The Hawks added to their coaching staff Thursday by naming Taylor Jenkins as an assistant coach. Jenkins was the head coach of the Austin Toros of the NBA Development League, an affiliate of the Spurs.
Jenkins led the Toros to a 27-23 (.540) record and a playoff berth last season. The Toros defeated the Bakersfield Jam, the Hawks’ affiliate, before a semifinal loss to the Santa Cruz Warriors. He previously served as an assistant coach with the Toros for four seasons.
“Taylor is a talented, hard-working coach who has a great grasp of the system that we are going to implement,” Hawks coach Mike Budenholzer said in a statement. “He gained valuable experience working in the NBA Development League the past five seasons and with his attention to detail and energy, he will be an asset to my staff.”
Jenkins joins a staff with assistants Quin Snyder, Darvin Ham and Kenny Atkinson.
Schroder signs: The Hawks announced the signing of point guard Dennis Schroder on Thursday. The first-round draft pick (No. 17 overall) agreed to a rookie-pay-scale contract.
Schroder announced his signing Wednesday on Twitter.
The 19-year-old German played professionally for the New Yorker Phantoms Braunschweig last season before declaring for the draft. In Germany’s top league, the Beko League, Schroder averaged 11.9 points, 3.3 assists and 2.5 rebounds in 24.7 minutes. He had a year remaining on his contract in Germany, and a buyout had to be negotiated. Schroder will play for the Hawks in the Las Vegas Summer League, which begins play Friday.
The draftee has requested a change to the German spelling of his last name Schroder. In previous documentation by the NBA and the Hawks, the last name was spelled Schroeder.
Holman back for 29th season: Steve Holman's streak of 2,050 consecutive Hawks radio broadcasts will continue.
The radio voice of the team recently agreed to a multiyear contract and will return for a 29th season.
“It’s what I do,” Holman said. “It’s an honor and privilege to do the games. It’s my passion. I feel like I was passionate about this before it was fashionable to be passionate.”
Holman, 59, said it was a dream to spend an entire career with one team, as did his mentors Johnny Most with the Celtics and Chick Hearn with the Lakers.
“I’m still plugging away,” Holman said. “It’s been amazing.”
Hawks games will be broadcast next season by a new flagship station, 92.9 The Game.
Summer League roster: The Hawks announced their roster for the Las Vegas Summer League on Thursday.
The roster consists of forward Jared Cunningham (6-foot-4, 194 pounds), forward Ed Daniel (6-7, 228), forward Eric Dawson (6-7, 255), guard Sergiy Gladyr (6-1, 190), guard John Jenkins (6-4, 215), guard Shelvin Mack (6-3, 210), center Boban Marjanovic (7-3, 271), forward John Millsap (6-6, 220), center Mike Muscala (6-11, 239), Schroder (6-1, 168), forward Mike Scott (6-8, 237), forward Adonis Thomas (6-7, 240) and forward Kyle Weems (6-6, 232).
Center Lucas Nogueira, a first-round draft pick, is not listed on the team’s initial roster, but could be added at a later date. The team is still working through issues with FIBA, basketball’s international governing body, for the Brazilian who played professionally in Spain.
Hawks assistant Quin Snyder initially will coach the team. The Hawks open Friday night against the Clippers and will play a minimum of five games.
Horford headed to South Africa: Center Al Horford will take part in the NBA's 2013 Basketball without Borders program and visit South Africa on Aug. 29-Sept. 1.
Basketball without Borders is a joint venture between the NBA and FIBA, basketball’s international governing body. According to the organizations, the camp is designed to use the sport to create positive social change.
There also will be a camp in Portugal and a program in Argentina.
Joining Horford in South Africa will be players Kyrie Irving, Joakim Noah, Serge Ibaka, Thabo Sefolosha and Hasheem Thabeet as camp coaches. Former Hawk Dikembe Mutombo will serve as a global ambassador.
Also, Horford will be in London this weekend to do promotional work for the Hawks’ regular-season game against the Nets on Jan. 16.
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