James Lands Molten BBL Coach of the Month Award
Paul James has been handed the Molten BBL Coach of the Month award for February after guiding Worcester Wolves to a superb six wins from seven games during the period.
The veteran play-caller not only masterminded his team retaining their position at the summit of the BBL Championship standings, but also guided Wolves into the semi-finals of the BBL Trophy.
Bidding to land the first piece of BBL silverware in club history, James has led his team into a great position to meet their objective for the season.
The month started out with Wolves having to address three successive road trips and they tipped-off off the sequence with a huge game in the BBL Trophy First Round at the London Lions.
Looking to take Wolves to their first ever appearance at a major BBL final, their dream was maintained as they left the Copper Box Arena with an 82-73 success.
It was then back to league action with a tricky double-header.
Firstly against Plymouth University Raiders at the Pavilions, where Wolves completed a 93-63 blowout and just 24 hours later, they defeated a resurgent Cheshire Phoenix 105-94 to complete a BBL Championship series sweep against their opponents
James was belatedly able to prepare for a home game on Valentine’s Day and his team shot down the visiting Glasgow Rocks 89-82 at the University of Worcester Arena.
Perhaps his greatest source of joy will have come in reaching the last four of the BBL Trophy the following weekend, when his team outplayed Esh Group Eagles Newcastle at Sport Central to secure an eye-catching 86-73 success.
The final victory of the month came against struggling Birmingham Knights, as the Wolves completed a 117-60 demolition of their near-neighbours.
James did have one blemish on his record, with Wolves ending February by slipping-up 86-78 at home to the Eagles, who extracted sweet revenge for their Trophy loss a week earlier.
It’s the second time James has taken the award this season having also landed the accolade back in October.
This time he staved off competition from John Lavery (Cheshire Phoenix), Jack Majewski (Surrey United) and Atiba Lyons (One Health Sharks Sheffield), who also tasted defeat just once in the period.