The start of Mike Budenholzer's tenure with the Atlanta Hawks is beginning on a low. The first-year Hawks coach was arrested early Thursday morning in Atlanta and charged with a DUI.
According to the Atlanta Journal Constitution, a state trooper pulled Budenholzer over because his tail lights were out. The trooper then smelled alcohol on Budenholzer's breath and arrested the first-year coach after administering a field sobriety test following the coach's refusal of a breathalyzer test.
The Hawks made an official statement regarding the arrest to Zach Klein of WSB TV in Atlanta.
"Bud made us aware of the situation last night. We are in the process of gathering more information and will have further comment at the appropriate time," the Hawks statement read according to Klein.
After posting bail set at $1,524, Budenholzer was released from jail at 3:45 a.m. Thursday morning.
Budenholzer was brought on by Atlanta this past offseason to replace Larry Drew on the Hawks bench.
Budenholzer served as video coordinator and then as an assistant coach during a 17-year tenure with the San Antonio Spurs under Gregg Popovich. He was with the Spurs from 1996-2013 before striking a deal to coach for the Hawks following the 2013 NBA postseason.
Last season, the Hawks went 44-38, good enough for second in the Southeast division and sixth in the Eastern Conference. While the team enjoyed moderate success, it was eliminated in the first round by the Indiana Pacers in six games.
The team will look to rebound this year under Budenholzer, whose Spurs went an impressive 58-24 last season with Budenholzer as an assistant, finishing in first place in the Southwest division and second overall in the Western Conference. The Spurs were seconds away from the NBA title until they dropped the seventh game to the Miami Heat.
Reports indicate that if he's found guilty, Budenholzer will likely receive a two-game suspension as Brooklyn Nets coach Jason Kidd and former Sacramento Kings head coach Eric Musselman received that fate under similar circumstances.
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