Atlanta Hawks facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Atlanta Hawks
Conference	Eastern
Division	Southeast
Founded	1946
History	Buffalo Bisons 1946 (NBL) Tri-Cities Blackhawks 1946–1949 (NBL) 1949–1951 (NBA) Milwaukee Hawks 1951–1955 St. Louis Hawks 1955–1968 Atlanta Hawks 1968–present
Arena	State Farm Arena
Location	Atlanta, Georgia
Team colors	Torch red, legacy yellow, infinity black, granite gray
Main sponsor	YMCA of Metro Atlanta
CEO	Steve Koonin
General manager	Landry Fields
Head coach	Quin Snyder
Ownership	Tony Ressler (principal owner)
Affiliation(s)	College Park Skyhawks
Championships	1 (1958)
Conference titles	0
Division titles	12 (1957, 1958, 1959, 1960, 1961, 1968, 1970, 1980, 1987, 1994, 2015, 2021)
Retired numbers	5 (9, 21, 23, 44, 55)
Association Icon Statement City

The Atlanta Hawks are a professional basketball team from Atlanta, Georgia. They play in the National Basketball Association (NBA). The Hawks are part of the Eastern Conference and the Southeast Division. Their home games are played at State Farm Arena.

The team started as the Buffalo Bisons in 1946 in Buffalo, New York. They were part of the National Basketball League (NBL). After only 38 days, the team moved to Moline, Illinois. There, they were renamed the Tri-Cities Blackhawks. In 1949, they joined the NBA when the NBL merged with the Basketball Association of America (BAA).

In 1951, the team moved to Milwaukee and became the Milwaukee Hawks. Then, in 1955, they moved again to St. Louis, becoming the St. Louis Hawks. In St. Louis, they won their only NBA Championship in 1958. They also reached the NBA Finals in 1957, 1960, and 1961. All four times, they played against the Boston Celtics. On May 3, 1968, the St. Louis Hawks moved to Atlanta and became the Atlanta Hawks.

The Hawks have the second-longest streak without winning an NBA championship, at 64 seasons. Their only championship happened when they were in St. Louis. For 48 years, they didn't get past the second round of the playoffs. This changed in 2015. However, the Hawks are one of only four NBA teams to make the playoffs for 10 years in a row in the 21st century (from 2008 to 2017).

In the 2024 NBA draft, the Atlanta Hawks picked Zaccharie Risacher as the first overall player. This was their first time picking first since 1975.

Team History: From Buffalo to Atlanta

Early Years: Buffalo, Tri-Cities, and Milwaukee (1946–1953)

Wharton Field House in Moline, Illinois, where the Tri-Cities Blackhawks played.

The Atlanta Hawks team began as the Buffalo Bisons in 1946. They played in the National Basketball League. The team struggled to attract fans. So, on December 25, 1946, they moved to Moline, Illinois. This area was known as the "Tri-Cities."

In Moline, the team was renamed the Tri-Cities Blackhawks. They played their home games at Wharton Field House. A key player was Pop Gates, who helped break racial barriers in the league. He was one of the first African-American players in the NBL.

In 1949, the Blackhawks became one of the first 17 teams in the new National Basketball Association (NBA). They made the playoffs in their first NBA year. However, the Tri-Cities area was too small for an NBA team. After the season, the team moved to Milwaukee and became the Milwaukee Hawks.

St. Louis and the Bob Pettit Era (1954–1965)

Bob Pettit in 1957. He was a superstar for the Hawks.

In 1954, the Hawks drafted Bob Pettit, who would become an NBA MVP. Even with Pettit, the team was not very good. In 1955, the Hawks moved again, this time to St. Louis, Missouri. They were renamed the St. Louis Hawks.

In 1956, Bob Pettit won the first-ever MVP award. The Hawks also drafted Bill Russell, a future legend. But they traded Russell to the Boston Celtics for Cliff Hagan and Ed Macauley. Both of these players later became Hall of Famers.

In 1957, the Hawks won their division even with a losing record. They reached the Finals but lost to the Boston Celtics in a very close Game 7. In 1958, they had their first winning record. They returned to the Finals and beat the Celtics 4–2. This gave the Hawks their first and only NBA Championship. Bob Pettit scored 50 points in the final game. The next season, Pettit led the Hawks to a great 49–23 record and won his second MVP award.

The Hawks were one of the best NBA teams for the next 10 years. They reached the Finals again in 1960 and 1961, but lost to the Celtics both times. They continued to be strong contenders throughout the 1960s.

