Category: Atlanta Hawks Blog

Atlanta Hawks blog

NBA Mexico City Game 2023: Hawks vs. Magic on November 9

The NBA Mexico City Game 2023 will feature the Atlanta Hawks and the Orlando Magic playing a regular-season game at the Arena CDMX in Mexico City on Thursday, Nov. 9. The matchup will mark the league’s 32nd game in Mexico since 1992, more than any country outside the U.S. and Canada.

The Magic, which will be playing its fourth game in Mexico since 2012, currently features 2022 No. 1 overall pick and 2022-23 Kia NBA Rookie of the Year Paolo Banchero, 2021-22 Kia NBA All-Rookie First Team member Franz Wagner, and 2017 No. 1 overall pick Markelle Fultz. The Hawks, who will be playing their first game in Mexico, are coming off their third consecutive playoff appearance behind two-time NBA All-Star Trae Young and 2022 NBA All-Star Dejounte Murray.

The NBA Mexico City Game 2023 will air live in Mexico on ESPN, Star+, TUDN and NBA League Pass, the league’s premium live game subscription service available on the NBA App, reaching fans in more than 200 countries and territories on television, digital media and social media. In addition to The NBA Mexico City Game 2023, the league and its partners will conduct NBA Cares community outreach initiatives, Jr. NBA youth basketball development programming and interactive activities that will bring the NBA experience to fans in Mexico City.

To conclude the week-long celebration of basketball in the country, the Mexico City Capitanes will host the Osceola Magic on Friday, Nov. 10 as part of the NBA G League’s Showcase Cup schedule.

Hawks sign Wesley Matthews

The Atlanta Hawks have signed guard Wesley Matthews.

Matthews has appeared in 950 games (754 starts) throughout his 14-year career, suiting up for the Utah Jazz (2009-10), Portland Trail Blazers (2010-15), Dallas Mavericks (2015-19), New York Knicks (2018-19), Indiana Pacers (2018-19), Los Angeles Lakers (2020-21) and Milwaukee Bucks (2019-20, 2021-23). His 950 games played are the fourth-most in NBA history by an undrafted player, trailing only Moses Malone (1,329), Ben Wallace (1,088) and Avery Johnson (1,054).

The 6-4 guard owns career averages of 11.7 points, 2.8 rebounds and 1.9 assists in 29.6 minutes of play (.420 FG%, .376 3FG%, .824 FT%). Matthews has connected on 1,821 three-pointers throughout his NBA career, the most triples by an undrafted player in NBA history and the 10th-most three-pointers amongst all active players.

Matthews’ father, Wes Matthews Sr., appeared in 152 games for Atlanta across five stints with the Hawks (1980-83, 1984, 1990). They become the first father/son duo to both suit up for the Hawks.

Matthews recently saw action in 52 games with the Bucks during the 2022-23 campaign, averaging 3.4 points and 2.2 rebounds in 15.7 minutes of action. He scored his 11,000th career point in a 150-130 win over the Detroit Pistons on Jan. 23, 2023. Matthews, who’s poured in 11,100 total points in his career, has the third-most points by an undrafted player in league history (Moses Malone: 27,409, David Wesley: 11,842).

The San Antonio, Texas native, who owns a career .376% clip from three-point territory, was selected to participate in the three-point contest at NBA All-Star Weekend 2015 and 2017. In his sophomore season, Matthews earned a spot in the 2011 Rising Stars Challenge.

Matthews has appeared in the NBA Playoffs in nine of his 14 seasons, including in each of the past five campaigns (since 2019). He has seen action in 66 postseason games (59 starts), tallying 9.9 points, 2.9 rebounds, 1.2 assists and 1.0 steals in 30.8 minutes of play (.391 FG%, .352 3FG%, .808 FT%).

The Marquette product enjoyed a four-year collegiate career, suiting up for the Golden Eagles from 2005-09, leading the team to the NCAA Tournament in each of his four seasons. He currently ranks second in program history in free throws made (549), tied sixth in games played (127) and 10th in scoring (1,673).

