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Tag: Atlanta Hawks

  • Grammy-Winning Changemaker Killer Mike Teams Up With DJ Greg Street & The Atlanta Hawks For Special Halftime Performance During Black History Month Game

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    Source: Dominik Bindl/WireImage

    Grammy-winning changemaker, Killer Mike, is teaming up with DJ Greg Street and the Atlanta Hawks for a special halftime performance during the franchise’s Black History Month Game on Thursday, February 26, at State Farm Arena in Atlanta.

    Fueled by Georgia Natural Gas, the night will celebrate the impact, achievements, and enduring legacy of the Black community through a high-energy halftime tribute, in-arena storytelling, and community activations that reflect the Hawks’ and GNG’s ongoing commitment to honoring Black excellence and cultural influence.

    “I’m incredibly proud to join the Hawks for their Black History Month game and celebrate the profound legacy of our Hip-Hop community,” said Killer Mike.

    “Atlanta is the heartbeat of Black excellence, and there’s no better place to honor our history and future than right here at center court with the fans.”

    The Hawks, who will wear their Nike NBA Peachtree City Edition uniforms, are set to play the Washington Wizards at 7:30 p.m.

    At halftime, 4-time Grammy-winning Hip-Hop legend and Atlanta native Killer Mike and Atlanta radio icon DJ Greg Street–host of The Greg Street Show on Audacy’s V103 The People’s Station–will honor the historical evolution of Atlanta Hip-Hop.

    Greg Street will curate a special DJ set celebrating the iconic sounds and eras from early innovators like DJ Mojo and M.C. Shy-D to the groundbreaking influence of the Dungeon Family, Jermaine Dupri, Ludacris, T.I. and more while Killer Mike guides fans through the powerful legacy of Atlanta’s pioneers and cultural leaders.

    “Black History Month is a time to reflect on the impactful contributions and achievements that have shaped both our nation and our city,” said Melissa Proctor, Executive Vice President and Chief Marketing Officer for the Atlanta Hawks and State Farm Arena.

    “Our Black History Month Game is a chance to celebrate the creativity, leadership, and influence of the Black community today and the next generation. The Hawks are committed to creating spaces that elevate diverse voices, spark opportunity, and honor Atlanta’s rich Black culture.”

    During the game, Atlanta-based muralist and contemporary artist Charity Hamidullah who blends art and contemporary abstraction to explore identity and human connection will do a live painting on the concourse.

    The Hawks will also honor Lonnie Johnson, the inventor of the Super Soaker, whose groundbreaking innovation and contributions to science, creativity, and culture have inspired generations. 

    But that’s not all!

    Best-selling father and son author duo, Michael and Matthew Carson, will be giving out copies of their books African American Women Who Began A Movement and African American Musicians That Changed Music Forever.

    In addition to the special guests, Georgia Natural Gas will showcase the winning video from the Morehouse College Cinema, Television, and Emerging Media Studies (CTEMS) film competition.

    “At Georgia Natural Gas, we’re proud to celebrate the rich cultural history of our community,” said Aimee Henderson, Director of Mass Markets for Georgia Natural Gas.

    “Black culture plays an essential role in the story of Atlanta. That’s why we are so thrilled with this opportunity to elevate so many amazing current artists and support the institutions that are empowering the next generation.”

    All fans in attendance will receive a long sleeve t-shirt designed by local Black creative Charlie Palmer, courtesy of GNG. To cop tickets for the game, click here.

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    Alex Ford

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  • Instant observations: Sixers return from break, but skid resumes sans Joel Embiid

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    No matter what happens, the 2025-26 Sixers seem to always end up having their games go down to the wire. Thursday’s return from the All-Star break was no different.

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    Adam Aaronson

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  • TRAE-ded: Atlanta Hawks prepare for four-game road trip, move on without Trae Young

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    The Hawks are beginning a four-game road swing on Friday. Atlanta will start the trip in Denver with a rematch with the Nuggets. Denver came back from a large second-half deficit (as much as 18 points) to defeat Atlanta 134-133 on December 5. Hawks head coach Quin Snyder said about the loss, “This one hurts. They all hurt, but particularly how this one happened.” Atlanta guard Nickeil Alexander-Walker led the team with 30 points, while Denver All-Star Nikola Kokic (NBA rebounding leader with 12 per game, and in assists with 11 per game) led all scorers with 40 points. The Nuggets have been tough to defeat at home this season, and Atlanta, 11-10, is just a game over .500 on the road this season. 

    The Hawks held Pelicans star Zion Williamson (1) to 13 points during the first half. Photo by Donnell Suggs/The Atlanta Voice

    On Sunday, January 11, the Hawks will play the Golden State Warriors for the first time this season. The two teams will meet in Atlanta on March 21. Future Naismith Basketball Hall of Famer Steph Curry (averaging nearly 30 points per game) has always been a big draw in Atlanta, and the Warriors game should be one of the sellouts that take place at State Farm Arena. 

    The Lakers will be the next opponent on the road trip. On Tuesday, January 13, the Hawks will play Luka Doncic (NBA scoring leader at 33.7 points per game), LeBron James, and the Lakers for the second time this season. Atlanta defeated Los Angeles 122-108 on Saturday, November 8. The road trip will end in the Pacific Northwest against the Portland Trail Blazers on Thursday, January 15. 

