Can the Atlanta Hawks Break a 10-Year Drought?
Atlanta, Georgia. Home of the MLB’s Braves, the NFL’s Falcons, the WNBA’s Dream, etc. For now, we’re going to talk about the Atlanta Hawks of the NBA. A beloved, storied franchise that has made it to the playoffs 49 times. They are one of nine franchises to have exactly one championship under their belt. In fact, Hall of Famer Bob Pettit was the face of the Hawks that robbed the Celtics of winning 10 rings in a row back in the 1957-58 season.
Aside from that, the Hawks are on an active streak of 10 seasons without winning 50 or more games. The last time they did so was back in the 2014-15 season, where they harbored all-stars in Kyle Korver, Elton Brand, Paul Millsap, and one-time champs Jeff Teague and Al Horford. That team had a record of 60-22, winning the Southeast division. The Hawks made their way to the Eastern Conference Finals by beating the Brooklyn Nets and Washington Wizards in six games. However, the team did not have enough to not just beat the Cavs, but not even win a single game. Getting swept by Cleveland's star trio of LeBron James, Kyrie Irving, and Kevin Love.
Now, heading back to the upcoming 2025-26 season, the Hawks are gearing up to make some noise in the weakened Eastern Conference. With Tyrese Haliburton out due to an Achilles tear and Jayson Tatum attempting a comeback as soon as possible, the East is in dire shape. The suspects that can make a playoff run are Cleveland, New York, Detroit, Milwaukee, and Orlando. Nonetheless, people shouldn’t cut out Atlanta’s chances of being a part of the playoff bracket.
The Hawks roster boasts the current face of the franchise in Trae Young, a pure point guard in today’s game. He completed his third season of averaging at least 20 points and 10 assists per game. The recent trade acquisition of one-time champ Kristaps Porzingis. A seven-foot-two center who can change the flow of the game on both sides of the floor. Bringing in elite shot-blocking skills and efficient three-point scoring would make him another scoring option to help out Ice Trae. Last year's number one overall pick, Zaccharie Risacher, is ramping up for a memorable sophomore season. He could quite possibly go for 15 points per game as the third or fourth scoring option. They also have Dyson Daniels, their Most Improved Player, who was part of the trade package that sent Dejounte Murray to New Orleans and Daniels to Atlanta. Let’s also not forget that Daniels was a runner-up for the Defensive Player of the Year award when he recorded 229 steals in a single season. With just this assortment of players on the same team, Atlanta winning 50 or more games might be a reality for this season.
