"We started from nothing as a family," he said, "and we are going to be in every stage that we can be as a family."

Antetokounmpo said backstage that he had vowed to his family he wasn't going to cry.

"When you hear your name up there on the stage and then you realize these years of hard work, what you did in the past, then you start getting emotional," he said.

Budenholzer also got choked up while thanking his family after his second coaching honor. He earned the trophy for the first time with Atlanta in 2015.

He guided the Bucks to a 60-22 record in the regular season in his first year with the franchise, leading them to the Eastern Conference finals, where they lost to eventual NBA champion Toronto.

"What they did on the court this year, including the playoffs, was special," Budenholzer said backstage. "We weren't good enough in the end, but we certainly feel like we have enough talent, we have enough character to be a team that's playing in the finals and winning a championship."

Budenholzer also coached Team Giannis in the All-Star Game last season.

He beat out Denver's Mike Malone and Doc Rivers of the Los Angeles Clippers.

Horst was honored in voting by his fellow NBA executives, while the six biggest awards were determined in voting by a global media panel.