History of Atlanta Hawks in Timeline
The Atlanta Hawks are a professional basketball team based in Atlanta, competing in the NBA's Eastern Conference, Southeast Division. Their home games are played at State Farm Arena.
November 8, 1946: Buffalo Bisons First Game
On November 8, 1946, the Buffalo Bisons played their first game, securing a 50–39 victory over the Syracuse Nationals.
December 25, 1946: Bisons announce move to Moline
On December 25, 1946, the Buffalo Bisons, after struggling with low attendance, announced that they would be moving to Moline, Illinois.
1948: Pop Gates coaches Dayton
In 1948, Pop Gates, a former Tri-Cities Blackhawks player, became the first African-American coach in a major sports league, coaching Dayton.
1949: Don Otten becomes NBL MVP
In 1949, Don Otten became the NBL MVP while playing for the Tri-Cities Blackhawks.
1949: Blackhawks Join the NBA
In 1949, the Tri-Cities Blackhawks became one of the original teams in the National Basketball Association (NBA) following the merger of the NBL and BAA.
1967: Last Year in St. Louis Before Conference Semifinals
In 1967, it was the Hawks second-last year in St. Louis. The Hawks advanced to the Eastern Conference Semifinals for the first time since then in 2015.
1968: Milwaukee loses its NBA team
In 1968, the Milwaukee Hawks had relocated to St.Louis, and Milwaukee remained without an NBA team until the Milwaukee Bucks made their debut.
1968: Move to Atlanta
In 1968, the team moved to Atlanta and sported baby blue and white uniforms until 1970.
1969: Hawks win first division title in Atlanta
In the 1969-70 season, the Atlanta Hawks won their first division title as a team in Atlanta.
1970: Blue, Green, and White Palette
In 1970, the Atlanta Hawks went with a blue, green, and white palette.
1972: Hawks debut new logo and colors
In 1972, the Atlanta Hawks introduced a new logo and team colors, adopting a white, gold, and red color scheme. The new arena, Omni Coliseum, opened for the Hawks and the Atlanta Flames.
1972: Red and White Uniforms with Yellow Accents
Starting in 1972, the Hawks wore red and white uniforms with yellow accents.
1972: The Hawks Logo Version
The Hawks secondary logo unveiled on May 1, 2014, is a modernized version of the 1972-95 Pac-Man logo.
1977: Hawks Playoff Streak Ends
After only missing the playoffs four times since 1977, the Hawks fell to seventh place in the Central Division with a 28–54 record. The Hawks would not return to the playoffs for eight years.
1977: Ted Turner Buys the Team
In 1977, Ted Turner, the owner of the Atlanta Braves and cable network entrepreneur, purchased the Atlanta Hawks.
1977: Compared To Seattle SuperSonics
The 2020-21 Atlanta Hawks have been compared to the 1977-78 Seattle SuperSonics.
1978: Hubie Brown wins coach of the year
In 1978, Hubie Brown, head coach of the Atlanta Hawks, won the Coach of the Year award.
1979: Hawks win Central Division
In 1979, the Atlanta Hawks finished with a 50-32 record and won the Central Division title.
1992: Black Added as Accent Color
In 1992, the Hawks added black as an accent color to their red and white uniforms.
1994: Hawks trade for Steve Smith and Grant Long
At the beginning of the 1994–95 season, the Atlanta Hawks traded Kevin Willis to the Miami Heat for Steve Smith and Grant Long.
December 17, 1996: Previous Three-Point Record
Before March 9, 2015, the Hawks had previously set a record of 19 three-pointers against the Dallas Mavericks on December 17, 1996.
1996: Magic beat Hawks in the 1996 playoffs
In 1996, The Magic beat the Hawks in the second round of the playoffs in five games.
1996: Time Warner Merger
In 1996, Time Warner inherited the Hawks, Braves, and Thrashers upon its merger with Turner Broadcasting.