    Trae Young was traded to the Washington Wizards on Wednesday night. The Hawks will receive CJ McCollum and Corey Kispert. Photo by Donnell Suggs/The Atlanta Voice

    Before they left town, the Atlanta Hawks hosted the New Orleans Pelicans on Wednesday, January 7. Atlanta won the game 117-100 without multi-time all-star guard Trae Young. First, the subject of trade rumours, then a trade request, and now a trade to the Washington Wizards. Young could be seen going through his regular warmups before the game. Young was listed as inactive and didn’t play for a consecutive game. The Washington Wizards had been a target trade partner because of several expiring contracts, including guard CJ McCollum’s contract. Despite being in his 13th year in the NBA, McCollum can still play at a high level. He scored 46 points in a 132-113 Wizards victory in D.C. on November 25. Along with McCollum, Wizards guard Corey Kispert was also included in the deal, according to sources.  

    Atlanta Hawks guard Trae Young (above) warmed up before the game on Wednesday night. Young did not play. Photo by Donnell Suggs/The Atlanta Voice

    Before the game, the DeKalb Path Academy choir sang a beautiful rendition of “We Shall Overcome”. Whether the Hawks will overcome a trade involving one of the franchise’s best and most popular players remains to be seen. 

    The Hawks began the game against the Pelicans with their strongest first quarter of the week. Atlanta went ahead 23-11 following a three-pointer by second-year forward Zaccharie Risacher. Oft-injured forward Kristaps Porzingis pumped in a pair of three-pointers of his own as well. The first quarter ended with Atlanta ahead 37-26.

    Atlanta maintained a double-digit advantage, 53-42, midway through the second quarter courtesy of a third three-pointer of the half from Porzingis. They went into the locker room at halftime ahead 65-53. It was a rare first-half lead for Atlanta, which had lost two straight and eight of its last 10 games.

    Atlanta led by as much as 20 points before allowing the Pelicans to cut their deficit to 12 late in the game. Risacher led the Hawks with 25 points, while Porzingis and Luke Kennard each added 13 points. Hawks leading scorer, Jalen Johnson, scored 19 points.

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    Donnell Suggs

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  • ‘The game is the game’: FAMU’s Charlie Ward has good memories of playing in Atlanta, FAMU faces Georgia Tech

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    First-year FAMU head basketball coach and former 12-year NBA veteran Charlie Ward won the 1993 Heisman Trophy as a quarterback at Florida State University. Photo by Donnell Suggs/The Atlanta Voice

    The Florida A&M Rattlers men’s basketball program is playing at Georgia Tech on Sunday afternoon. But on a sunny Saturday afternoon, Rattlers head coach Charlie Ward took a seat inside the College Football Hall of Fame to talk shop. For a college basketball coach to be seated in college football’s hall of record here in Atlanta would be odd if not for the man in question. Thomasville, Georgia native, Charlie Ward is one of the greatest two-sport collegiate athletes of all time. 

    Moments after the Rattlers’ bus pulled up outside the College Football Hall of Fame, a dozen student-athletes got off the bus, followed by a shorter and older man wearing glasses and a FAMU sweatsuit. Ward still looks like he’s at his playing weight from his playing days.

    Asked if his team had any idea how good a college football player he was, Ward smirked before looking ambivalent. His football-playing days are long gone. The visit to the hall will give his players quite an education on their head coach if they aren’t sure how good he was on the gridiron. This being Ward’s first season as a collegiate head coach, there have been some lessons learned along the way. The Rattlers are 3-7 overall and have lost their last two games. While playing basketball at Florida State, Ward’s teams, which included former NBA players Sam Cassell and Bob Sura, rarely lost games, despite competing in the highly competitive Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC). 

    For many of the Rattlers’ players, this was their first time inside the College Football Hall of Fame.
    Photo by Donnell Suggs/The Atlanta Voice

    “I just appreciate our upbringing,” Ward said of his playing days. 

    He mentioned a game-winning layup against the Yellow Jackets and a big win at Boddy Dodd Stadium during his senior season as moments that stand out in Atlanta. Now he was back, looking for another victory. 

    Speaking of the ACC, FAMU will play a Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets team that is 8-4 and is also coached by a former NBA point guard, Damon Stoudamire. 

    “This has been a good experience. The players are the players, and the game is the game,” Ward said. 

    His high school coaching career gave him less autonomy over who he was coaching, but the college level will allow him to piece together a roster. 

     “Being able to go recruiting has been something. You just have to manage your roster,” he said. 

    As decorated for his on-field heroics as Bo Jackson and Deion Sanders, two legendary two-sport athletes on the collegiate and professional levels, Ward won the 1993 Heisman Trophy as the quarterback at Florida State University and the 1994 National Championship. He followed up a five-star college football career with a 12-year career as a guard in the NBA, first as a first-round draft pick, 26th overall, by the New York Knicks, who were also in Atlanta for a game against the Atlanta Hawks that night.

    Ward (above) and the Rattlers will face Georgia Tech and former fellow NBA guard Damon Stoudamire at 2:30 p.m. Sunday, December 28, 2025. Photo by Donnell Suggs/The Atlanta Voice

    Asked if he knew that his former team was in town at the same time as his new team, Ward said he didn’t. He’s focused on coaching college basketball these days.

    The team was given a tour of the hall, and for the majority of the players, this was their first time inside. Ward, who also finished sixth in Heisman voting as a junior in 1992, and is the basketball program’s all-time leader in steals, was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame in 2006.

    Ward and his wife started and continue to operate the Charlie and Tonja Ward Family Foundation. 

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  • Losing streak is now 6: Atlanta Hawks fall to New York Knicks 128-125

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    The score was tied at 121 with less than two minutes to play when New York Knicks All-Star guard Jalen Brunson (34 points) squared up Atlanta Hawks All-Star guard Trae Young (9 points and 10 assists) and nailed a jump shot to put the Knicks ahead by two points. He did the same thing at the end of the first quarter to give his team a 33-27 lead. Young returned the favor and made a pair of free throws to tie the game before the Hawks regained the lead 125-124.

