Clippers Top Nets; Sixers Win Again in MLK Matinees : January 17, 2012

No Chris Paul? No problem for the Clippers. Of course it helps to have Blake Griffin, It also helps to be playing the Nets at home. Unlike the Bulls, who...

NBA Southeast Division Update; Heat Leads the Way : January 04, 2012

The Southeast Division of the NBA is the Eastern Conference's most competitive thus far, at least at the top. As of Jan 3, the Heat is on top at 5-1...

Hawks Knock Heat from the Unbeaten Ranks : January 03, 2012

Tracy McGrady is still playing basketball? Apparently. He showed up in Miami on Monday and stole the show from the Heat. He played the entire fourth quarter and knocked down...

Atlanta Hawks Have New Owner Alex Meruelo : August 07, 2011

According to the Atlanta Journal-Constitution, Alex Meruelo and the Atlanta Hawks have signed a contract for Meruelo to obtain a majority stake in the NBA team. Based on information given to...

Atlanta Hawks on Verge of Being Sold : June 23, 2011

Two people close to the situation told SI.com that the sale of the Atlanta Hawks is imminent. One person said that the sale is nearly complete, but did not indicate who...

Atlanta Spirit Looking to Deal Atlanta Hawks, Thrashers : May 18, 2011

The National Hockey League’s Atlanta Thrashers and the National Basketball Association’s Atlanta Hawks are both owned by The Atlanta Spirit. The Thrashers have not panned out financially in Georgia and...

Kirk Hinrich Moves to Hawks for Bibby : February 23, 2011

With a five-player trade, the hapless Atlanta Hawks received guard Kirk Hinrich from the Washington Wizards in a move to strengthen their backcourt in the final stretch toward the playoffs. In...

atlanta hawks History

The NBA Atlanta Hawks basketball team play in the Eastern Conference's Southeast Division as part of the National Basketball Association. The Hawks are based out of Atlanta, Georgia and play at Phillips Arena.

In 1946, the franchise was originally formed as the Buffalo Bisons. They were based in Buffalo, NY and were a member of the National Basketball League. However, thirteen games into the first season the team was moved to Moline, Illinois and they were renamed the Tri-Cities Blackhawks. When the NBL merged with the Basketball Association of America to form the NBA, the Blackhawks were one of the 17 original NBA teams. The franchise moved again in 1951 to Milwaukee, Wisconsin and were renamed the Milwaukee Hawks and then in 1955 to St. Louis, Missouri.

The Hawks made it into the NBA Finals in 1957 but lost to the Boston Celtics. The Hawks once again in 1958 were in the NBA Finals and beat the Boston Celtics this time for the Hawks only NBA championship.

The Hawks were sold and relocated to Atlanta, Georgia in 1968. In 1982 Atlanta acquired Dominique Wilkins and a year later Mike Fratello became their head coach. The Hawks from 1985 to 1989 were one of the NBA's elite teams. Each season they won at least 50 games. However the Hawks never went past the Eastern Conference semifinals, losing to either Detroit or Boston as the eventual NBA or Eastern conference champion. In 1993, Lenny Wilkens became the new head coach. However the Hawks still weren't able to advance in the playoffs.

The popular Steve Smith was traded by the Hawks to the Portland Trail Blazers in exchange for Jim Jackson and Isaiah Rider in 1999. The Hawks ended up releasing the troubled Rider and Jackson was traded the next season. It was nine years before the Hawks made it back into the playoffs. In 2008, Atlanta returned to the playoffs and made three straight appearances following the 2007-08, 2008-09 and 2009-10 seasons.