Kyle Korver was named as the recipient of the Joe Dumars trophy presented to the 2014-15 NBA Sportsmanship Award winner, the NBA announced Wednesday.

Korver was also named to the NBA All-Star team this season.

Elton Brand received interest from the New York Knicks last offseason and nearly signed with the team after speaking to Phil Jackson.

“It was at the deadline, at 12:01 a.m., then we spoke that morning,’’ Brand said. “It was surprising just because of his stature. It wasn’t surprising of what he was trying to do to rebuild that team and putting in that work. But it was surprising because he is who he is. It was like being in L.A. with the Clippers and all the championships he won when I was there.”

The Knicks offered Brand the veteran's minimum of $1.4 million, but the veteran forward chose to re-sign with the Atlanta Hawks on a $2 million deal.

“It definitely went down to the wire — the pros and cons,’’ Brand said. “Growing up in Westchester a big fan. It came down to the team. The team at this stage of my career, I knew what we had here, and we had a chance to go a little further. That’s what it came down to at the time.

“I got to make a decision if I’m going to play and come back. [The Knicks] are definitely on the radar for sure. Yeah, I’m thinking about it. Moving on to something else, but I still also love to play and still feel good. I’m going to look at both options.”

A group led by Antony Ressler that also includes Grant Hill are progressing on a deal to purchase the Atlanta Hawks. The purchase price is believed to be approximately $850 million.

The Hawks became available for purchase earlier this season.

Ressler has made his fortune in private equity.

Mike Budenholzer has been named the NBA Coach of the Year, beating out Steve Kerr.

Budenholzer received 67 first place votes, 58 second place votes and four third place votes.

Kerr received 56 first place votes, 61 second place votes and eight third place votes.

Jason Kidd finished third, followed by Brad Stevens, Gregg Popovich, Kevin McHale, Quin Snyder, David Blatt and Doc Rivers.

Al Horford returned to the Atlanta Hawks' Game 1 after suffering a dislocated right pinky finger.

The Hawks defeated the Brooklyn Nets on Sunday.

Thabo Sefolosha underwent successful surgery Thursday to repair fractures in his leg and is expected to return healthy for the Atlanta Hawks’ regular season opener in 2015-16, league sources told RealGM.

Sefolosha suffered injuries to his right leg in a physical altercation with the New York Police Department early last Wednesday, and videos emerged later online that appeared to show officers charging Sefolosha while on the ground and standing. After his legal matters last week, Sefolosha underwent a series of MRIs that revealed damages in his right leg.

Sefolosha brought versatility to the Hawks, a lengthy, 6-foot-7 forward capable of defending the NBA’s top players. He played in only 52 games this season, sustaining a calf injury in late January, but returned on March 25 and had increased his conditioning for the postseason.

In nine seasons with Chicago, Oklahoma City and Atlanta, Sefolosha has averaged 5.8 points, 3.8 rebounds, 1.5 assists and 1.1 steals per game. The 30-year-old signed a three-year, $12 million deal with the Hawks last summer.

The following are the matchups for the first round of the 2015 NBA Playoffs.

Western Conference
1. Golden State Warriors vs. 8. New Orleans Pelicans
2. Houston Rockets vs. Dallas Mavericks
3. Los Angeles Clippers vs. 6. San Antonio Spurs
4. Portland Trailblazers vs. 5. Memphis Grizzlies

Eastern Conference
1. Atlanta Hawks vs. 8. Brooklyn Nets
2. Cleveland Cavaliers vs. 7. Boston Celtics
3. Chicago Bulls vs. 6. Milwaukee Bucks
4. Toronto Raptors vs. Washington Wizards

Thabo Sefolosha has released the following statement following last week's incident with New York City Police that left him with a fractured right fibula and ligament damage. Sefolosha will miss the remainder of the season.

"I would like to begin by expressing my gratitude to my family and friends, the Hawks organization and my teammates. This has been a difficult time for me and I truly appreciate the support I have received from everyone. I am extremely disappointed that I will not be able to join my teammates on the court during the playoffs and apologize to them for any distraction this incident has caused. I will be cheering for them every step of the way and will be diligent in my rehabilitation.

"On advice of counsel, I hope you can appreciate that I cannot discuss the facts of the case. Those questions will be answered by my attorney in a court of law. "I will simply say that I am in great pain, have experienced a significant injury and that the injury was caused by the police."

The NBA is conducting its own inquiry into the events surrounding the arrest and injury of Thabo Sefolosha.

"We are working with the Hawks organization and local law enforcement to obtain more information about the circumstances surrounding Thabo's arrest," NBA spokesman Michael Bass said.

The league wouldn't go so far as to characterize its efforts as an official investigation, but a source close to the situation expects the league to do so in short order.

Sefolosha suffered a fractured right fibula and ligament damage early Wednesday morning in New York. 

Two videos have surfaced on TMZ that raise questions about the specifics at the scene. The most recent video, shot by a witness, appears to show Sefolosha being wrestled to the ground by five uniformed officers, after which one swings a baton forcefully, apparently at Sefolosha's lower body.

Thabo Sefolosha has been diagnosed with a fractured tibia and will miss the remainder of the season and playoffs, sources tell RealGM.

Sefolosha suffered the injury during an early Wednesday morning incident outside a New York City nightclub involving Chris Copeland, Pero Antic and the New York City Police Department.

Sefolosha was charged for resisting arrest and obstructing a government administration.

Sefolosha previously was out for several weeks with an injured calf.