| The franchise was formed in 1946 as the Tri-Cities | | | | many Hawk fans to this day. In 1995, coach Wilkens |
| Blackhawks (named after Tri-City native Black Hawk) | | | | broke the record (previously held by former Hawk |
| of the National Basketball League; it was based in the | | | | coach Red Auerbach) for most victories by an NBA |
| tri-city area between Moline, Illinois, Rock Island, | | | | head coach with victory number 939. Despite a |
| Illinois, and Davenport, Iowa (now called the Quad | | | | couple of 50+ win seasons afterward, the Hawks |
| Cities). Some sources state the team started the | | | | were quickly ousted from the playoffs on both |
| 1946-47 NBL season as the Buffalo Bisons and | | | | occasions, which led to further apathy by local fans |
| relocated to the Tri-Cities early in the season. When | | | | who quickly grew accustomed to Hawk failures in the |
| the NBL merged with the Basketball Association of | | | | playoffs. |
| America to form the National Basketball Association, | | | | In recent years, the Hawks yet again have become |
| the Blackhawks reached the playoffs in the NBA's | | | | one of the league's worst teams, mainly because of |
| inaugural year, under the leadership of coach Red | | | | horrible personnel moves made by the front office in |
| Auerbach. | | | | the late 1990's and early 2000's. In March 2004, the |
| However, the following season, after the team | | | | team was sold to a group of executives by the |
| drafted Bob Cousy and made the blunder of trading | | | | name of Atlanta Spirit LLC by Time Warner (who |
| his rights to the Chicago Stags (who would later | | | | inherited the Hawks and Braves upon its merger with |
| surrender him in a dispersal draft to the Boston | | | | Turner Broadcasting in 1996), along with the Atlanta |
| Celtics after they folded), they failed to qualify for | | | | Thrashers pro ice hockey team, with which the |
| the postseason. In 1951, the franchise relocated to | | | | Hawks share the Philips Arena. After the change in |
| Milwaukee, Wisconsin and became the Hawks. In | | | | ownership, though, the Hawks still struggled. In the |
| 1953, the Hawks drafted Bob Pettit, a future NBA | | | | 2004-05 season, the Hawks gained the notorious |
| MVP. Despite this, the Hawks were one of the | | | | reputation of the league's worst team with a mere |
| league's worst teams, and in 1955 the Hawks moved | | | | 13 victories (five less than even the expansion |
| yet again, this time to St. Louis, Missouri. | | | | Charlotte Bobcats and the struggling New Orleans |
| With acquisitions in the draft and free agency, the | | | | Hornets). Despite their league worst-record, though, |
| Hawks became one of the league's top teams. In | | | | the Hawks only landed the number two pick in the |
| 1957, the team advanced to the 1957 NBA Finals, | | | | 2005 NBA Draft (the first pick went to the |
| losing to the Boston Celtics in a double-overtime | | | | Milwaukee Bucks). With the second pick in the 2005 |
| thriller in game seven. In 1958, the Hawks again | | | | NBA Draft, the Atlanta Hawks selected Marvin |
| advanced to the NBA Finals under coach Alex | | | | Williams of the University of North Carolina. Marvin |
| Hannum and captured their only NBA Championship in | | | | Williams was considered at the time to be the player |
| game 6 against the Celtics. | | | | with the most potential and marketablity of the draft |
| The Hawks remained one the NBA's premier teams | | | | class despite other talented and more accomplished |
| for the next decade. In 1960, under coach Ed | | | | players being available, such as Chris Paul and Deron |
| Macauley, the team advanced to the Finals yet again, | | | | Williams. Additionally, the Hawks also drafted Josh |
| but lost - again to the Celtics - in yet another game | | | | Childress and Josh Smith from the 2004 Draft, Salim |
| seven thriller. The following year, with the acquisition | | | | Stoudamire in the second round of the 2005 Draft, |
| of rookie Lenny Wilkens, the Hawks repeated their | | | | and had nearly $25 million in cap space for 2005 free |
| success, but met the Celtics in the Finals again and | | | | agent market. |
| lost in five games. | | | | However, despite the recent influx of talent acquired |
| The next few years the Hawks remained | | | | in the draft, they still hold the longest drought of not |
| contenders, every year advancing deep into the | | | | drafting an All-Star or Pro Bowl player in North |
| playoffs and also capturing several division titles. | | | | American pro sports (23 years), going back to their |
| Despite the success, owners of the team became | | | | 1984 selection of Kevin Willis. In the summer of 2005, |
