Atlanta Hawks

The Atlanta Hawks are a professional basketball team based in Atlanta, Georgia. They play in the National Basketball Association (NBA).

2005-06 Record

26-56

0.317

5th in Southeast Division.

Streak - Lost 1

Eliminated from playoff contention

Home arenas

Wharton Field House 1946-1951

Milwaukee Arena 1951-1955

Kiel Auditorium 1955-1968

Alexander Memorial Coliseum 1968-1972 and 1997-1999

Omni Coliseum 1972-1997

Georgia Dome 1997-1999

Philips Arena 1999-present

Franchise history

The franchise was formed in 1946 as the Tri-Cities Blackhawks of the National Basketball League; it was based in the tri-city area between Moline, Illinois, Rock Island, Illinois, and Davenport, Iowa. When the NBL merged with the Basketball Association of America to form the NBA, the Blackhawks reached the playoffs in the NBA's inaugural year, under the leadership of coach Red Auerbach. However, the following season, after the team drafted Bob Cousy and made the blunder of trading his rights to the Chicago Stags (who would later surrender him in a dispersal draft to the Celtics after they folded), they failed to qualify for the postseason. In 1951, the franchise relocated to Milwaukee and became the Hawks. In 1953, the Hawks drafted Bob Pettit, a future NBA MVP. Despite this, the Hawks were one of the league's worst teams, and in 1955 the Hawks moved yet again, this time to St. Louis, Missouri. With acquisitions in the draft and free agency, the Hawks became of the league's top teams. In 1957, the team advanced to the NBA Finals, losing to the Boston Celtics in a double-overtime thriller in game seven. In 1958, the Hawks again advanced to the NBA Finals under coach Alex Hannum and captured their only NBA Championship in game 6 against the Celtics.

The Hawks remained one the NBA's premier teams for the next decade. In 1960, under coach Ed Macauley, the team advanced to the Finals yet again, but lost - again to the Celtics - in yet another game seven thriller. The following year, with the acquisition of rookie Lenny Wilkens, the Hawks repeated their success, but met the Celtics in the Finals again and lost in five games.

Relocation to Atlanta

The next few years the Hawks remained contenders, every year advancing deep into the playoffs and also capturing several division titles. In 1968, however, with new owners, Atlanta real estate developer Tom Cousins and Georgia governor Carl Sanders, the team moved to Atlanta, Georgia. Cousins' firm developed the Omni Coliseum, a state-of-the-art downtown Atlanta arena for the Hawks and the Atlanta Flames hockey franchise, which opened in 1972 as the first phase of a massive sports, office, hotel and retail complex, most of which is now CNN Center.

The years after the move showcased a talented Hawks team, including Pete Maravich, which won a division championship and advanced to the Finals yet again. However, after this period of success, the Hawks experienced a few years of rebuilding; the Hawks had all losing records in those years and won the national championship In 1977 Atlanta Braves owner Ted Turner bought the team and hired Bernie Bickerstaff to become head coach. In 1979 the Hawks team finished with 50 wins and won the Central Division. In 1982 the franchise acquired superstar Dominique Wilkins, and in the next four seasons the team had more than 50 victories each season. However, the team could not advance past the semifinals of the playoffs. In 1993, Lenny Wilkens was hired as coach. In the 1993- 1994 season coach Wilkens led the team to 57 victories, a team record, and in 1995 Wilkens broke the record (previously held by former Hawk coach Red Auerbach) for most victories by an NBA head coach with victory number 939.

