1993–94 Atlanta Hawks season

The 1993–94 Atlanta Hawks season was the 45th season for the Atlanta Hawks in the National Basketball Association, and their 26th season in Atlanta, Georgia. During the off-season, the Hawks hired Hall of Famer Lenny Wilkens as their new head coach; Wilkens was a star guard for the franchise when it was based in St. Louis, Missouri in the 1960s, and was quickly moving up the all-time coaching wins list after successful runs with the Seattle SuperSonics and Cleveland Cavaliers. The team also signed free agents Craig Ehlo, and Andrew Lang.

Under Wilkens, and with the addition of Ehlo and Lang, the Hawks struggled losing four of their first five games of the regular season, but then posted a 14-game winning streak between November and December, which led to a 15–4 start to the season. The team posted a seven-game winning streak between December and January, and later on held a 34–13 record at the All-Star break. At mid-season, and despite a good record, the Hawks traded All-Star forward Dominique Wilkins to the Los Angeles Clippers in exchange for All-Star forward Danny Manning; Wilkins averaged 24.4 points, 6.2 rebounds and 1.3 steals per game in 49 games before the trade. Despite the loss of Wilkins, and with the addition of Manning, the Hawks won seven of their final ten games of the season, and finished in first place in the Central Division with a 57–25 record, earning the first seed in the Eastern Conference; the team also posted a successful 36–5 home record at the Omni Coliseum. Lenny Wilkens was named the NBA Coach of the Year, after leading the Hawks to a 14-game improvement over the previous season.

Kevin Willis averaged 19.1 points and 12.0 rebounds per game, while Manning averaged 15.7 points, 6.5 rebounds and 1.8 steals per game in 26 games after the trade, Stacey Augmon contributed 14.8 points and 1.8 steals per game, and Mookie Blaylock provided the team with 13.8 points, 5.2 rebounds, 9.7 assists and 2.6 steals per game, led them with 114 three-point field goals, and was named to the NBA All-Defensive First Team. In addition, Ehlo played a sixth man role off the bench, averaging 10.0 points and 1.7 steals per game, while also off the bench, Duane Ferrell contributed 7.1 points per game, Lang provided with 6.1 points, 3.8 rebounds and 1.1 blocks per game, and starting center Jon Koncak averaged 4.2 points, 4.5 rebounds and 1.5 blocks per game.

During the NBA All-Star weekend at the Target Center in Minneapolis, Minnesota, and before the mid-season trade, Wilkins and Blaylock were both selected for the 1994 NBA All-Star Game, as members of the Eastern Conference All-Star team, while Lenny Wilkens was selected to coach the Eastern Conference; it was Wilkins' ninth and final All-Star appearance, and the first and only All-Star appearance for Blaylock. Willis and Blaylock both finished tied in eleventh place in Most Valuable Player voting, while Blaylock also finished tied in seventh place in Defensive Player of the Year voting, and tied in fourth place in Most Improved Player voting, and Ehlo finished in third place in Sixth Man of the Year voting.

In the Eastern Conference First Round of the 1994 NBA playoffs, the Hawks faced off against the 8th–seeded Miami Heat, a team that featured Glen Rice, Steve Smith and Rony Seikaly. The Hawks struggled and faced elimination as the Heat took a 2–1 series lead, defeating the Hawks in Game 3 at the Miami Arena, 90–86. However, the Hawks managed to win the next two games, which included a Game 5 win over the Heat at home, 102–91 at the Omni Coliseum to win in a hard-fought five-game series.

In the Eastern Conference Semi-finals, the team faced off against the 5th–seeded Indiana Pacers, who were led by Reggie Miller, Rik Smits and Derrick McKey. With the series tied at 1–1, the Hawks lost the next two games to the Pacers on the road, including a Game 4 loss at the Market Square Arena, 102–86. After winning Game 5 at the Omni Coliseum, 88–76, and despite being the top–seeded team, the Hawks lost Game 6 to the Pacers at the Market Square Arena, 98–79, thus losing the series in six games.

The Hawks finished 22nd in the NBA in home-game attendance, with an attendance of 537,547 at the Omni Coliseum during the regular season. Following the season, Manning signed as a free agent with the Phoenix Suns after only half a season with the Hawks, while Ferrell signed with the Indiana Pacers, and second-year forward Adam Keefe was traded to the Utah Jazz.