    Onyeka Okongwu (above) led the Hawks with 31 points and 14 rebounds during the loss to the Knicks on Saturday night.
    Photo by Donnell Suggs/The Atlanta Voice

    The game had been a back-and-forth affair throughout, and after the Knicks were back in front 126-125 courtesy of free throws from OG Anunoby 15 points and 10 rebounds), Atlanta had the ball and 15.6 seconds to seize the day. Following a turnover and two more Anunoby free throws, Atlanta had the ball back, but this time they were down by three points with 7.3 seconds to play.

    They missed. They lost. Again. The 128-125 loss was the sixth consecutive loss for the Hawks. After the game, Hawks head coach Quin Snyder said his team fought hard.

    “I thought our whole team competed,” Snyder said. “We just have to fight and we fought.”

    “I thought our whole team competed,” Hawks head coach Quin Snyder (above) said. “We just have to fight and we fought.”
    Photo by Donnell Suggs/The Atlanta Voice

    The Knicks (now 22-9 overall) and Hawks (15-18), not necessarily rivals, are more like interested parties due to the large number of New Yorkers now residing in Atlanta. The teams experienced 10 lead changes during the first quarter of Saturday night’s game.

    Residing on opposite ends of the Eastern Conference standings, the Knicks were nipping at the heels of the Detroit Pistons, a team that has defeated the Hawks twice this season and has the best record in the East. The Hawks, on the other hand, had lost their last five games and were looking for a spark of any kind.

    Atlanta was out-rebounded for the sixth consecutive game on Saturday. The Knicks had twice as many offensive rebounds during the game. Photo by Donnell Suggs/The Atlanta Voice

    Rebounding has been an issue for Atlanta during its losing streak, and the first quarter ended with the team losing another rebounding battle. Early in the second quarter, the Knicks were ahead 21-11 on the boards. Knicks big man Karl-Anthony Towns (36 points and 15 rebounds) had five of those rebounds to go along with eight points. One of those offensive rebounds led to a dunk by Knicks forward Mikail Bridges (14 points and 8 assists) for a 45-37 lead. Moments earlier, Bridges dunked on a fastbreak to bring the largely pro-Knicks crowd to its feet. A Bridges three-pointer would give New York its largest lead of the first half, 59-49, with 3:30 to play before halftime.

    The Knicks would be up by 16 points by the time Hawks head coach Quin Snyder called a timeout at the 8:19 mark of the third quarter. The Hawks were out of sync on defense. At this point in the game, the Knicks had more offensive rebounds, total rebounds, and steals.

    Atlanta’s best players, Jalen Johnson and Young, got off to slow starts. Combined, they had six first-half points. When Young was subbed out of the game at the 6:55 mark of the third quarter, he looked dejected and sat slumped on the end of the Hawks’ bench. When Young returned to the game with two minutes remaining in the quarter, he quickly took the ball to the basket, scored, and was fouled. The successful free throw may have only been Young’s fifth point of the game, but it brought Atlanta within six points of the Knicks.

    Knicks guard Jalen Brunson (above, with the ball) came into the game on Saturday, averaging nearly 30 points per game.
    Photo by Donnell Suggs/The Atlanta Voice

    The fourth quarter had the Knicks, particularly Towns, at the free-throw line often. When he wasn’t at the line, he was nailing long three-pointers like the two he made to help give the Knicks a 112-100 lead with 7:41 to play.

    Hawks’ undersized center Onyeka Okongwu (31 points and 14 rebounds) played one of his most complete games with 25 points and 13 rebounds. The same could be said for Nikeil Alexander-Walker, who came off the bench on Saturday to provide instant offense whenever the Hawks needed it. His three-pointer with five minutes to play pulled Atlanta within three points of the Knicks at 114-111.

    The Hawks will face another quality opponent and a much bigger test when they travel west to Oklahoma City to take on the Thunder on Monday, December 29. It will be the first time the two teams will play this season, and an annual homecoming for Young.

    Atlanta will return to State Farm Arena to host the Minnesota Timberwolves and Atlanta native Anthony Edwards on New Year’s Eve. The game will have a special 3 p.m. tipoff.

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    Donnell Suggs

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  • That’s 5 in a row: Atlanta Hawks lose another one, 126-111, this time to the Miami Heat

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    The Atlanta Hawks were off on Christmas Day and back in action on Friday, December 26. The Hawks hosted the Miami Heat, looking to end a four-game losing streak. Atlanta has also lost five out of their last six games, including a pair of games to the Chicago Bulls.

    Well, make that six of their last seven games as the Heat defeated the Hawks 126-111.

    At the end of the first quarter, the Hawks and Heat were tied at 32. The teams came into Friday’s game with similar overall records (Miami was 15-15 and the Hawks were 15-16) and, from the looks of things early on, appeared to be evenly matched. Hawks guard Trae Young scored nine of the Hawks’ 32 points.

    Atlanta had lost eight of its last 10 games, and part of the reason for that slide was slow starts to the games. Against the Heat, the Hawks were down 11-4 before Young made some shots to get them back into the game. Heat guard Norman Powell did the same for his team after making consecutive three-pointers late in the second quarter to give Miami an eight-point advantage. Mirin Fader recently profiled Powell for The Athletic.

    Behind Powell’s 12 points, the Heat extended its lead to 63-51 at the half.

    The second half began with a three-pointer from Young and the Hawks cutting the Miami advantage to five points at the 6:51 mark. A lot of that work was done by forward Jalen Johnson, who forced his way to the basket, scored, and was fouled. His three-point play brought Atlanta within four points, 79-75, with 3:41 remaining in the third quarter.