1996: Hawks win 50+ games
In 1996–97 the Atlanta Hawks achieved a 56–26 (50+) win season.
1997: Hawks moved back to Alexander Memorial Coliseum
Following the 1997 playoffs, the Hawks moved back to Georgia Tech's Alexander Memorial Coliseum. The Georgia Dome was used for larger-capacity games until Philips Arena opened.
1997: Christian Laettner All-Star Appearance
In 1997, Christian Laettner, who was acquired by the Hawks midway through the 1995-96 season from the Minnesota Timberwolves, made an All-Star appearance.
1997: Hawks Defeat Pistons, Lose to Bulls; Last Game at The Omni
In 1997, the Hawks defeated the Detroit Pistons in the first round of the NBA playoffs in five games. However, they lost to the defending champions Chicago Bulls in five games in the second round. Game 4, an 89–80 loss, would be the last game at The Omni.
1997: Hawks 50 Win Season
In 2009-10 season, it was the first 50-win season for the Hawks since 1997–98.
1998: Last Player To Start In All Star Game
Before Trae Young on January 23, 2020, the last Hawks player to start in an All Star Game was Dikembe Mutombo in 1998.
1998: Alan Henderson Wins Most Improved Player Award
In 1997-98, forward Alan Henderson won the Most Improved Player award. The Hawks, however, lost in four games in the first round of the playoffs to the Charlotte Hornets.
1998: Steve Smith Selected for NBA All-Star Game
In 1998, Steve Smith was selected in the NBA All-Star Game, before later being traded to Portland.
1998: Hawks 50 Win Season
In 2009-10 season, it was the first 50-win season for the Hawks since 1997–98.
1998: Last Season Opener Win
The Hawks' 2007 season opener win was the first time they won a season opener since 1998.
1999: Hawks Trade Steve Smith and Mookie Blaylock
During the 1999–2000 season, the Hawks traded Steve Smith to Portland for Isaiah Rider and Jim Jackson. They also sent Mookie Blaylock and a first-round draft pick to the Golden State Warriors for Bimbo Coles and a first-round draft pick.
1999: Philips Arena Opening
In 1999, Philips Arena opened before the 1999–2000 season, becoming the new home for the Hawks.
1999: Hawks First Playoff Series Win
In 2008, The Atlanta Hawks capitalized on home-court advantage earning their first playoff series win since 1999 against the Miami Heat.
1999: Hawks Make Playoffs
In 2008, The Atlanta Hawks made the playoffs for the first time since 1999.
2000: Isaiah Rider Released by Hawks
During the 1999-2000 season, Isaiah Rider's troubled conduct continued after his arrival in Atlanta. He was eventually released by the Hawks in March 2000.
2000: Jason Terry Becomes Team Scoring Leader
During the 2000–01 season, Jason Terry became the team's scoring leader, with 19.7 ppg.
2000: Philips Arena First Season
The 1999–2000 season marked the Hawks' first season at Philips Arena.
2001: Hawks Trade Mutombo to 76ers
After the All-Star break during the 2000-01 season, the Hawks traded Dikembe Mutombo to the Philadelphia 76ers for Theo Ratliff, Toni Kukoč, and Nazr Mohammed.
2003: Atlanta Hosts All-Star Game
In 2003, Atlanta hosted the NBA All-Star Game, marking the last time an Eastern Conference team would host the event for nine years.
February 2004: Rasheed Wallace Plays One Game for Hawks
In February 2004, Rasheed Wallace played one game for the Atlanta Hawks, scoring 20 points and having 6 rebounds in a loss to the New Jersey Nets, after which he was traded to the Detroit Pistons.
March 31, 2004: Hawks Sold to Atlanta Spirit LLC
On March 31, 2004, Time Warner sold the Atlanta Hawks to a group of executives named Atlanta Spirit LLC.
