Atlanta's perpetual .500 record faces a seismic shift. A new young core ignites hope, offering a genuine chance to escape NBA mediocrity.
The Atlanta Hawks have become synonymous with mediocrity.
Harsh? Perhaps. True? Undeniably. This organization is perpetually in the NBA’s middle class. Don’t take my word for it:
The numbers back the assertion up.
Atlanta Hawks Have Been Mediocre for Too Long
Take a look at these staggering numbers. Although you should be warned: They are not easy on the eyes.
For those with an aversion to hyperlinks, the Hawks are 31-31 at the time of this writing. That’s no surprise. The Hawks are 67-67 in their last 134 games.
But wait, there’s more.
Atlanta is 174-174 in their last 348 games, 210-210 in their last 420, 785-785 in their last 1,570, 1,940-1,940 in their last 3,880, and 2,895-2,895 in their last 5,790.
Yes, you read that correctly.
Obviously, the team hasn’t gone .500 in each of their last 70ish seasons. There have been highlights. The 1996-97 Hawks won 56 games, led by Dikembe Mutombo and Mookie Blaylock. Fans will fondly remember the 60-win 2014-15 Hawks who featured five All-Stars.
And, there have been low points. A 13-win season in 2004-05. Twenty wins in 2019-20. The Hawks’ performances have been mixed, but cumulatively, there’s only one word to describe their post-Petit history:
Mediocre.
It’s a difficult place to be. It’s not a position that’s rewarded in the NBA.
Luckily, it’s a place the new-look Hawks have a chance to get away from.
Atlanta Hawks Can Break Longstanding Streak with Young Core
This organization is in as good a position as they’ve been in a long time.
Jalen Johnson is a certified stud. His ability to rack up big numbers is remarkable. He’s a primary playmaking wing with the DNA of a franchise player.
It’s too early to coronate Jonathan Kuminga the same way, but he’s certainly exceeded expectations through his three games in Atlanta. It’s beginning to look like the Warriors severely undersold his potential. At just 22, Kuminga gives the Hawks another long, athletic wing who can create his own shot and finish at the rim. Paired with Johnson, Atlanta suddenly has a frontcourt with real two-way upside.
Dyson Daniels, Onyeka Okongwu, and Nickeil Alexander-Walker are all useful players on the right side of 30. Moreover, the Hawks have an incoming lottery pick from the New Orleans Pelicans. Depending on where that pick lands, it could net the Hawks the most significant player on their roster.
For the first time in a long time, the path forward doesn’t lead straight back to .500. This group has the talent and the timeline to push past the middle class and into legitimate contention. Whether that means a deep playoff run or something more remains to be seen.
Ideally, they’ll become synonymous with NBA championships.