| wary of the aging Kiel Auditorium and wanted a new | | | | the Hawks completed a sign-trade deal with the |
| arena to increase revenue; they were however | | | | Phoenix Suns that landed Atlanta Joe Johnson in |
| rebuffed by the city on several occasions. In 1968, | | | | return for Boris Diaw and two future 1st round picks. |
| the team was sold to new owners, Atlanta real | | | | They also signed Zaza Pachulia from the Milwaukee |
| estate developer Tom Cousins and Georgia governor | | | | Bucks. These changes occurred after an apparent |
| Carl Sanders and moved to Atlanta, Georgia. Cousins' | | | | power struggle between the owners for nearly three |
| firm developed the Omni Coliseum, a state-of-the-art | | | | weeks before the moves were made. Unfortunately, |
| downtown Atlanta arena, for the Hawks and the | | | | while the power struggle over Johnson has been |
| expansion Atlanta Flames hockey franchise, which | | | | resolved, the ownership situation remains in flux, with |
| opened in 1972 as the first phase of a massive | | | | ligitation still ongoing. |
| sports, office, hotel and retail complex, most of | | | | As of 2006, the Hawks have shown some moderate |
| which is now the CNN Center. | | | | improvement. Even with the league's 4th worst |
| The years after the move showcased a talented | | | | record, during the 2005-06 season they still managed |
| Hawks team, including Pete Maravich, and Lou | | | | to triumph over the then-defending champion San |
| Hudson. However, after this period of success, the | | | | Antonio Spurs, 94-84, and also defeated the Detroit |
| Hawks experienced years of rebuilding. The rebuilding | | | | Pistons while the latter had the league's best regular |
| process appeared to be the right direction when they | | | | season record. |
| ended up with the 1st and 3rd picks overall in the | | | | The Hawks trail only the Golden State Warriors (12 in |
| 1975 NBA Draft. However, it took a turn for the | | | | a row) in terms of the most consecutive seasons |
| worst when draft picks David Thompson and Marvin | | | | without a playoff appearance with seven in a row |
| Webster both signed on with ABA franchises. | | | | (see Active NBA non-playoff appearance streaks). |
| In 1976 Atlanta Braves owner Ted Turner bought | | | | They also hold the dubious distinctions of not |
| the team and hired Hubie Brown to become head | | | | advancing beyond the second-round of any playoff |
| coach. In 1980, the Hawks team finished with 50 wins | | | | format since 1961 and the longest run of not winning |
| and won the Central Division. In 1982, the franchise | | | | an NBA title (49 years). |
| acquired superstar Dominique Wilkins and promoted | | | | With the lack of success in the playoffs, and most |
| Mike Fratello to head coach a year later. From | | | | recently, the regular season, along with often dubious |
| 1985-89, the Hawks were among the league's elite, | | | | decisions by the front office in terms of the draft |
| winning 50 games or more each season. However, | | | | and free agency, and the ever-embarrassing episodes |
| the team could not advance past the semifinals of | | | | in court over ownership of the franchise has greatly |
| the Eastern Conference playoffs. After several | | | | contributed to the fact that the team is constantly |
| seasons of mediocrity, Lenny Wilkens was hired as | | | | at or near the bottom of the league in home |
| coach in 1993. In the 1993-94 season, coach Wilkens | | | | attendance. While many local and national columnists |
| led the team to 57 victories, tying a team record. | | | | continue to barrage the city of Atlanta for its lack of |
| However, the team fell short again in the playoffs, | | | | fan support (for example, the sight of seeing an |
| losing to the Indiana Pacers in the Eastern semis in six | | | | Atlanta Braves home playoff game with lots of |
| games. The season was also marred with the trading | | | | empty seats is not uncommon despite the team only |
| of Wilkins, who remains the franchise all-time leading | | | | winning one world title in 14 consecutive playoff |
| scorer for Danny Manning, who quickly left via free | | | | appearances), many longtime fans point to the lack |
| agency to Phoenix after the season ended. The | | | | of success on the court and the league-wide |
| trade was a public-relations disaster for Hawks | | | | perception that they remain years away from being |
| management as ticket sales and overall interest | | | | competitive as a reason to stay away from Philips |
| waned without its superstar; in fact, it still sours | | | | Arena. |