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Atlanta Hawks · Franchise era 3 of 6

The Human Highlight Film: the Atlanta Hawks story

Franchise era

1982–83—1993–94

The Human Highlight Film

Atlanta Hawks

The story in one sentence

Wilkins turned Atlanta into a perennial playoff team and one of basketball's essential attractions, peaking with the classic 1988 duel against Larry Bird.

01

Dominique makes every night an event

02

Dominique Wilkins, Doc Rivers and Kevin Willis gave the era its recognizable core.

03

Its ending created the conditions for defense, then a reset.

Timeline

How it unfolded

  1. Before 1982–83

    What came before

    The Hawks settled in Atlanta, pairing Hudson's smooth scoring with Maravich's invention before Roundfield anchored a tougher transition.

  2. 1987

    Eastern Conference Semifinals: Atlanta Hawks vs Detroit Pistons

    Eastern ConferenceSemifinals
    1987
    ATLANTAHAWKS
    DETROITPISTONS
    COMPLETE SERIES

    Eastern Conference Semifinals · 5 games

    Atlanta Hawks vs Detroit Pistons

    Open the complete series →

    Series finale · Game 5 · May 13, 1987Detroit Pistons at Atlanta Hawks →Closest game · Game 1 · May 3, 1987Detroit Pistons at Atlanta Hawks →

  3. 1988

    Eastern Conference Semifinals: Atlanta Hawks vs Boston Celtics

    Eastern ConferenceSemifinals
    1988
    ATLANTAHAWKS
    BOSTONCELTICS
    COMPLETE SERIES

    Eastern Conference Semifinals · 7 games

    Atlanta Hawks vs Boston Celtics

    Open the complete series →

    Series finale · Game 7 · May 22, 1988Atlanta Hawks at Boston Celtics →Closest game · Game 6 · May 20, 1988Boston Celtics at Atlanta Hawks →

  4. 1994

    Eastern Conference Semifinals: Atlanta Hawks vs Indiana Pacers

    Eastern ConferenceSemifinals
    1994
    ATLANTAHAWKS
    INDIANAPACERS
    COMPLETE SERIES

    Eastern Conference Semifinals · 6 games

    Atlanta Hawks vs Indiana Pacers

    Open the complete series →

    Series finale · Game 6 · May 19, 1994Atlanta Hawks at Indiana Pacers →Closest game · Game 1 · May 10, 1994Indiana Pacers at Atlanta Hawks →

  5. After 1993–94

    What came next

    An elite defensive core kept Atlanta relevant in the 1990s before a long rebuild followed the veterans' departure.

The core

Faces of the chapter

01Dominique Wilkins→02Doc Rivers→03Kevin Willis→
← Previous eraA new home in Atlanta1968–69—1981–82Next era →Defense, then a reset1994–95—2006–07