2005: Hawks Draft Marvin Williams
Despite having the league-worst record the previous season, in the 2005 NBA draft lottery, the Hawks landed the number two pick and selected Marvin Williams of North Carolina.
2005: Josh Smith Wins Slam Dunk Contest
In the 2004–05 season, Josh Smith won the 2005 Slam Dunk Contest.
2005: Hawks Acquire Joe Johnson
In the summer of 2005, the Hawks completed a sign and trade deal with the Phoenix Suns to acquire Joe Johnson in return for Boris Diaw and two future 1st round picks.
2006: Hawks Missed Playoffs
In the 2017-18 season, the Hawks missed the playoffs for the first time since the 2006-07 season.
2007: Return to Red, Blue, and White Scheme
From 2007 to 2015, the Hawks returned to a red, blue, and white color scheme, adding silver as an accent color.
2007: Hawks Win Season Opener
In 2007, The Hawks started the season with a victory against the Dallas Mavericks 101–94.
2007: Hawks Draft Al Horford
With the third pick of the NBA draft in 2007, the Hawks selected Al Horford, who became a unanimous selection to the All-Rookie First Team.
2008: Hawks in the Playoffs
In 2008, much like in 2013, the Hawks made it to the playoffs and would not go down easy, as they took the top-seeded Pacers to 7 games in before losing in game 7.
2008: Hawks win 47 games, their first winning season
The 2008–09 season saw the Hawks win 47 games, their first winning season since 1999.
2009: Hawks Improve Further, Winning 53 Games
In the 2009–10 season, the Hawks improved further, winning 53 games, their first 50-win season since 1997–98.
2010: Magic swept Hawks in the 2010 playoffs.
In 2010, The Magic swept their playoff matchup with the Hawks.
2010: Hawks Trade Mike Bibby
In mid-season of the 2010–11 season, the Hawks traded Mike Bibby to the Washington Wizards for Kirk Hinrich.
December 2011: Hawks Sign Veteran Players
In December 2011, the Hawks signed Tracy McGrady, Jerry Stackhouse, Jason Collins, Vladimir Radmanovic, Jannero Pargo, and Willie Green, along with rookies Donald Sloan and Ivan Johnson.
2011: Hawks eliminated Magic in the first round of the 2011 playoffs.
In 2011, the Hawks eliminated the Magic 4–2 in the first round of the playoffs.
2011: Alex Meruelo Backs Out of Hawks Purchase
In November 2011, Alex Meruelo backed out of his intentions to buy a majority stake of the Hawks.
June 25, 2012: Hawks Hire Danny Ferry
On June 25, 2012, the Hawks hired San Antonio Spurs Vice President of Basketball Operations Danny Ferry as President of Basketball Operations and General Manager.
July 2, 2012: Hawks Trade Joe Johnson
On July 2, 2012, the Hawks traded leading scorer and All-Star Joe Johnson to the Brooklyn Nets for Jordan Farmar, Anthony Morrow, DeShawn Stevenson, Jordan Williams and Johan Petro, as well as a 2013 first-round pick.
July 10, 2012: Hawks Sign Lou Williams
On July 10, 2012, the Hawks signed guard Lou Williams.
2012: Players Waived or Not Brought Back
By the end of the off-season in 2013, every player involved in the Johnson and Williams trades just a year earlier in 2012 were either waived or not brought back.
2012: Bruce Levenson Inappropriate Email
In 2012, Bruce Levenson sent an inappropriate email that led him to sell his share of the team in 2014.
January 21, 2013: Hawks Sign Jannero Pargo
On January 21, 2013, following Lou Williams' season-ending injury, the Hawks signed guard Jannero Pargo to a 10-day contract.
February 21, 2013: Hawks Trade Morrow and Tyler
On February 21, 2013, the Hawks traded Morrow to the Dallas Mavericks for Dahntay Jones. That same day, the Hawks traded a future 2nd-round pick to the Golden State Warriors in exchange for Jeremy Tyler, who was waived 15 days later.