    The quarter ended with the Heat ahead 90-84, and the fourth quarter began with the Heat extending that lead to double-figures within minutes. A reverse layup from Powell gave Miami a 10-point lead with seven minutes to play in the game. The Heat would have its largest lead of the game, 117-102, with just under four minutes to play. A wild running hook by Heat forward Pelle Larsson found the bottom of the net and sent some Hawks fans heading to the exits of State Farm Arena.

    Hinesville, Georgia native Davion Mitchell, who started at the point for the Heat, led the way with six assists.

    Photo by Donnell Suggs/The Atlanta Voice

    The New York Knicks will be in town tomorrow, Saturday, December 27. These games are the first time the Hawks faced the Heat and Knicks this season.

    Atlanta is now 6-9 at home this season.

    The last home game of the year will take place on New Year’s Eve when the Minnesota Timberwolves and Atlanta native Anthony Edwards will be in town for an afternoon tip-off (2 p.m.). The new year will begin with a three-game homestand. The Hawks and Young will be in New York at Madison Square Garden to play the Knicks on January 2, followed by consecutive games in Toronto against the Raptors on January 3 and 5.

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    Donnell Suggs

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  • Same teams. Different night. Same result: Hawks lose a second straight to Bulls, 126-123

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    Hawks guard Vit Krejci shoots over two Bulls defenders during the first quarter of Tuesday’s game. Photo by Donnell Suggs/The Atlanta Voice

    The Atlanta Hawks hosted the Chicago Bulls for the second time in three days. The result of Tuesday’s game was the same as Sunday’s game: a loss.

    The final two seconds of this game told the tale. The Hawks gave up three free throws to the Bulls and lost, despite Chicago not having to make a basket.

    Final score: Bulls 126, Hawks 123.

    The Hawks were without guard Dyson Daniels, who was listed out of the lineup with a hip injury, and big man Kristaps Porzingis, who has missed the majority of the team’s 30 games this season. Nickel Alexander-Walker was back in the starting lineup for the first time since Trae Young (35 points and nine assists on Sunday) returned from injury. Alexander-Walker (20.3 points per game) gives the Hawks’ starting lineup that much-needed third scoring option after Young and Jalen Johnson (28.3 points, 10.5 rebounds, and 8.2 assists per game).

    “You have to learn from this for sure,” said Trae Young (above) after the 126123 loss to the Bulls on Tuesday. Photo by Donnell Suggs/The Atlanta Voice

    Following the game, Young said he and his teammates will have to learn from games like this. “We’re trying to figure out how to execute down the stretch, whether it’s me or Jalen,” Young said.

    The Hawks got off to a better start in this game, going ahead 7-0 before the Bulls eventually tied the game at 16. Atlanta would take and maintain a lead throughout the first quarter behind Young, who is on a minutes restriction at the moment. His three-pointer and floater, plus a foul, looked like vintage Trae Young baskets.

    The Hawks closed the first quarter with a 36-30 advantage, and led by as much as 13 in the second quarter after rookie forward Asa Newell dunked following a steal, and then hit a corner three on the next Hawks possession. Young found Johnson with a no-look pass to bring the lead up to 15 with less than five minutes to play in the first half. With less than a minute to play in the half, the Bulls closed the gap a bit, getting scoring from Coby White down the stretch, but a pair of free throws from Young gave Atlanta a 68-55 lead at the half. During the first half, Young, Johnson, and Alexander-Walker combined for 38 points.

    Trae Young (above at free throw line). Photo by Donnell Suggs/The Atlanta Voice

    The first couple of minutes of the second half saw Chicago forward Nikola Vucevic score eight of the Bulls’ first 14 points to cut the Hawks’ lead to just eight points. The Hawks would put together a run that included a three-point play from Young and a three-pointer from forward Zaccharie Risacher to re-establish a double-figure lead and force a Bulls timeout with just over five minutes remaining in the third quarter.

    With less than two minutes to play in the quarter, Newell, whose minutes have been up and down this season, connected on a pair of three-pointers that got the supporter section chanting his name and out the Hawks 102-87. Newell, an Atlanta native, played his single season of college hoops at the University of Georgia before being drafted by the Hawks in the first round of last year’s draft. Atlanta ended the third quarter ahead by 13 points.

    NBA basketball, more than any other level of the sport, is a game of runs. The Bulls had another run in them, and went on a quick 6-0 run to force Hawks head coach Quin Snyder to call a time out with the score now 105-98 with 9:41 on the game clock.

    Johnson has been the Hawks’ go-to man all season, and with the momentum about to shift toward Chicago like a wind off of Lake Michigan, Johnson drove to the basket, scored, and was fouled in the process. Atlanta maintained a 10-point advantage with 5:41 on the clock and an eight-point lead with 4:02 remaining in the game. The two teams were back-to-back in the standings coming into the game, and this particular affair was equally as close throughout.

    Chicago pulled within a point at 117-116 when White hit a three-pointer with a Hawks defender in his face. Johnson added another jumper to give Atlanta a 119-116 cushion with 1:43 left to play in the game. White’s free throws made it a one-point game again seconds later. Giddey’s jumper in the lane with 40 seconds left put the Bulls ahead 122-119.

    The last 40 seconds of this game tell the tale. With Chicago ahead 122-121, Bulls guard Coby White went to the free throw line and proceeded to make one of two free throws to give his team a two-point lead with six seconds in the game. Alexander-Walker’s layup tied the game at 123 with 1.9 seconds to play.

