atlanta hawks history
atlanta hawks history
It’s been six years of struggles for Atlanta Hawks ticket holders. They have watched their team finish dismally season after season, yet still they have hope. They know that Mike Woodson is in the process of rebuilding the Hawks and is filling the team with raw, inexperienced talent, preparing for the future with every offseason move. The addition of Joe Johnson adds experience in the backcourt and the fresh young talent of Marvin Williams, Josh Smith and Josh Childress is ready to explode on the court. Phillips Arena is the place to be to see the young Hawks leave the nest and take flight in the 2005-06 season.
The Atlanta Hawks have not always been known as the Hawks, nor have they always hailed from Atlanta. Since their beginning in 1946 as the Blackhawks, the team has made its home in the Tri-Cities (Moline and Rock Island, Illinois, and Davenport, Iowa), Milwaukee, St. Louis, before arriving to Atlanta in 1968. In the late 1950s, the St. Louis Hawks won three consecutive Western Division crowns with the help of the outstanding play of forward Bob Pettit, who was twice named the NBA’s Most Valuable Player and the first player ever to score 20,000 points.
In 1968, the team moved to Atlanta, where new NBA fans jumped at the chance to buy Hawks tickets and see newly drafted rookie sensation “Pistol” Pete Maravich. After several seasons with the Hawks, Maravich had proved to be a mixed blessing and was traded to the New Orleans Jazz in 1974 for two players, two first-round, and two second-round draft picks. Unfortunately, the deal did not work out in Atlanta’s favor and Hawks ticket holders suffered through a 31-win season, the lowest number of wins since 1961. Television mogul Ted Turner bought the team in 1977, and in the 1979-80 season, head coach Hubie Brown led the team to their first division title in 10 years.
Atlanta Hawks fans knew that they had punched their ticket to success in 1982, when Dominique Wilkins, the “Human Highlight Reel,” was added to the team. Wilkins finished second in the league to Michael Jordan in scoring with 29.0 points per game in the 1986-87 season. The Hawks would win the Central Division title with a franchise record-setting 57 wins. They would record another 57 wins and take home another Division title in the 1993-94 season under the exciting coaching of Lenny Wilkens. Coach Wilkens made Hawks ticket holders proud when he became the NBA's all-time leader in coaching victories, surpassing the legendary Red Auerbach's 938 wins in 1995.
The Hawks now nest in Atlanta’s Phillips Arena, a beautiful state-of-the-art facility in the heart of downtown. Despite their marvelous setting, Atlanta has struggled in recent years. The 2005 offseason has seen the nine owners of the team embroiled in a legal battle of the signing of versatile guard Joe Johnson. The sudden death of center Jason Collier in October stunned fans, but hope remains in Atlanta. Season ticket holders know that their team is still in the rebuilding process. Second-year coach Mike Woodson’s young team may just surprise the NBA this season. Josh Smith and rookie Marvin Williams’ potential cannot be denied, and Al Harrington’s inside game improves every year. Joe Johnson will provide experience to a young team and is on the verge of a breakout season. The city of Atlanta is ready and waiting for their Hawks to spread their wings and soar! So jump on the bandwagon now by reserving your Atlanta Hawks tickets today