May 28, 2013: Hawks Hire Mike Budenholzer as Head Coach
On May 28, 2013, the Hawks hired San Antonio Spurs assistant coach Mike Budenholzer as the new head coach.
December 26, 2013: Al Horford Tears Pectoral Muscle
On December 26, 2013, Al Horford tore his right pectoral muscle and was announced on December 30 to require surgery, causing him to miss the remainder of the season.
2013: Hawks draft Dennis Schröder and Shane Larkin
In 2013, the Hawks entered the NBA draft with four picks, selecting Dennis Schröder (17th pick) and Shane Larkin (18th pick), both point guards. They also drafted Raulzinho Neto and James Ennis, but traded Larkin to the Dallas Mavericks for Mike Muscala, Lucas Nogueira, and Jared Cunningham. Ennis's and Neto's draft rights were also traded. The Hawks also brought back Kyle Korver and signed Paul Millsap.
2013: Hawks Trade Joe Johnson
On July 2, 2012, the Hawks traded leading scorer and All-Star Joe Johnson to the Brooklyn Nets for Jordan Farmar, Anthony Morrow, DeShawn Stevenson, Jordan Williams and Johan Petro, as well as a 2013 first-round pick.
2013: Roster Turnover
The 2013 free agency period also marked the end of the Josh Smith era for Atlanta as he signed a contract with the Detroit Pistons. Longtime Hawk Zaza Pachulia moved on as well and signed with the Milwaukee Bucks. With half the roster gone, 2012–13 proved to be a roster turnover year, paving a path to success for Mike Budenholzer.
May 1, 2014: Hawks Unveil New Secondary Logo
On May 1, 2014, the Hawks unveiled a new secondary logo, a modernized version of the 1972–95 "Pac-Man" logo.
July 15, 2014: Hawks Acquire Thabo Sefolosha
On July 15, 2014, the Hawks acquired defensive specialist Thabo Sefolosha from the Oklahoma City Thunder.
September 7, 2014: Bruce Levenson Announces Sale of Team Share
On September 7, 2014, Bruce Levenson announced he would sell his share of the team after self-reporting an inappropriate email he sent in 2012.
2014: Hawks First To 50 Wins
On March 9, 2015, the Hawks were the first NBA team to 50 wins in the 2014-15 season.
January 2, 2015: Atlanta Hawks Franchise Put Up For Sale
On January 2, 2015, The Atlanta Journal-Constitution reported that the remaining minority owners of Atlanta Hawks, LLC would join Levenson, effectively putting the entire franchise for sale.
January 31, 2015: Hawks Achieve 17-0 Record in January
On January 31, 2015, the Hawks beat Portland and became the first NBA team to achieve a 17–0 record in a calendar month.
March 6, 2015: Dominique Wilkins Statue Unveiled
On March 6, 2015, a statue of Dominique Wilkins was unveiled in front of Philips Arena.
March 9, 2015: Hawks Reach 50 Wins, Set Three-Point Record
On March 9, 2015, Kyle Korver and DeMarre Carroll each scored 20 points to help the Hawks become the first NBA team to 50 wins in the 2014–15 season, routing the Sacramento Kings 130–105. The Hawks also set a franchise record by going 20-of-36 for three-pointers.
March 20, 2015: Hawks Clinch Division Title
On March 20, 2015, the Hawks clinched their first division title in over two decades and became the first team not based in Florida to win the NBA's Southeast Division.
April 22, 2015: Tentative Agreement Reached to Sell Hawks Franchise
On April 22, 2015, Atlanta Spirit reached a tentative agreement to sell the franchise to a group led by Tony Ressler for $850 million.
June 24, 2015: NBA Approves Sale of Hawks to Tony Ressler's Group
On June 24, 2015, the NBA Board of Governors approved the sale of the Atlanta Hawks franchise to a group led by Tony Ressler.