    The Hawks will play the day after Christmas, hosting the Miami Heat on Friday, December 26. Photo by Donnell Suggs/The Atlanta Voice

    Atlanta, off on Christmas Day, isn’t done with the home games. The Hawks will host the Miami Heat on Friday, December 26, and the New York Knicks on Saturday, December 27. Those games will be the first time the Hawks face the Heat and Knicks this season.

    The last home game of the year will take place on New Year’s Eve when the Minnesota Timberwolves and Atlanta native Anthony Edwards will be in town for an afternoon tip-off (2 p.m.). The new year will begin with a three-game homestand. The Hawks and Young will be in New York at Madison Square Garden to play the Knicks on January 2, and follow that up with consecutive games in Toronto against the Raptors on January 3 and 5.

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    Donnell Suggs

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  • Lil Baby, Lil Yachty Team Up for Holiday Giveback in Atlanta’s West End

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    Photo by Tabius McCoy/The Atlanta Voice

    On Saturday, December 20, families from across Atlanta gathered in the city’s West End for a large-scale holiday giveback led by Grammy-winning rapper Lil Baby and his nonprofit, The Jones Project, in partnership with the Lil Yachty Foundation.

    Phoo by Tabius McCoy/The Atlanta Voice

    Families received toys, bikes, and gift cards, along with winter essentials including coats donated by Canada Goose, more than 800 Tech Fleece sweatsuits provided by Nike, and hats supplied by Lids. Children moved between stations offering hot chocolate and candy bars and posed for photos with Santa. The Atlanta Hawks mascot, Harry the Hawk, alongside the Flight Team, also made special appearances, hosting merchandise stations and giveaways that added to the excitement. Food partners for the day included Sonic, Raising Cane’s, and Heinz.

    The event took place at a West End production warehouse along Ralph David Abernathy Boulevard, which was transformed into a festive environment filled with music, food stations, and family-friendly activities.

    Photo by Tabius McCoy/The Atlanta Voice

    Several families arrived hours before the event officially began, bundled up against temperatures that felt more like Minnesota than Atlanta. Diamond Jones, an Atlanta mother, said she and her children came early after learning from past events that lines can grow quickly. “My kids and just being able to get out and see faces, giving them a chance to see what it’s like to receive,” Jones said. “Normally we’re giving, so just to get out and see the many different things and the different stations,” Jones said. Her family received PlayStation controllers, a Nike Tech jacket, and gifts for all four of her children, including a bike for one of her daughters.

    Photo by Tabius McCoy/The Atlanta Voice

    Another attendee, Chanel, a Westside Atlanta native, said she brought her two children to support Lil Baby and witness the impact of his community work firsthand. Her children received bikes, a four-wheeler toy, a Nerf gun, and winter accessories such as coats, scarves, and hats. She said the event created excitement for the holiday season while reinforcing a sense of connection between artists and the neighborhoods they come from. “They’re excited to come here and just support what he’s doing for the community,” she said.

    The Jones Project, founded by Lil Baby, is a community-based nonprofit focused on empowering children and families in Atlanta’s historic West End by providing access to food, clothing, educational support, and safe spaces. The Lil Yachty Foundation centers its work on youth development, education, and mentorship, particularly in metro Atlanta and Southeast Georgia. Together, the organizations used the holiday giveback to reinforce a shared message of generosity, visibility, and support for families who need it most during the winter months.

    Photo by Tabius McCoy/The Atlanta Voice

    Members of the Lil Yachty Foundation were on site throughout the afternoon, helping distribute items and interact with families as Lil Yachty moved through the crowd, greeting attendees. Reflecting on the day, he emphasized the importance of presence and participation during the holiday season. “It feels good giving back”.

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    Noah Washington

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  • Trae Young was back in the Atlanta Hawks starting lineup for 152-150 loss to Chicago Bulls

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    Photo by Donnell Suggs/The Atlanta Voice

    Atlanta Hawks all-star guard Trae Young was back in the starting lineup on his home court for the first time in two months. And it still didn’t matter. The Hawks lost for the fourth time in their last five games, 152-150, to the Chicago Bulls.

    Despite the loss, Young was able to remind Hawks fans why he has been considered one of the best shooters in the sport during his career, all of which has taken place in Atlanta. With the Hsweks down 133-129, Young returned to the court and put on a shooting display. The Oklahoma kid made three three-pointers and two free throws in the span of six minutes.

    Hawks guard Nickeil Alexander-Walker attempts a shot over former Hawks guard Kevin Huerter (13) during the first quarter. Alexander-Walker is averaging over 20 points this season. Photo by Donnell Suggs/The Atlanta Voice

    With Atlanta down 152-150 with just under five seconds remaining in the game, Young took the last shot of the game. He missed, but he was back, and for the Hawks, that is going to matter long past this game.

    The Hawks began a two-game set against the Chicago Bulls, and Young was back in the starting lineup after missing Friday’s loss to San Antonio. The tipoff was at 3:30 p.m., a half-hour before the Atlanta Falcons kicked off against the Cardinals in Arizona. The Bulls are scheduled to return to State Farm Arena on Tuesday, December 23, two days before Christmas.

    The Bulls got off to a hot start, going up 21-10 and forcing a Hawks timeout. Over the past couple of weeks, the Hawks have had issues with falling behind early. Atlanta pulled back within three points at 25-22 midway through the quarter when second-year forward Zaccharie Risacher nailed a corner three-pointer in front of the Bulls bench.

    The first quarter would end with the score tied at 38, and Atlanta would get its first lead of the game at the beginning of the second quarter after reserve guard Vit Krejci made consecutive three-pointers. Two Risacher three-pointers gave Atlanta another lead at 50-48 at the eight-minute mark. The Hawks’ bench, especially Nickeil Alexander-Walker (20.7 points per game), will be vital to any playoff push this team makes this season.

