Martinez Johnson Nominated for Community Coach of the Year

ATLANTA – Ahead of tonight’s game, the Atlanta Hawks honored their Jr. NBA/Jr. WNBA Coach of the Year nominees, Lorenzo Bailey and Martinez Johnson, recognizing their exceptional leadership, unwavering dedication, and transformative impact in shaping the lives of youth across metro Atlanta.

“Coaching is about far more than wins and losses,” said Jon Babul, Vice President of Basketball Programs for the Atlanta Hawks. “Our Jr. NBA/Jr. WNBA Coach of the Year nominees, Lorenzo Bailey and Martinez Johnson, demonstrate the unique ability to empower, inspire, and lead young athletes to reach their full potential on and off the court. They show us that the true measure of a coach is the positive impact made in the lives of those they lead.” 

Johnson, assistant coach of the BlazeSports Jr. Hawks wheelchair basketball team, has been named the Community Coach of the Year nominee for his leadership in adaptive sports and dedication to expanding access for athletes of all abilities. A former BlazeSports athlete who is originally from Chicago and moved to Gwinnett County with cerebral palsy, Johnson discovered wheelchair basketball at age 14 and quickly became a standout player, leading him to receive and play on scholarship at the University of Illinois. Now giving back to the community that empowered him, he coaches adaptive athletes, ages six to 14, bringing a personal perspective to the game by designing individualized development plans and providing unique training programs.