However, in recent years the Hawks team has struggled, yet again becoming one of the league's worst teams. In March 2004 the team was sold to a group of executives by the name of Atlanta Spirit LLC by Time Warner (who inheirited the Hawks and Braves upon its merger with Turner Broadcasting in 1996), along with the Atlanta Thrashers pro ice hockey team, with which the Hawks share the Philips Arena. After the change in ownership, though, the Hawks still struggled. In the 2004-2005 season the Hawks gained the notorious reputation of the league's worst team with a mere 13 victories (five less than even the expansion Toronto Raptors and the struggling Charlotte Hornets). Despite their league worst-record, though, the Hawks only landed the number two pick in the 2005 NBA Draft (the first pick went to the Milwaukee Bucks). With the 2nd pick in the 2005 NBA Draft, the Atlanta Hawks selected Marvin Williams of the University of North Carolina. Marvin Williams is considered to be the player with the most potential and marketablity of the draft class. Additionally, the Hawks have Josh Childress, Josh Smith, Salim Stoudamire, and nearly $25 million in cap space for 2005 free agent market. In the summer of 2005, the Hawks completed a sign-trade deal with the Phoenix Suns that landed Atlanta Joe Johnson in return for Francis Pierre, Boris Diaw and 2 future 1st round picks. They also signed Zaza Pachulia from the Milwaukee Bucks. These changes occurred after an ugly power struggle between the owners for nearly 3 weeks before the moves were made. [http://www.nba.com/hawks/news/Hawks_Ownership_Dispute_Resolved_081905.html

Recently, the Hawks have shown some improvement. Even with a league-worst record, they still managed to triumph over the defending champion the San Antonio Spurs, 94-84. They also made a miracle win over the Detroit Pistons, who as of February 15th, 2006 have the leagues best record. The Hawks are known as a team with a bad record, but they can come out of nowhere and challenge great teams. They show little consistency.

The Hawks trail only the Golden State Warriors (12 in a row) in terms of the most consecutive seasons without a playoff appearance with seven in a row (see Active NBA non-playoff appearance streaks).