    Atlanta Hawks guard Trae Young (with ball) started his first home game in months on Sunday afternoon. Photo by Donnell Suggs/The Atlanta Voice

    Chicago guard Josh Giddey, a dark-horse candidate to be selected to his first All-Star Game, is averaging over 20 points, nine rebounds, and eight assists per game. Giddey had started all 25 games for the Bulls this season, and on Sunday, he was back on the court in Atlanta. The 6-8 guard is a teammate of Hawks guard Dyson Daniels on the Australian National Team.

    Giddey was able to get to the basket during the game, and his layup with 7:13 remaining in the second quarter put Chicago up 54-50. His dunk and three-pointer early in the second half would help keep Chicago in front.

    The teams exchanged leads early in the second quarter before the Bulls went ahead by seven points, 75-68, with a minute to play in the half. That lead would be extended to 10 points, 83-73, at halftime after Huerter hit a three-pointer in front of the Hawks’ bench.

    Young made his first two three-point attempts of the second half. His scoring touch was needed this season as the Hawks lost several close games down the stretch. For the time being, Jalen Johnson, the Hawks’ go-to guy during Young’s absence, and Alexander-Walker were doing their part to keep the game close. Johnson scored on consecutive drives to the rim, while Alexander-Walker hit a three-pointer to tie the game at 102 with 4:50 remaining in the third quarter. Both players were counted on to keep the Hawks competitive while Young was gone, and they more than accomplished that goal.

    Krejci has come a long way during his time in the league with Atlanta. Coming off the bench for the Hawks, he has been a steady contributor this season. Krejci’s three-pointer off an assist from Johnson gave Atlanta a 108-107 lead and forced Bulls head coach Billy Donovan to call a timeout. Chicago would go back in front, 116-115, at the end of the third quarter.

    With Chicago ahead by a score of 119-118, Johnson found Daniels for an easy dunk to give Atlanta a one-point lead. It was his seventh assist of the game. Johnson has six triple-doubles this season, an Atlanta Hawks record.

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    Donnell Suggs

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  • The Sixers’ Biggest Problem That the Box Score Can’t Explain – Philadelphia Sports Nation

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    Credit: Bill Streicher-Imagn Images

    Third-Quarter Woes and Late-Game Struggles

    Another heartbreaking loss for the Philadelphia 76ers, this time a 120-117 thriller against the Atlanta Hawks on December 14, 2025, left fans reeling from familiar frustrations. A controversial missed backcourt violation in the closing moments sealed the defeat, but the issues run deeper than one call. As of December 17, 2025, the Sixers sit at 14-11, a respectable record on paper with a potent offense ranking among the league’s top 10 in points per game. Yet, subtle flaws continue to undermine this talented roster, problems that don’t always show up in the stat sheet.

    Early in the season, third-quarter collapses plagued Philadelphia, with the team routinely outscored coming out of halftime. Adjustments seemed to pay off recently—they won the third quarter in their victory over the Indiana Pacers—but lapses persist. Defensive miscues, struggles to control the pace, and late-game execution have cost them in tight contests. The recent Hawks game highlighted over-reliance on hero ball down the stretch, even as Paul George erupted for a season-high 35 points on efficient 11-of-21 shooting, including 7-of-10 from three.

    What’s holding back the Sixers?

    Integrating Joel Embiid and Paul George back into the lineup has been a process. Both stars are flashing vintage form: Embiid dropped a season-high 39 points against the Pacers, while George has looked increasingly explosive. But health remains a concern. Tyrese Maxey missed the Hawks game with an illness, and Kelly Oubre Jr. continues recovering from a knee issue, though he’s progressing with on-court activities. Depth players like Trendon Watford are also working back, thinning the rotation at times.

    On the surface, the Sixers look fine—loaded with talent, high-scoring, and rebounding well. Their young core, including standout rookie VJ Edgecombe, adds athleticism and potential. But chemistry is still building around Embiid, George, and Maxey. Roles are being defined, and the transition from individual brilliance to cohesive team play takes time, especially with a mix of veterans and youth.

    Credit: Bill Streicher-Imagn Images

    Late-game decision-making stands out as a recurring culprit.

    Too often, the offense devolves into isolation plays that work in spurts but falter when opponents clamp down. Defensively, rotations lag, and pace control slips, allowing runs that flip momentum. These intangibles—execution under pressure, defensive communication, and halftime adjustments—are the hidden drags on this team’s ceiling.

    The good news? The pieces are there for a deep playoff run.

    Embiid and George are turning back the clock with high-level performances, and as health stabilizes, the Sixers should climb the Eastern Conference standings. If they iron out third-quarter woes, sharpen late-game poise, and let chemistry gel, this group has championship upside.

    It’s been a rollercoaster start—ups highlighted by dominant wins, downs marked by agonizing close losses. The talent is undeniable; now it’s about clarity and consistency. With the core intact and emerging youth contributing, Philadelphia has everything needed for a strong second half and a legitimate playoff push.

    Trust the process—again—but this time, the payoff feels closer than ever.

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    Jake Mayson

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  • Atlanta Hawks get quality win, beat Cleveland Cavs 130-123 behind triple-double from Jalen Johnson

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    Atlanta Hawks forward Onyeka Okongwu (17) puts in two points during the game against the Cleveland Cavaliers on Friday night. Photo by Donnell Suggs/The Atlanta Voice

    The Atlanta Hawks have a winning record, but they didn’t have many quality victories this season. Other than a victory in Orlando in early November, the Hawks hadn’t defeated a team over .500.