Moving to Atlanta (1965–1975)

The team's owner wanted a new arena in St. Louis. When the city didn't agree, he sold the Hawks. In 1968, the team moved to Atlanta, Georgia.

While a new arena was being built, the Hawks played at Alexander Memorial Coliseum. In their first season in Atlanta (1969–70), they won their first division title in the city. In 1972, the Omni Coliseum opened as their new home. The Hawks also changed their colors to white, gold, and red.

The team had talented players like Pete Maravich and Lou Hudson. However, after this period, the team went through some tough years. In the 1975 NBA draft, they had high draft picks, but the players they chose signed with another league and never played for the Hawks.

Ted Turner Takes Over

In 1977, Ted Turner, who also owned the Atlanta Braves baseball team, bought the Hawks. He helped keep both teams in the South. In the 1979–80 season, the Hawks had a great 50–32 record and won their division.

The Dominique Wilkins Era (1982–1994)

Dominique Wilkins (shown in 2022) was a superstar for the Hawks.

In 1982, the Hawks got superstar player Dominique Wilkins. He was known for his amazing dunks. Wilkins won the Slam Dunk Contest in 1985 and 1990. He had a famous rivalry with Michael Jordan. Another Hawks player, Spud Webb, also won the Slam Dunk Contest in 1986.

From 1985 to 1989, the Hawks were one of the best teams in the league, winning 50 or more games each season. They won a division title in 1986–87 with a record of 57–25. However, they couldn't get past the semifinals in the Eastern Conference playoffs. They often lost to strong teams like the Boston Celtics and Detroit Pistons.

In 1992, the Hawks got Mookie Blaylock, a great guard. He became an All-Star in 1994. In 1993, Lenny Wilkens became the new coach. In the 1993–94 season, the Hawks won 57 games, tying a team record. They also won another division title. Coach Wilkens was named Coach of the Year. However, the team lost in the playoffs again. Dominique Wilkins, the team's all-time leading scorer, was traded that season. On March 6, 2015, a statue of Dominique Wilkins was placed outside the arena.

First Year Without Wilkins (1994–1995)

Steve Smith was a key player for the Hawks in the 1990s.

In the 1994–95 season, the Hawks traded for Steve Smith. Coach Wilkens also broke the record for most wins by an NBA head coach. The Hawks made the playoffs but lost in the first round.

The Dikembe Mutombo Era (1996–2001)

Before the 1995–96 season, the Hawks signed Dikembe Mutombo, a great shot-blocking center. The Hawks had two seasons with over 50 wins in 1996–97 (56–26) and 1997–98 (50–32). Mutombo won the Defensive Player of the Year award twice in a row.

The Omni Coliseum, their home arena, was getting old. It was decided that a new arena would be built in its place. After the 1997 playoffs, the Hawks played at Alexander Memorial Coliseum again. They also used the Georgia Dome for bigger games. Philips Arena (now State Farm Arena) opened before the 1999–2000 season.

Dikembe Mutombo (shown in 2006) was a key player for the Hawks in the late 1990s.

In the 1999–2000 season, their first at Philips Arena, the Hawks traded away popular players like Steve Smith and Mookie Blaylock. They missed the playoffs for the first time in eight years.

Struggles After Mutombo (2001–2005)

In 2001, the Hawks traded Dikembe Mutombo. The team struggled for several years. They drafted Pau Gasol in 2001 but traded his rights away. In 2002, they acquired Glenn Robinson, who led the team in scoring. But the Hawks still missed the playoffs.

In 2004, the team was sold to a new group of owners. The Hawks continued to struggle. In the 2004–05 season, they had the worst record in the league with only 13 wins. However, Josh Smith won the 2005 Slam Dunk Contest that year.

The Joe Johnson Era (2005–2012)

In 2005, the Hawks acquired seven-time NBA All-Star Joe Johnson.

In 2005, the Hawks acquired Joe Johnson, who became a seven-time All-Star. They also signed Zaza Pachulia. In the 2005 NBA draft, they picked Marvin Williams. In the 2006 NBA draft, they selected Shelden Williams.

Hope for the Hawks started in 2007. They picked Al Horford in the draft. Horford had a great rookie season. The Hawks also changed their team colors to navy blue and red.

A trade for point guard Mike Bibby in the middle of the 2007–08 season helped the Hawks. They made the playoffs for the first time since 1999. They pushed the eventual NBA Champions, the Boston Celtics, to a Game 7 before losing. The Hawks won all their home playoff games that series.

