Atlanta Hawks

The Atlanta Hawks are a National Basketball Association (NBA) team based in Atlanta, Georgia.

Franchise history

The franchise was formed in 1946 as the Tri-City 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. Led by coach Red Auerbach, the Blackhawks had a successful year. In 1951, however, 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 the league's worst teams, and in 1955 the Hawks moved yet again, this time to St. Louis, Missouri.

Related Topics:
1946 - National Basketball League - Moline, Illinois - Rock Island, Illinois - Davenport, Iowa - Basketball Association of America - NBA - Playoff - Red Auerbach - 1951 - Milwaukee - Hawks - 1953 - Bob Pettit - 1955 - St. Louis, Missouri

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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.

Related Topics:
1957 - NBA Finals - Boston Celtics - 1958 - Alex Hannum

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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.

Related Topics:
1960 - Ed Macauley - Lenny Wilkens

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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 Thomas Cousins and Carl Sanders, the team moved to Atlanta, Georgia. The following 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 never advanced past the first round of the playoffs.

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1968 - Thomas Cousins - Carl Sanders - Atlanta, Georgia - Pete Maravich

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In 1977 Atlanta Braves owner Ted Turner bought the team and hired Hubie Brown 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.

Related Topics:
1977 - Atlanta Braves - Ted Turner - Hubie Brown - 1979 - 1982 - Dominique Wilkins - 1993 - 1994 - 1995 - Red Auerbach

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However, in recent years the Hawks team has struggled, yet again becoming one of the league's worst teams. In September 2003 the team was sold to a group of executives http://business.bostonherald.com/businessNews/business.bg?articleid=262&format=text 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 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 Charlotte Bobcats!). 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. Along with 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 have completed a sign-trade deal with the Phoenix Suns, that landed Atlanta Joe Johnson, in return for 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 occurred between the owners for nearly 7 weeks before the moves were made. The Atlanta Hawks are quickly become one of the NBA's hottest young teams. However, the playoffs are about 2-3 years away for this club.

Related Topics:
September - 2003 - Time Warner - Turner Broadcasting - Atlanta Thrashers - Ice hockey - 2004 - 2005 - Charlotte Bobcats - 2005 NBA Draft - Milwaukee Bucks - University of North Carolina - Marvin Williams - Josh Childress - Josh Smith - Salim Stoudamire - Phoenix Suns - Joe Johnson - Boris Diaw - Zaza Pachulia

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