    That changed on Friday night as the Hawks defeated the visiting Cleveland Cavaliers 130-123. After the game, Hawks head coach Quin Snyder said both teams played well, “but we did a lot of things late.”

    Cavaliers All-Star point guard Darius Garland was back on the court for just the sixth time this season. Cleveland is a much better team with Garland, the same way the Hawks are better when Trae Young is in the lineup. Similar to Garland, Young has only played in five games. He could be seen taking jump shots during warmups over an hour before the two teams came out for regular pregame warm-ups. Young isn’t expected back for another week or two.

    Atlanta got out to an early 10-point lead after allowing Cleveland to open the game with a 7-0 advantage. One of the strengths of this Hawks team is its depth, and reserves like Mouhamed Gueye have consistently contributed scoring when needed. Gueye caught an alley-oop from teammate Zaccharie Risacher on one possession and dunked home two points on a baseline drive on another. Gueye had another dunk to give Atlanta a 33-20 lead with 28.8 seconds remaining in the first quarter.

    Atlanta Hawks guard Dyson Daniels (5) finished the game with 10 points, nine assists, and eight rebounds. Photo by Donnell Suggs/The Atlanta Voice

    Tied at 47 with five minutes remaining in the first half, Garland went on a mini-run, throwing alley-oops and getting to the basket whenever he felt it was necessary. He and All-Star teammate Donovan Mitchell (42 points) helped the Cavs grab a 56-55 lead with 2:22 on the clock.

    The first half included former Hawks forward De’Andre Hunter and Gueye getting into a double-foul situation following a dunk by Hunter. The Cavs then went on an 11-0 run to pull within a point at 33-32 at the nine-minute mark.

    There were more than a dozen lead changes during the first half before the Cavaliers finally took a 62-60 lead at the half. The Hawks, led by 15 points from Nickeil Alexander-Walker, had four players score 10 or more points during the first half. Mitchell led Cleveland with a game-high 22 first-half points.

    Atlanta regained the lead during the third quarter. The Hawks led by as many as nine points during the quarter, led by the play of Dyson Daniels. The Australian native averages just under 10 points per game for the Hawks, but continues to affect the game in different ways. Daniels scored four points late in the quarter, but also had eight assists and six rebounds by the end of the third.

    “I thought he did a great job of getting in the game and making the right decisions,” Snyder said of Daniels’s play on Friday night. “Tonight his stats reflected that.”

    The win over the Cavs was only the second over a team with a .500 record. Photo by Donnell Suggs/The Atlanta Voice

    During the fourth quarter, Mitchell scored eight straight points for Cleveland to cut the Atlanta lead. That run included a three-pointer off a Hawks turnover to make the score 107-103. Hawks guard Vit Krejci was the player who was responsible for the turnover, but it was also Krejci who dunked on a fast break to give Atlanta an 111-103 cushion.

    With the game tied at 113, the teams exchanged leads and dunks from Risacher and Hunter before the Hawks took a five-point advantage on a pair of free throws from Jalen Johnson (triple-double: 29 points, 12 rebounds, 12 assists). The game was tied again at 123 with 1:24 remaining in the game when Alexander-Walker was fouled while shooting a three-pointer in front of the Hawks’ bench. Following a coach’s challenge, that call was reversed. Alexander-Walker would get his revenge when he and Risacher connected on back-to-back three-pointers to put Atlanta up 129-123 with less than a minute to play.

    The Atlanta Hawks were under .500 at home (3-4) coming into this game against the Cavaliers. Cleveland wasn’t playing much better on the road with a 4-4 record. Something had to give.

    A view of State Farm Arena (right), home of the Atlanta Hawks, and Mercedes-Benz Stadium, home of the Atlanta Falcons and Atlanta United, on Friday, November 28, 2025. Photo by Donnell Suggs/The Atlanta Voice

    What’s Next: The Hawks will return to the court on Sunday in Philadelphia and on Monday in Detroit. They return to State Farm Arena on Wednesday, Dec. 3, to begin a two-game homestand against the Los Angeles Clippers and the Denver Nuggets on Friday, December 5.

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    Donnell Suggs

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  • ‘On to the next’: Atlanta Hawks are off for Thanksgiving, back on Fri. vs Cavs

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    The Atlanta Hawks will be off tonight and Thursday night before hosting the Cleveland Cavaliers on Friday night at State Farm Arena, where the Hawks are 3-4 this season. Photo by Donnell Suggs/The Atlanta Voice

    First-year Atlanta Hawks guard Nickeil Alexander-Walker sat down in front of the reporter’s cameras, voice recorders, and notebooks after practice on Wednesday afternoon. From the look of his body language, the veteran Canadian guard was looking forward to having the next couple of nights off.

    Asked if he was looking forward to having Wednesday and Thursday night off before the Hawks host the Cleveland Cavaliers at State Farm Arena on Friday night, Alexander-Walker confirmed what his body was already giving off.

    “For sure,” he said. “You get time to relax, and it’s always good to mix in rest. You feel a lot lighter.”

    Alexander-Walker hasn’t gotten much rest this season, as he has played in 17 of the Hawks’ 19 games. Primarily a starter, Alexander-Walker is averaging 31.6 minutes per game to go along with nearly 19 points, three rebounds, and just over three assists per game.

    He added that it would be good to “get away from the X’s and O’s for a bit.”

    On Tuesday, the Hawks played like they were ready for Thanksgiving break, falling behind by 20 points to the Washington Wizards en route to a 19-point loss to one of the worst teams in the National Basketball Association (NBA).

    Atlanta, 11-8 overall, is currently in sixth place in the Eastern Conference and will have a tough string of games coming up. Along with hosting Cleveland, the Hawks will play back-to-back road games at Philadelphia and Detroit on Sunday and Monday, respectively.