Season-by-season records

Tri-Cities Blackhawks 1949-50 29 35 .453 Lost Division Semifinals Anderson 2, Tri-Cities 1 1950-51 25 43 .368 Milwaukee Hawks 1951-52 17 49 .258 1952-53 27 44 .380 1953-54 21 51 .292 1954-55 26 46 .361 St. Louis Hawks 1955-56 33 39 .458 Lost Division 2nd Place
Won Division Semifinals
Lost Division Finals Minneapolis 1, St. Louis 0
St. Louis 2, Minneapolis 1
Ft. Wayne 3, St. Louis 2 1956-57 34 38 .472 Won Division Tiebreaker
Won Division Tiebreaker
Won Division Finals
Lost NBA Finals St. Louis 1, Ft. Wayne 0
St. Louis 1, Minneapolis 0
St. Louis 3, Minneapolis 0
Boston 4, St. Louis 3 1957-58 41 31 .569 Won Division Finals
Won NBA Finals St. Louis 4, Ft. Wayne 1
St. Louis 4, Boston 2 1958-59 49 23 .681 Lost Division Finals Minneapolis 4, St. Louis 2 1959-60 46 29 .613 Won Division Finals
Lost NBA Finals St. Louis 4, Minneapolis 3
Boston 4, St. Louis 3 1960-61 51 28 .646 Won Division Finals
Lost NBA Finals St. Louis 4, Minneapolis 3
Boston 4, St. Louis 1 1961-62 29 51 .363 1962-63 48 32 .600 Won Division Semifinals
Lost Division Finals St. Louis 3, Ft. Wayne 1
Los Angeles 4, St. Louis 3 1963-64 46 34 .575 Won Division Semifinals
Lost Division Finals St. Louis 3, Los Angeles 2
San Francisco 4, St. Louis 3 1964-65 45 35 .563 Lost Division Semifinals Baltimore 3, St. Louis 1 1965-66 36 44 .450 Won Division Semifinals
Lost Division Finals St. Louis 3, Baltimore 0
Los Angeles 4, St. Louis 3 1966-67 39 42 .481 Won Division Semifinals
Lost Division Finals St. Louis 3, Chicago 0
San Francisco 4, St. Louis 2 1967-68 56 26 .683 Lost Division Semifinals San Francisco 4, St. Louis 2 Atlanta Hawks 1968-69 48 34 .585 Won Division Semifinals
Lost Division Finals Atlanta 4, San Diego 2
Los Angeles 4, Atlanta 1 1969-70 48 34 .585 Won Division Semifinals
Lost Division Finals Atlanta 4, Chicago 1
Los Angeles 4, Atlanta 0 1970-71 36 46 .439 Lost Conference Semifinals New York 4, Atlanta 1 1971-72 36 46 .439 Lost Conference Semifinals Boston 4, Atlanta 2 1972-73 46 36 .561 Lost Conference Semifinals Boston 4, Atlanta 2 1973-74 35 47 .427 1974-75 31 51 .378 1975-76 29 53 .354 1976-77 31 51 .378 1977-78 41 41 .500 Lost First Round Washington 2, Atlanta 0 1978-79 46 36 .561 Won First Round
Lost Conference Semifinals Atlanta 2, Houston 0
Washington 4, Atlanta 3 1979-80 50 32 .610 Lost Conference Semifinals Philadelphia 4, Atlanta 1 1980-81 31 51 .378 1981-82 42 40 .512 Lost First Round Philadelphia 2, Atlanta 0 1982-83 43 39 .524 Lost First Round Boston 2, Atlanta 1 1983-84 40 42 .488 Lost First Round Milwaukee 3, Atlanta 2 1984-85 34 48 .415 1985-86 50 32 .610 Won First Round
Lost Conference Semifinals Atlanta 3, Detroit 1
Boston 4, Atlanta 1 1986-87 57 25 .695 Won First Round
Lost Conference Semifinals Atlanta 3, Indiana 1
Detroit 4, Atlanta 1 1987-88 50 32 .610 Won First Round
Lost Conference Semifinals Atlanta 3, Milwaukee 2
Boston 4, Atlanta 3 1988-89 52 30 .634 Lost First Round Milwaukee 3, Atlanta 2 1989-90 41 41 .500 1990-91 43 39 .524 Lost First Round Detroit 3, Atlanta 2 1991-92 38 44 .463 1992-93 43 39 .524 Lost First Round Chicago 3, Atlanta 0 1993-94 57 25 .695 Won First Round
Lost Conference Semifinals Atlanta 3, Miami 2
Indiana 4, Atlanta 2 1994-95 42 40 .512 Lost First Round Indiana 3, Atlanta 0 1995-96 46 36 .561 Won First Round
Lost Conference Semifinals Atlanta 3, Indiana 2
Orlando 4, Atlanta 1 1996-97 56 26 .683 Won First Round
Lost Conference Semifinals Atlanta 3, Detroit 2
Chicago 4, Atlanta 1 1997-98 50 32 .610 Lost First Round Charlotte 3, Atlanta 1 1998-99 31 19 .620 Won First Round
Lost Conference Semifinals Atlanta 3, Detroit 2
New York 4, Atlanta 0 1999-2000 28 54 .341 2000-01 25 57 .305 2001-02 33 49 .402 2002-03 35 47 .427 2003-04 28 54 .341 2004-05 13 69 .188 2005-06 26 56 .317 Totals 2209 2293 .491 Playoffs 116 153 .431 1 Championship

Stats updated June 10, 2006

Players of note

Basketball Hall of Famers:

Hagan, Pettit, Ed Macauley, Lenny Wilkens and Bob Ferry, all of whom played for the Hawks in St. Louis, have been inducted into the Missouri Sports Hall of Fame.

Retired Numbers

9 Bob Pettit, F, 1954-65 (1954-55 Milwaukee, 1955-65 St. Louis)
17 Ted Turner, team owner, 1977-2004 (17 for his cable-TV empire, which began with Atlanta's Channel 17, WTBS)
21 Dominique Wilkins, F, 1983-94
23 Lou Hudson, F, 1966-77 (1966-68 St. Louis, 1968-77 Atlanta)

Hudson and Wilkins have also been elected to the Georgia Sports Hall of Fame.