One of the NBA’s most tumultuous but prosperous early franchises, with three relocations but also a 1958 title. Settled into Atlanta in the late ’60s but are now over a half century removed from their last NBA Finals appearance.
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Hardwood ceiling: 25 memorable team eras that didn’t include an NBA Finals appearance
Proving that titles aren’t necessarily everything for basketball fans, these are the most talented, successful, beloved, and otherwise notable team eras of all time that never reached the NBA Finals.
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- Bill Russell injury playing part in 1958 NBA title (as St. Louis Hawks)
- Billy Knight tenure as general manager
- Drafting Bob Pettit #2 overall
- In game seven of the 1957 NBA Finals (as St. Louis Hawks)
- Lengthy playoff drought
- Lon Kruger tenure as coach
- Name change from Blackhawks to Hawks
- Playing games in the Omni Coliseum
- Playing home games at Georgia Dome
- Re-location from Moline to Milwaukee
- Re-location from Milwaukee to St. Louis
- Re-location from St. Louis to Atlanta
- Retiring a jersey for Kasim Reed
- Rivalry with Celtics
- Rivalry with Waterloo Hawks (as Tri-Cities Blackhawks)
- Struggling in the regular season of their ’57-’58 championship season (as St. Louis Hawks)
- Upsetting the Pacers in the 1996 playoffs first round
- Winning 2024 NBA Draft Lottery