Hawks waive Tyrese Martin

The Atlanta Hawks have waived guard Tyrese Martin.

Martin appeared in 16 games for the Hawks during the 2022-23 season, averaging 1.3 points in 4.1 minutes per contest. He also played in 30 games (28 starts) with the College Park Skyhawks of the NBA G League, recording 18.1 points, 8.9 rebounds and 1.7 assists in 33.0 minutes (.502 FG%, .352 3FG%, .784 FT%).

Selected 51st overall in the 2022 NBA Draft by the Golden State Warriors, Martin was acquired by the Hawks in a draft night trade.

Hawks trade John Collins to Jazz

The Atlanta Hawks have acquired forward Rudy Gay and a conditional 2026 second-round pick in a trade with the Utah Jazz for forward John Collins.

The transaction creates a $25.3 million trade exception for Atlanta, currently the largest in the NBA. The exception can be used to acquire a player(s) in subsequent trades and will expire in a year. The 2026 conditional second round pick will be sent from Memphis to the Hawks if between 31 and 42.

“Being able to create financial flexibility moving forward was a major priority for us. The added flexibility will give us greater optionality as we look at opportunities to improve our team,” said Hawks General Manager Landry Fields. “John was a key contributor our team over the past six seasons and played an instrumental role in helping us become a regular playoff contender. We would like to thank him for his professionalism and leadership over the years and we wish him the best in Utah.”

Gay, a 17-year veteran, has career averages of 15.8 points on .452 shooting, 5.6 rebounds, 2.0 assists and 1.1 steals in 30.9 minutes per game over 1,120 games (779 starts) with Memphis, San Antonio, Sacramento, Toronto and Utah. Last season in Utah, the 6-foot-8, 230-pound forward appeared in 56 games, averaging 5.2 points, 2.9 rebounds and 1.0 assists in 14.6 minutes per game.

His 1,120 games played rank fifth among active players, while his 17,642 points rank ninth. He has appeared in 19 postseason games with averages of 14.3 points, 6.5 rebounds and 1.7 assists in 32.5 minutes per game.

Collins was selected by the Hawks with the 19th overall pick in the first round of the 2017 NBA Draft. In six seasons in Atlanta, the forward from Wake Forest has career averages of 15.8 points on .551 shooting, 8.0 rebounds, 1.5 assists and 1.0 block in 29.2 minutes per game in 364 games (313 starts). During the 2022-23 season, he averaged 13.1 points on .508 shooting, 6.5 rebounds and 1.2 assists in 30.0 minutes in 71 games (all starts).

Atlanta Hawks waive two-way guard Donovan Williams

The Atlanta Hawks recently requested waivers on two-way guard Donovan Williams.

Williams saw action in two games for the Hawks during the 2022-23 season, appearing in his first career NBA contest in a win at Chicago on April 4. The UNLV product appeared in 24 games (21 starts), with the College Park Skyhawks of the NBA G League, tallying 12.8 points, 4.8 rebounds, 1.4 assists and 1.1 steals in 28.5 minutes of action.

Williams was signed to a two-way contract by the Hawks on Jan. 17, 2023.

Former Spurs guard Dejounte Murray receives warm reception in San Antonio

Via the San Antonio Express News:

Hawks guard Dejounte Murray said he appreciated the warm reception he received in his first game back at the AT&T Center.

Murray spent his first six NBA seasons with the Spurs before being dealt to Atlanta last summer.

“I felt like it was what it should be,” said Murray, who tallied 22 points in the Hawks’ defeat. “It showed nothing but love, both sides.”

The team began the afternoon’s festivities with a video thanking Murray for his time in San Antonio.

“I’m thankful, grateful,” Murray said. “It’s family forever.”

Damon Stoudamire hired as Georgia Tech’s new basketball coach

Via the Atlanta Journal Constitution:

Georgia Tech moved quickly to chart its new course in men’s basketball. Boston Celtics assistant coach Damon Stoudamire was hired Monday as the new coach of the Yellow Jackets. Following reports of the 13-year NBA veteran emerging as a candidate in the morning, the hire was finalized in the afternoon.