Draft picks

Roster

Roster Notes

• Power forward Roy Hinson was on the injured reserve list due to a knee injury, missed the entire regular season, and never played for the Hawks.
• Center Blair Rasmussen was on the injured reserve list due to a back injury, and missed the entire regular season.

Regular season

Season standings

Game log

Regular season

|- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 1 | November 5, 1993 | Indiana | W 116–110 | | | | The Omni | 1–0 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc" | 2 | November 8, 1993 | @ Chicago | L 80–106 | | | | Chicago Stadium | 1–1 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc" | 3 | November 10, 1993 | @ Utah | L 88–91 | | | | Delta Center | 1–2 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc" | 4 | November 12, 1993 | @ Portland | L 84–94 | | | | Memorial Coliseum | 1–3 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc" | 5 | November 13, 1993 | @ Seattle | L 89–97 (OT) | | | | Seattle Center Coliseum | 1–4 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 6 | November 16, 1993 | Sacramento | W 118–95 | | | | The Omni | 2–4 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 7 | November 17, 1993 | @ Philadelphia | W 92–90 | | | | The Spectrum | 3–4 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 8 | November 19, 1993 | @ Miami | W 95–92 | | | | Miami Arena | 4–4 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 9 | November 20, 1993 | Charlotte | W 96–91 | | | | The Omni | 5–4 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 10 | November 23, 1993 | L.A. Lakers | W 103–93 | | | | The Omni | 6–4 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 11 | November 24, 1993 | @ Milwaukee | W 89–85 | | | | Bradley Center | 7–4 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 12 | November 26, 1993 | Washington | W 124–108 | | | | The Omni | 8–4 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 13 | November 27, 1993 | Philadelphia | W 111–79 | | | | The Omni | 9–4 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 14 | November 30, 1993 | Boston | W 122–114 | | | | The Omni | 10–4

|- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 15 | December 3, 1993 | Houston | W 133–111 | | | | The Omni | 11–4 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 16 | December 8, 1993 | @ Detroit | W 105–97 | | | | The Palace of Auburn Hills | 12–4 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 17 | December 9, 1993 | San Antonio | W 105–95 | | | | The Omni | 13–4 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 18 | December 11, 1993 | @ Washington<br><small>(at Baltimore, MD)</small> | W 116–108 | | | | Baltimore Arena | 14–4 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 19 | December 14, 1993 | @ Cleveland | W 103–92 | | | | Richfield Coliseum | 15–4 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc" | 20 | December 16, 1993 | Indiana | L 81–99 | | | | The Omni | 15–5 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 21 | December 18, 1993 | Denver | W 102–96 | | | | The Omni | 16–5 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 22 | December 22, 1993 | @ Boston | W 108–103 | | | | Boston Garden | 17–5 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc" | 23 | December 23, 1993 | @ New York | L 75–84 | | | | Madison Square Garden | 17–6 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc" | 24 | December 26, 1993 | @ New Jersey | L 87–91 | | | | Brendan Byrne Arena | 17–7 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 25 | December 28, 1993 | Detroit | W 119–101 | | | | The Omni | 18–7 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 26 | December 29, 1993 | @ Orlando | W 92–90 | | | | Orlando Arena | 19–7

|- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 27 | January 4, 1994 | Charlotte | W 133–94 | | | | The Omni | 20–7 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 28 | January 7, 1994 | Portland | W 100–85 | | | | The Omni | 21–7 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 29 | January 8, 1994 | Cleveland | W 102–89 | | | | The Omni | 22–7 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 30 | January 12, 1994 | Chicago | W 92–81 | | | | The Omni | 23–7 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 31 | January 14, 1994 | Dallas | W 113–96 | | | | The Omni | 24–7 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc" | 32 | January 15, 1994 | @ Indiana | L 91–94 | | | | Market Square Arena | 24–8 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 33 | January 17, 1994 | Milwaukee | W 102–98 | | | | The Omni | 25–8 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc" | 34 | January 19, 1994 | Golden State | L 119–120 | | | | The Omni | 25–9 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc" | 35 | January 21, 1994 | New Jersey | L 111–113 (OT) | | | | The Omni | 25–10 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 36 | January 22, 1994 | @ Minnesota | W 98–81 | | | | Target Center | 26–10 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 37 | January 25, 1994 | @ Milwaukee | W 95–90 | | | | Bradley Center | 27–10 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 38 | January 26, 1994 | Phoenix | W 116–107 | | | | The Omni | 28–10 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 39 | January 28, 1994 | @ Charlotte | W 117–105 | | | | Charlotte Coliseum | 29–10 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc" | 40 | January 29, 1994 | @ San Antonio | L 87–100 | | | | Alamodome | 29–11 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 41 | January 31, 1994 | @ Dallas | W 90–85 | | | | Reunion Arena | 30–11

|- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 42 | February 2, 1994 | Orlando | W 118–99 | | | | The Omni | 31–11 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 43 | February 4, 1994 | New York | W 114–102 | | | | The Omni | 32–11 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc" | 44 | February 5, 1994 | @ Cleveland | L 93–109 | | | | Richfield Coliseum | 32–12 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 45 | February 7, 1994 | Detroit | W 141–97 | | | | The Omni | 32–13 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc" | 46 | February 9, 1994 | @ Orlando | L 87–104 | | | | Orlando Arena | 33–13 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 47 | February 10, 1994 | Miami | W 114–98 | | | | The Omni | 34–13 |- align="center" |colspan="9" bgcolor="#bbcaff"|All-Star Break |- style="background:#cfc;" |- bgcolor="#bbffbb" |- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc" | 48 | February 15, 1994 | @ Houston | L 99–103 | | | | The Summit | 34–14 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc" | 49 | February 17, 1994 | @ Golden State | L 115–119 | | | | Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum Arena | 34–15 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 50 | February 18, 1994 | @ L.A. Clippers | W 97–91 | | | | Los Angeles Memorial Sports Arena | 35–15 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc" | 51 | February 20, 1994 | @ Denver | L 92–97 | | | | McNichols Sports Arena | 35–16 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 52 | February 23, 1994 | Seattle | W 99–92 | | | | The Omni | 36–16 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 53 | February 25, 1994 | Milwaukee | W 111–100 | | | | The Omni | 37–16 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 54 | February 26, 1994 | @ Philadelphia | W 118–102 | | | | The Spectrum | 38–16

|- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 55 | March 1, 1994 | Minnesota | W 102–99 | | | | The Omni | 39–16 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 56 | March 3, 1994 | @ Washington | W 109–98 | | | | USAir Arena | 40–16 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 57 | March 5, 1994 | Indiana | W 90–88 | | | | The Omni | 41–16 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc" | 58 | March 8, 1994 | @ Chicago | L 95–116 | | | | Chicago Stadium | 41–17 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc" | 59 | March 9, 1994 | New York | L 83–90 | | | | The Omni | 41–18 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 60 | March 11, 1994 | Chicago | W 108–77 | | | | The Omni | 42–18 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 61 | March 12, 1994 | @ Detroit | W 104–92 | | | | The Palace of Auburn Hills | 43–18 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc" | 62 | March 16, 1994 | @ Charlotte | L 79–92 | | | | Charlotte Coliseum | 43–19 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 63 | March 18, 1994 | @ Indiana | W 81–78 | | | | Market Square Arena | 44–19 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 64 | March 20, 1994 | @ Boston | W 101–80 | | | | Boston Garden | 45–19 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 65 | March 21, 1994 | Utah | W 100–96 (OT) | | | | The Omni | 46–19 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 66 | March 23, 1994 | Charlotte | W 100–92 | | | | The Omni | 47–19 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc" | 67 | March 25, 1994 | L.A. Clippers | L 94–97 | | | | The Omni | 47–20 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 68 | March 26, 1994 | Miami | W 100–90 | | | | The Omni | 48–20 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 69 | March 29, 1994 | New Jersey | W 101–98 | | | | The Omni | 49–20 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 70 | March 31, 1994 | @ Sacramento | W 106–102 | | | | ARCO Arena | 50–20

|- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc" | 71 | April 1, 1994 | @ Phoenix | L 87–93 | | | | America West Arena | 50–21 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc" | 72 | April 3, 1994 | @ L.A. Lakers | L 89–102 | | | | Great Western Forum | 50–22 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 73 | April 6, 1994 | Boston | W 111–107 | | | | The Omni | 51–22 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc" | 74 | April 7, 1994 | @ New Jersey | L 87–93 | | | | Brendan Byrne Arena | 51–23 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 75 | April 9, 1994 | Washington | W 117–103 | | | | The Omni | 52–23 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 76 | April 13, 1994 | Cleveland | W 110–95 | | | | The Omni | 53–23 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 77 | April 15, 1994 | @ Milwaukee | W 105–96 | | | | Bradley Center | 54–23 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 78 | April 16, 1994 | Philadelphia | W 123–94 | | | | The Omni | 55–23 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc" | 79 | April 18, 1994 | @ Chicago | L 70–87 | | | | Chicago Stadium | 55–24 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 80 | April 19, 1994 | @ New York | W 87–84 | | | | Madison Square Garden | 56–24 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc" | 81 | April 21, 1994 | @ Miami | L 89–94 | | | | Miami Arena | 56–25 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 82 | April 23, 1994 | Orlando | W 93–89 | | | | The Omni | 57–25

Playoffs

Entering the playoffs, the Hawks struggled, as they needed the full five games to get past the Miami Heat in the Eastern Conference quarterfinals. In the Eastern Conference semifinals, the Hawks were upset by the Indiana Pacers in 6 games.

|- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc" | 1 | April 28, 1994 | Miami | L 88–93 | Kevin Willis (17) | Kevin Willis (16) | Mookie Blaylock (9) | The Omni<br>11,543 | 0–1 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 2 | April 30, 1994 | Miami | W 104–86 | Danny Manning (20) | Kevin Willis (14) | Mookie Blaylock (8) | The Omni<br>16,368 | 1–1 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc" | 3 | May 3, 1994 | @ Miami | L 86–90 | Craig Ehlo (20) | Kevin Willis (13) | Danny Manning (8) | Miami Arena<br>15,200 | 1–2 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 4 | May 5, 1994 | @ Miami | W 103–89 | Mookie Blaylock (29) | Kevin Willis (14) | Mookie Blaylock (7) | Miami Arena<br>15,200 | 2–2 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 5 | May 8, 1994 | Miami | W 102–91 | Kevin Willis (24) | Kevin Willis (12) | Mookie Blaylock (18) | The Omni<br>14,472 | 3–2 |-

|- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc" | 1 | May 10, 1994 | Indiana | L 85–96 | Danny Manning (21) | Kevin Willis (10) | Mookie Blaylock (8) | The Omni<br>13,190 | 0–1 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 2 | May 12, 1994 | Indiana | W 92–69 | Manning, Willis (20) | Kevin Willis (15) | Mookie Blaylock (13) | The Omni<br>15,854 | 1–1 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc" | 3 | May 14, 1994 | @ Indiana | L 81–101 | Kevin Willis (14) | Willis, Manning (10) | Mookie Blaylock (7) | Market Square Arena<br>16,545 | 1–2 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc" | 4 | May 15, 1994 | @ Indiana | L 86–102 | Danny Manning (35) | Andrew Lang (8) | Blaylock, Ehlo (5) | Market Square Arena<br>16,561 | 1–3 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ccffcc" | 5 | May 17, 1994 | Indiana | W 88–76 | Craig Ehlo (22) | Mookie Blaylock (10) | Mookie Blaylock (13) | The Omni<br>14,849 | 2–3 |- align="center" bgcolor="#ffcccc" | 6 | May 19, 1994 | @ Indiana | L 79–98 | Mookie Blaylock (23) | Danny Manning (10) | three players tied (4) | Market Square Arena<br>16,552 | 2–4 |-

Player statistics

Legend

Season

Playoffs

Player statistics citation:

Awards and records

Awards

• Lenny Wilkens, NBA Coach of the Year
• Mookie Blaylock, NBA All-Defensive First Team

Transactions

Trades

• February 24, 1994: Traded Dominique Wilkins and a 1994 first round draft pick to the Los Angeles Clippers for Danny Manning.
• June 22, 1994: Traded Roy Hinson (unrostered) to the Milwaukee Bucks for Ken Norman.

Free agents

Additions

Subtractions

Player Transactions Citation:

See also

• 1993-94 NBA season

References