Hawks to the top seed in the Eastern Conference with a 60-22 record - the best regular-season record in the club's history.

Kerr's Warriors secured the best record in the league by finishing 67-15, but Budenholzer was rewarded for turning the Hawks from the eighth-best team in the East last season to the best this year.