The move comes three days after athletic director J Batt dismissed coach Josh Pastner after seven seasons.

“I am humbled and honored to be the head coach at Georgia Tech,” Stoudamire said in a statement. “It is an incredible honor to be entrusted with leading such a tradition-rich program. I am excited to get to work with the goal of consistently having our team compete at the championship level that we all know we can and should compete at. I’m proud to represent Georgia Tech and can’t wait to walk out of the tunnel and onto the floor at the Thrillerdome in front of our fans. Go Jackets!”

Atlanta Hawks hire Quin Snyder as new head coach

The Atlanta Hawks have hired Quin Snyder as the franchise’s 15th full-time head coach.

Snyder served as head coach of the Utah Jazz from the 2014-15 to 2021-22 seasons, accumulating a 372-264 record (.585) and leading the Jazz to the playoffs in six of his eight seasons. Over his final six seasons (2016-17 to 2021-22), the Jazz compiled a 294-178 record, the third-highest winning percentage (.623) in the NBA and best in the Western Conference over that span. Utah started the 2020-21 season with a 23-5 record, earning Snyder the honor of being named the head coach of the 2021 Western Conference All-Star Team, and finished the regular season with the best record in the NBA (52-20; .722) and the fifth-highest single-season winning percentage in Jazz history. His 372 wins are the second-most in the franchise history behind only Jerry Sloan.

Snyder finished sixth in NBA Coach of the Year voting in 2017, second in 2018, eighth in 2019 and third in 2021. He is a four-time Western Conference Coach of the Month.

Prior to joining the Jazz in 2014-15, Snyder was an assistant coach with the Hawks during the 2013-14 season on Head Coach Mike Budenholzer’s staff.

“From our first conversation, it was clear that Quin had all the characteristics we were looking for in our next head coach. He has both an incredible basketball and emotional IQ, and we share the same core values and basketball philosophies of having honest communication and collaboration with players, tremendous attention to detail and placing a great emphasis on player development,” Fields said. “We are excited to welcome him, his wife Amy and their family back to Atlanta.”

“I am thrilled to go back to Atlanta as the next head coach of the Hawks. Landry has a tremendous reputation as an incredibly bright, high character, high quality individual and it was quickly evident that we share a passion and commitment to building a winning team with a strong foundation and high standards. I am excited to collaborate with Landry to create a successful program that devoted Hawks fans are proud of and cheer for and am grateful to Tony, Jami and the Ressler family for this opportunity. My family and I are looking forward to immersing ourselves in the community and calling Atlanta home.”

Over his eight seasons with Utah, the Jazz allowed the fewest points per game (102.0) in the NBA, the fifth-lowest field goal percentage (.449) and 10th lowest three-point percentage (.355) in addition to ranking 5th in rebounding (44.9). Offensively over that span, Utah ranked 5th in three-point field goal percentage (.366) and 6th in three-point field goal attempts per game (31.5).

The Jazz reached the playoffs in six consecutive seasons, advancing to the Western Conference Semifinals on three occasions (2017, 2018 and 2021). Snyder’s teams amassed a 21-30 record (.412) in the postseason.

Prior to joining the Hawks in 2013-14, Snyder worked as an assistant coach for CKSA Moscow (2012-13), the Los Angeles Lakers (2011-12) and Philadelphia 76ers (2010-11). From 2007-10, Snyder was head coach of the Austin Toros (the NBA G League affiliate of the San Antonio Spurs), recording a 94-56 (.627) mark, while leading the Toros to three straight playoff appearances and the 2008 National Basketball Development League championship game. He was the 2008-09 D-League Coach of the Year.