2015: End of the red, blue, and white scheme
The Hawks used a red, blue, and white color scheme from 2007 to 2015, adding silver as an accent color.
June 22, 2016: Jeff Teague Traded to Indiana
On June 22, 2016, the Hawks traded Jeff Teague to Indiana in a three-team deal, giving Utah's 12th pick in the 2016 NBA draft to the Hawks.
July 8, 2016: Al Horford Signs with Boston Celtics
On July 8, 2016, Al Horford signed a four-year, $113 million contract with the Boston Celtics.
July 12, 2016: Dwight Howard Agrees to Return to Atlanta
On July 12, 2016, Dwight Howard agreed to return home to Atlanta on a three-year, $70 million contract with the Hawks.
2016: Al Horford left the Hawks to join the Celtics
In 2016, Hawks All-Star center Al Horford left the team and joined the Celtics.
June 20, 2017: Dwight Howard Traded to Charlotte Hornets
On June 20, 2017, Dwight Howard was traded to the Charlotte Hornets, along with the 31st overall pick in the 2017 NBA draft, in exchange for Marco Bellinelli, Miles Plumlee, and the 41st overall pick in the same draft.
July 13, 2017: Paul Millsap Leaves Hawks for Denver Nuggets
On July 13, 2017, Paul Millsap left the Hawks by signing a multi-year deal with the Denver Nuggets.
2017: Hawks Rebuilding Season
In the 2017-18 season, the Hawks were rebuilding after the loss of Howard and Millsap, resulting in a 24-58 record.
2017: Hawks wore special edition "City" uniforms with Nike.
In the 2017–18 season, the Hawks wore special edition "City" black uniforms with volt green accents, featuring asymmetrical striping inspired from the team's early 1970s uniforms and futuristic fonts as a nod to the city's hip-hop music scene as part of its uniform deal with Nike.
April 25, 2018: Hawks and Coach Budenholzer Part Ways
On April 25, 2018, the Hawks and head coach Budenholzer mutually decided to part ways.
May 11, 2018: Lloyd Pierce Hired as Head Coach
On May 11, 2018, Lloyd Pierce was hired by the Atlanta Hawks as head coach.
July 2018: Hawks Acquired Jeremy Lin and Traded Dennis Schröder
In July 2018, the Hawks acquired Jeremy Lin and traded Dennis Schröder, after he demanded to be traded.
2018: Hawks wore "City" uniforms in the 2018-19 season
In the 2018–19 season, the Hawks wore special edition "City" white uniforms with black and metallic gold trim as a nod to the team's 50th anniversary in Atlanta.
February 2019: Jeremy Lin Bought Out
In February 2019, Jeremy Lin was bought out by the Hawks and signed with the Toronto Raptors.
2019: Hawks wore "City" uniforms in the 2019-20 season
During the 2019–20 season, the Hawks wore special edition "City" black uniforms with peach accents as a tribute to Atlanta's Peachtree Street.
2019: Hawks Draft DeAndre Hunter and Cam Reddish
In the 2019 NBA Draft, the Atlanta Hawks obtained DeAndre Hunter who was drafted with the 4th pick, and Cam Reddish who was drafted with the 10th pick.
2019: Trade involving Luka Dončić
The Hawks traded Luka Dončić for Trae Young along with a 2019 protected first-round pick.
January 23, 2020: Trae Young Selected to All-Star Game
On January 23, 2020, Trae Young was selected to his first All-Star Game as a starter.
February 4, 2020: Hawks Involved in Four-Team Trade
On February 4, 2020, the Hawks were involved in a four team trade in which they acquired Clint Capela and Nenê.
February 6, 2020: Hawks Waive Nenê
On February 6, 2020, Nenê was waived by the Hawks.
July 21, 2020: Hawks unveil new uniforms
On July 21, 2020, the Atlanta Hawks unveiled new uniforms with a look similar to the set they wore in the mid-1970s, returning to the red, black, and yellow color scheme they used from 1992 to 2007, and adding gray as an accent color.
