Coach Bud to serve as Asst Coach with Team Africa

[Jamaaliver]

AJC Reports:

Hawks coach Mike Budenholzer will serve as an assistant for Team Africa in next month’s NBA Africa Game 2015.

The game will feature Team Africa versus Team World and will be played in Johannesburg, South Africa on Aug. 1. The game, which will support several charities, will air live on ESPN at 9 p.m.

Team Africa will be coached by Gregg Popovich and Monty Williams will also serve as an assistant with Budenholzer, the NBA Coach of the Year. The roster of players consists of Luol Deng, Al-Farouq Aminu, Giannis Antetokounmpo, Nicolas Batum, Bismack Biyombo, Boris Diaw, Gorgui Deng, Festus Ezeli, Serge Ibaka and Luc Mbah a Moute. Billy King and Masai Ujiri are the general managers.

Amusing irony or calculated PR move?

[Jamaaliver]

Glad to see the Coach and Pres getting additional recognition and good press for the home team.

No way this is a coincidence, though. Not with Luol Deng on the actual team. Clearly some fence mending will be done with Luol specifically (if it hasn't already) and with players of African descent in general.

Brilliant decision on everyone's part, and I have no doubt Coach Pop played a part in ensuring his former protégé was included.