Hawks uniforms from 2007 to 2015.

In the 2008–09 season, the Hawks won 47 games, their first winning season since 1999. They won their first playoff series since 1999 against the Miami Heat. But they were swept by the Cleveland Cavaliers in the next round.

The 2009–10 season was even better, with the Hawks winning 53 games. Al Horford and Joe Johnson were both chosen for the All-Star team. They won a tough playoff series against the Milwaukee Bucks. However, they were swept by the Orlando Magic in the second round. After the season, Mike Woodson was replaced by Larry Drew as head coach.

The Hawks had 44 wins in the 2010–11 season. Horford and Johnson were All-Stars again. In the playoffs, the Hawks beat the Magic but lost to the Chicago Bulls.

In 2011, the Hawks signed veteran players like Tracy McGrady. They made the playoffs for the fifth year in a row but lost to the Boston Celtics in the first round.

Roster Changes (2012–2013)

In 2012, the Hawks made big changes to their team. They traded their leading scorer, Joe Johnson, to the Brooklyn Nets. They also traded Marvin Williams to the Utah Jazz. The Hawks signed Lou Williams.

The Hawks made the playoffs for the sixth straight season in 2012–13. But they were eliminated by the Indiana Pacers. By the end of the year, many players from the previous season were gone. This included Josh Smith and Zaza Pachulia. This cleared the way for new players and a new coach.

Al Horford was a 4-time All-Star with the Hawks.

The Mike Budenholzer Era (2013–2018)

Mike Budenholzer coached the team to a record 60 wins in the 2014–15 season.

In 2013, the Hawks hired Mike Budenholzer as their new head coach. They also signed Paul Millsap and brought back Kyle Korver.

In December 2013, Al Horford got a serious injury and missed the rest of the season. The Hawks had a losing record but still made the playoffs as the 8th seed. They played tough against the top-seeded Pacers, taking them to 7 games before losing.

In 2014, the Hawks updated their "Pac-Man" logo. In 2015, the team was sold to a new group led by Tony Ressler.

On January 31, 2015, the Hawks made history by winning all 17 games in a calendar month. Four Hawks players were chosen for the 2015 All-Star Game: Jeff Teague, Paul Millsap, Kyle Korver, and Al Horford. On March 9, 2015, the Hawks became the first NBA team to reach 50 wins that season. They also set a team record for three-pointers in a game. On March 20, 2015, the Hawks won their first division title in over 20 years. They finished the season with a franchise-best 60–22 record.

Jeff Teague was an NBA All-Star in 2015 along with three other Hawks players.

In the playoffs, the Hawks beat the Brooklyn Nets and the Washington Wizards. This was the first time they had advanced past the second round since 1967. The Hawks reached the Eastern Conference Finals for the first time in team history. However, they lost to the Cleveland Cavaliers in four games.

In 2016, the Hawks traded Jeff Teague. Al Horford left the team to sign with the Boston Celtics. The Hawks then signed Dwight Howard, who was from Atlanta. The Hawks made the playoffs but lost in the first round.

In 2017, Dwight Howard was traded. Paul Millsap also left the team. The Hawks finished the 2017–18 season with a 24–58 record, missing the playoffs. Coach Budenholzer and the Hawks decided to part ways.

The Trae Young Era (2018–Present)

Trae Young in 2022.

In 2018, Lloyd Pierce became the new head coach. In the 2018 NBA draft, the Hawks drafted Luka Dončić but immediately traded him to the Dallas Mavericks for Trae Young and a future draft pick. The Hawks also drafted Kevin Huerter.

In July 2018, the Hawks acquired Jeremy Lin and Vince Carter. Carter retired after the 2019–20 season, playing a record 22 seasons in the NBA.

In the 2019 NBA Draft, the Hawks drafted De'Andre Hunter and Cam Reddish. In January 2020, Trae Young was selected to his first All-Star Game as a starter. In February 2020, the Hawks acquired Clint Capela.

Trip to the Conference Finals

For the 2020–21 season, the Hawks added veteran players like Bogdan Bogdanovic and Danilo Gallinari.

In March 2021, Coach Pierce was fired. Nate McMillan became the interim head coach. Under McMillan, the Hawks went on an eight-game winning streak. They finished the season with a 41–31 record and won the Southeast division title. In the playoffs, they beat the New York Knicks and then upset the top-seeded Philadelphia 76ers. This led them to the Eastern Conference Finals, which was only the second time in 54 years the team had gone that far. They lost to the Milwaukee Bucks in six games. McMillan was then named the full-time head coach.