2020: Hawks Roster Upgrades
For the 2020–21 season, the Atlanta Hawks made moves to upgrade their roster by signing Bogdan Bogdanovic, Danilo Gallinari, Rajon Rondo, and Kris Dunn.
2020: Hawks' "City" uniform paid tribute to civil rights icon Martin Luther King Jr.
For the 2020–21 season, the Hawks' special edition "City" uniform paid tribute to civil rights icon Martin Luther King Jr., featuring a black base and gold accents.
2020: Hawks Reach Eastern Conference Finals
In the 2020–21 playoffs, the Hawks defeated the Knicks and the 76ers to reach the Eastern Conference Finals, where they lost to the Bucks in six games.
March 2021: Lloyd Pierce Fired, Nate McMillan Named Interim Head Coach
In March 2021, head coach Lloyd Pierce was fired after the team's 14–20 start to the season and Nate McMillan was named interim head coach. The Hawks then posted an eight-game win streak.
2021: Hawks' "City" uniform featured various elements from previous uniforms
The 2021–22 "City" special edition uniform featured various elements from previous uniforms, including a yellow base from the 2004–07 alternates, the full-bodied hawk logo from the 1995–99 uniform, the "Hawks" script of the 1980s uniforms, the retro "Atlanta" script from the 1970–72 uniforms, and the block numbers and striping of the 1960s uniforms.
June 30, 2022: Hawks Trade for Dejounte Murray
On June 30, 2022, the Hawks traded for San Antonio Spurs star point guard Dejounte Murray and Jock Landale in exchange for Danilo Gallinari and three future first-round picks.
July 6, 2022: Kevin Huerter Traded to Sacramento Kings
On July 6, 2022, Kevin Huerter was traded to the Sacramento Kings in exchange for Maurice Harkless, Justin Holiday, and a future first-round pick.
2022: Hawks revisited the Peachtree theme in their "City" uniform.
The Hawks revisited the Peachtree theme in their 2022–23 special edition "City" uniform, wearing black uniforms but with white/peach gradients on the striping and numbers, and a script "Atlanta" in white.
2023: Hawks Open to Trading All but Young and Johnson
In the 2023–24 season, with a losing record, the Hawks were willing to trade anyone on their team aside from Young and Jalen Johnson.
2023: Hawks "City" uniform featured a black base, heritage blue and light brown trim.
The 2023–24 "City" special edition uniform featured a black base, heritage blue and light brown trim, and lowercase "atl" in white letters. The design, according to the team, "grabs inspiration from the spirit, determination, and interconnectivity of the city of Atlanta".
2024: Al Horford won his first championship with the Celtics.
In the 2024 NBA Finals, Al Horford, who had joined the Celtics after leaving the Hawks in 2016, won his first championship with the Celtics.
2024: Hawks Win Draft Lottery and Select Zaccharie Risacher
In the offseason of 2024, Dejounte Murray was traded to the New Orleans Pelicans. The Hawks won the 2024 Draft Lottery and selected Zaccharie Risacher from France.
2024: Hawks Lost to Bucks in NBA Cup Semifinal
The Hawks played in the 2024 NBA Cup semifinal with a 14-12 record at the time, losing to the Bucks and failing to reach their first NBA Cup Final.
2024: Hawks revisited the theme of the 1982-1992 uniforms for the "City" uniform.
The theme of the 2023 uniform was revisited for the 2024–25 special edition "City" uniform, with a look heavily based on the 1982–1992 uniforms.
April 16, 2025: Other statistics (regular season)
Other regular season statistics were recorded as of April 16, 2025.
June 27, 2025: Roster updated
The Hawks roster was updated on June 27, 2025.
August 211: Alex Meruelo Buys Majority Stake of Hawks
In August 2011, it was announced that California-based businessman Alex Meruelo was buying a majority stake of the Hawks.
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