Snyder began his head coaching career at the University of Missouri in 1999, where in seven seasons, he led the Tigers to a 128-96 (.571) record, and four NCAA Tournaments including an Elite Eight appearance. Prior to starting with Missouri, he served as a with assistant with the Los Angeles Clippers (1992-93) and at Duke (1995-99) under Mike Krzyzewski. The former Duke guard (1985-89) played in 136 games over four years with the Blue Devils, reaching three Final Fours, averaging 6.2 points. Snyder earned undergraduate degrees in philosophy and political science from Duke, later earning a Juris Doctor and M.B.A. from Duke as well. He is a native of Mercer Island, WA.

Atlanta Hawks reportedly fire coach Nate McMillan

Per multiple reports, the Atlanta Hawks have fired head coach Nate McMillan.

The team is 29-30 this season, which is the 8th best record in the Eastern conference.

Their leading scorers so far in 2022-23 are Trae Young at 26.7 PPG, Dejounte Murray at 20.7 PPG, and De’Andre Hunter at 15.9 PPG.

The Hawks offense has been average in the league this season, while their defense needs improvement.

Rockets trade Bruno Fernando and Garrison Mathews to Hawks for Justin Holiday, Frank Kaminsky and draft picks

The Atlanta Hawks acquired center Bruno Fernando and guard Garrison Mathews in a trade with the Houston Rockets for Justin Holiday, Frank Kaminsky and 2024 and 2025 second round draft picks (Oklahoma City’s own).

Fernando has appeared in 31 games (four starts) with the Rockets this season, tallying 4.1 points, 3.9 rebounds, 1.0 assist and 1.0 block in 11.7 minutes (.516 FG%, .682 FT%). The center from Luanda, Angola has rejected two-or-more shots in eight games this season, including two four-block outings.

Selected 34th overall by the Philadelphia 76ers in the 2019 NBA Draft, Fernando’s rights were traded to Atlanta on July 6, 2019. Over the course of his four-year career, Fernando has suited up for Atlanta (2019-21), Boston (2021-22) and Houston (2021-23). He owns career averages of 3.4 points and 3.0 rebounds in 150 games (17 starts). Fernando was the first native of Angola ever drafted into the NBA.

Fernando played two years at Maryland (2017-19), seeing action in 64 games (53 starts), recording 12.0 points, 8.7 rebounds, 1.4 assists and 1.6 blocks in 26.4 minutes of play (.595 FG%, .763 FT%). He left Maryland ranked second all-time in field goal percentage (.595 FG%), tied eighth in career blocked shots per game (1.6), tied ninth in career double-doubles (25) and 10th in rebounds per game (8.7).

Mathews, a career .366% three-point shooter, has appeared in 45 games for Houston this season, averaging 4.8 points and 1.4 rebounds in 13.4 minutes. During the 2021-22 campaign, the 6-5 guard averaged career bests of 10.0 points, 2.9 rebounds and 1.0 assist, seeing action in a career-high 65 games, while making a career-high 33 starts.

Undrafted in 2019, Mathews signed a two-way contract with the Washington Wizards on July 3, 2019 and re-signed as a two-way player with Washington on Nov. 21, 2020. He signed a training camp contract with Boston in September 2021 and was claimed off waivers by the Rockets on Oct. 18, 2021 and signed to a two-way contract, which was converted to a standard NBA contract on Dec. 18, 2021. In his four NBA seasons, Mathews has appeared in 192 games (57 starts), notching 6.9 points and 1.9 rebounds in 18.6 minutes of play. He also saw action in three postseason games with the Wizards during the 2021 NBA Playoffs.

The Franklin, Tenn., native spent four seasons at Lipscomb (2015-19) and finished as the school’s all-time leading scorer in the Division I era with 2,478 points.

Holiday was acquired by Atlanta on July 6, 2022, via a trade with the Sacramento Kings. He has appeared in 28 games for the Hawks this season, averaging 4.5 points in 14.7 minutes of action. Kaminsky signed with the club as a free agent on July 12, 2022. In 26 games played this season, Kaminsky is averaging 2.7 points and 1.4 rebounds in 6.8 minutes.