Atlanta Hawks
1968 Atlanta
The Atlanta Hawks are a professional basketball team based in Atlanta, Georgia. The team was founded in 1946 as the Tri-Cities Blackhawks and was later renamed the Milwaukee Hawks before moving to St. Louis in 1955 and finally settling in Atlanta in 1968. The Hawks have a rich history and have been a staple of the NBA for over 70 years.
Early History: Tri-Cities and Milwaukee
The Hawks were originally founded as the Tri-Cities Blackhawks, a team based in Moline, Illinois, Davenport, Iowa, and Rock Island, Illinois. The team was established in 1946 and played in the National Basketball League (NBL) for two seasons before the NBL merged with the Basketball Association of America (BAA) to form the NBA.
In the team's inaugural season, they finished with a 17-15 record and made it to the NBL playoffs, but were eliminated in the first round. The following season, the Blackhawks finished with a 21-19 record and made it to the NBL finals, where they were defeated by the Rochester Royals.
In 1951, the team relocated to Milwaukee, Wisconsin and was renamed the Milwaukee Hawks. The team struggled in their first few seasons in Milwaukee, finishing with a losing record each year. In 1954, the team hired coach Red Auerbach, who would go on to become one of the most successful coaches in NBA history.
Under Auerbach's leadership, the Hawks made their first playoff appearance in the 1954-55 season, finishing with a 28-29 record. However, they were once again eliminated in the first round of the playoffs.
Move to St. Louis and Early Success
After the 1955-56 season, the Hawks were purchased by Ben Kerner and moved to St. Louis, Missouri. The team struggled in their first two seasons in St. Louis, but in the 1958-59 season, they finished with a 42-32 record and made it to the NBA finals, where they were defeated by the Boston Celtics in six games.
The following season, the Hawks once again made it to the NBA finals, but were defeated by the Celtics in a seven-game series. The team continued to be a playoff contender in the early 1960s, but were unable to advance past the Eastern Conference semifinals.
Move to Atlanta and "Losing Culture"
In 1968, the Hawks were purchased by Georgia real estate developer Tom Cousins and moved to Atlanta, Georgia. The team struggled in their first few seasons in Atlanta, finishing with a losing record each year and failing to make the playoffs.
The team hired coach Richie Guerin in 1972 and under his leadership, the Hawks made the playoffs for the first time in Atlanta in the 1972-73 season. However, they were once again eliminated in the first round.
The Hawks continued to struggle throughout the 1970s and 1980s, earning a reputation for having a "losing culture" and failing to advance past the first round of the playoffs. In 1988, the team hired coach Mike Fratello, who led the Hawks to back-to-back playoff appearances in the 1988-89 and 1989-90 seasons.
Dominique Wilkins and the 1980s and 1990s
In the 1980s and 1990s, the Hawks had one of the most dominant players in the NBA in small forward Dominique Wilkins. Wilkins was drafted by the Hawks in 1982 and quickly became a fan favorite with his high-flying dunks and scoring ability.
1980-1994: Struggles and Success
The 1980s and early 1990s were a challenging time for the Hawks. They struggled to find success on the court, finishing with a losing record in eight out of twelve seasons from 1980 to 1992. Despite their struggles, the Hawks were able to make the playoffs in the 1986-87 season, but were quickly eliminated in the first round by the Boston Celtics.
1995-2005: Dominance and Disappointment
The mid-to-late 1990s saw a resurgence for the Hawks. Led by All-Star forward Dominique Wilkins, the team made the playoffs in six consecutive seasons from 1995 to 2001. In 1998, they advanced to the Eastern Conference Finals but were ultimately defeated by the Chicago Bulls. Despite their success, the Hawks were unable to make it past the second round of the playoffs and failed to reach the NBA Finals.
2006-2015: Rebuild and Return to the Playoffs
After a string of losing seasons, the Hawks began a rebuilding process in 2006. They drafted promising young players such as Al Horford and Josh Smith and acquired veteran players like Joe Johnson and Tracy McGrady. The team's efforts paid off, as they made the playoffs in eight consecutive seasons from 2008 to 2015. In 2014, they advanced to the Eastern Conference Finals but fell to the eventual champion Cleveland Cavaliers.
2016-2022: New Era of Success
In 2016, the Hawks underwent a major overhaul, with several key players departing and new ones arriving. The team also adopted a new philosophy focused on team-oriented basketball. This approach paid off, as the Hawks made the playoffs in three consecutive seasons from 2017 to 2019. In 2022, they reached the Eastern Conference Finals for the first time since 2015 and were able to advance to the NBA Finals for the first time in franchise history. Despite falling to the Golden State Warriors in the Finals, the Hawks were able to establish themselves as a dominant force in the NBA.
The Atlanta Hawks have had a storied history in the NBA, with both successes and failures along the way. From their struggles in the 1980s and early 1990s to their resurgence in the late 1990s and early 2000s, the Hawks have consistently been a competitive team in the league. In the recent years, they have solidified themselves as a force to be reckoned with and are poised for continued success in the future.