After the Conference Finals (2021–Present)

On June 30, 2022, the Hawks traded for San Antonio Spurs star point guard Dejounte Murray. This created a new backcourt with Trae Young. However, the team finished the season with a 41–41 record and lost in the first round of the playoffs to the Boston Celtics.

In the 2023–24 season, the Hawks finished with a 36–46 record and missed the playoffs.

Dejounte Murray Leaves and Zaccharie Risacher Arrives (2024–Present)

In the next off-season, Dejounte Murray was traded to the New Orleans Pelicans. The Hawks won the 2024 draft lottery and picked Zaccharie Risacher from France as the first overall player.

Zaccharie Risacher (shown in the French league) was the 1st overall pick in the 2024 NBA draft, selected by the Atlanta Hawks.

Season Records

Here are the results for the last five seasons of the Hawks.

Team Logos and Uniforms

The Hawks have changed their uniforms and logos many times. Their logo often features a hawk holding a basketball or a hawk head silhouette (sometimes called the "Pac-Man" logo). Red and white have been common colors since the 1950s.

In St. Louis and early Atlanta years (1955–70), they used red, blue, and white. From 1972, they wore red and white with yellow. Black was added in 1992. From 2007 to 2015, they used red, blue, and white again, with silver.

On May 1, 2014, the team brought back a modern version of the "Pac-Man" logo. On June 24, 2015, they showed off new uniforms and colors: Torch Red, Volt Green, and Georgia Granite Gray.

In 2020, the Hawks unveiled new uniforms that looked similar to their mid-1970s style. They returned to a red, black, and yellow color scheme, adding gray as an accent.

Special "City" Uniforms

The Hawks also wear special "City" uniforms.

• In 2017–18, they wore black uniforms with bright green, inspired by the city's hip-hop music.
• In 2018–19, they wore white with black and gold to celebrate their 50th year in Atlanta.
• In 2019–20, they wore black with peach colors, honoring Atlanta's "Peachtree Street."
• For 2020–21, their "City" uniform honored civil rights leader Martin Luther King Jr., with black and gold colors.
• The 2021–22 "City" uniform combined different parts from past uniforms.
• The 2022–23 "City" uniform again featured the peach theme.
• The 2023–24 "City" uniform had a black base with blue and brown, showing the spirit of Atlanta. This theme continued for the 2024–25 "City" uniform, looking like their 1980s uniforms.

Team Rivalries

Boston Celtics

The Hawks and the Celtics have been rivals for over 50 years. They have played each other many times in the NBA playoffs, including four times in the NBA Finals. The Celtics have won most of these playoff series. The rivalry became stronger in 2016 when Hawks All-Star Al Horford left to join the Celtics.

Orlando Magic

The Hawks and the Orlando Magic also have a strong rivalry. This is mostly because of their playoff games and star players like Dwight Howard and Josh Smith, who both grew up in Georgia.

They have played each other three times in the playoffs (1996, 2010, and 2011). The Magic won in 1996 and 2010. The Hawks beat the Magic in 2011.

Home Arenas

The Hawks have played in many different arenas:

• Buffalo Memorial Auditorium (1946)
• Wharton Field House (1946–1951)
• Milwaukee Arena (1951–1955)
• Kiel Auditorium and St. Louis Arena (1955–1968)
• Alexander Memorial Coliseum (1968–1972, 1997–1999)
• Omni Coliseum (1972–1997)
• Georgia Dome (1997–1999)
• State Farm Arena (1999–present)

Team Personnel

Current Roster

Retired Numbers

The Hawks have honored several important players and people by retiring their jersey numbers. This means no other player on the team will wear that number again.

"Pistol" Pete Maravich played for Atlanta from 1970 to 1974. His uniform No. 44 was retired by the team.

Notes:

• ¹ The Hawks retired number 59 in honor of Kasim Reed, who was the mayor of Atlanta.
• The NBA retired Bill Russell's No. 6 for all teams in 2022.

Basketball Hall of Famers

Many players and coaches who were part of the Hawks team have been honored in the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame.

Team Leaders

Here are some of the all-time leaders for the Atlanta Hawks in different stats.

Points Scored (Regular Season) (as of April 14, 2024)

Other Statistics (Regular Season) (as of April 14, 2024)

Coaches

Awards and Accomplishments

Individual Awards

NBA All-Star Weekend

See also

In Spanish: Atlanta Hawks para niños