    The Hawks will return to Atlanta to host the Denver Nuggets on Friday, December 5, before traveling to the Nation’s Capital to face the Wizards again on Saturday, December 6.

    Second-year Hawks forward Zaccharie Risacher (above) is averaging 11.7 points per game. He scored 17 points in the Hawks’ loss at Washington on Tuesday, Nov. 25, 2025. Photo by Donnell Suggs/The Atlanta Voice

    On Wednesday, Hawks second-year forward Zaccharie Risacher could be seen working on his three-point shot with coaches. Risacher was coming off screens and catch-and-shoots, trying to get his stroke back. A night earlier in Washington, he scored 17 points during what would be a blowout loss and one of the many mundane regular-season games in the NBA. The game wasn’t meaningless to Risacher, who broke a single-digit scoring streak he had been going through. Risacher scored just five points against the Charlotte Hornets the last time the Hawks were at home last Sunday, and eight points at New Orleans last Saturday. The Hawks won both games, but are a better team when Risacher, who averages 11.7 points, 2.8 rebounds per game, and shoots 44.6% from the field, adds his two cents.

    Risacher scored just two points in the Hawks’ loss in San Antonio a week ago.

    The Atlanta Hawks are 3-4 at home this season, but Alexander-Walker understands that the NBA season is indeed a marathon.

    “On to the next,” he said. “You’ve got to learn from your wins and your losses.”

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    Donnell Suggs

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  • Atlanta Hawks, winners Sunday night, have to play better at home

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    Atlanta Hawks head coach Quin Snyder credited his team for keeping their poise during Sunday’s back-and-forth game against the Charlotte Hornets. Photo by Donnell Suggs/The Atlanta Voice

    The Atlanta Hawks have had capacity crowds in State Farm Arena on several occasions this season, including for games against the Detroit Pistons (on Tuesday) and the Charlotte Hornets (tonight). For the most part, they have played competitively on their home turf this season. However, an overall home record of 3-4 following a 113-110 victory over Charlotte still leaves Atlanta playing underachieving ball in their own backyard. 

    On Sunday, against Charlotte, Atlanta got off to a slow start, falling behind by as much as six points before fighting back to take a 28-25 lead after the first quarter. For a team that is 8-3 on the road this season, and that’s without its All-Star point guard Trae Young, the Hawks do not seem to be as focused at home. As of Sunday, the Hawks had the best road record in the Eastern Conference (the Toronto Raptors are 7-3 and the Detroit Pistons are 6-1).

    The Hawks finished the game with four players having scored 20 or more points, and five players in double-digits, including 10 points off the bench from point guard Keaton Wallace.

    After the game, Hawks head coach Quin Snyder credited his team with “keeping their poise throughout the game” and remaining unselfish.

    “We didn’t think we were sharing the ball like we could have at the beginning of the game,” Snyder said.

    Charlotte regained a 35-31 lead early in the second quarter and kept an advantage throughout the quarter, ending the first half with a 55-53 lead. With both teams playing without their presumed best players, Charlotte was without guard LaMelo Ball (21 points, nine assists, and six rebounds), and the game was close throughout.  

    Jalen Johnson (28 points on 11-22 from the field), the Hawks’ leading scorer this season, scored six straight points to help Atlanta regain a 78-77 lead late in the third quarter. Johnson, the previous Eastern Conference Player of the Week, has been a huge reason for the Hawks’ strong play on the road this season, but a career year from first-year Hawk Nickeil Alexander-Walker (19 points, three assists, three rebounds per game) has done just as much to keep Atlanta among the top seven teams in the East.

    Alexander-Walker’s three-pointer near the end of the third quarter gave Atlanta a 92-88 lead. Defensive plays from Dyson Daniels (22 points, nine rebounds, six assists, and two steals) and Mouhamed Gueye, and a pair of three-pointers by Wallace contributed to Atlanta’s largest lead of the game, 101-92, with nine minutes remaining in the game. Alexander-Walker (23 points, four assists, five rebounds) made a couple of late-game free throws to help Atlanta secure the victory.

    Hawks reserve forward Mouhamed Gueye (above) blocked two shots during the Hawks’ three-point victory over the Hornets on Sunday night. Photo by Donnell Suggs/The Atlanta Voice

    Gueye, who is averaging a career-high six points off the bench this season, only scored four points tonight, but blocked two shots. He said the entire team understands how to contribute night after night.

    “Everybody knows their role, and we’re just a team,” Gueye said in the Hawks locker room after the game. “We just find ways to win.”

    Atlanta will be back home a day after Thanksgiving, Nov. 28, to host former Hawks forward DeAndre Hunter and the Cleveland Cavaliers. 

    A Duke reunion of sorts: Between the Hawks and Hornets, there were five Duke University basketball players on the court Sunday night. The Blue Devils alumni game featured Hawks star Jalen Johnson and reserve forward Luke Kennard (DNP), as well as Hornets starters Sion James (seven points, six rebounds, three assists in 32 minutes), Mason Plumlee, and Kon Knueppel (28 points). 

    Former Pebblebrook High School star and Hornets guard Colin Sexton (8, above at free throw line) scored 22 points on Sunday night. Photo by Donnell Suggs/The Atlanta Voice

    Welcome Home, Colin: Marietta native, former Pebblebrook High School star and McDonald’s All-American Colin Sexton started for Charlotte on Sunday night. In the middle of a steady NBA career, Sexton is averaging 15 points and nearly five assists a game this season. In front of the home crowd on Sunday night, Sexton got the Hornets out to a strong start with nine of his 22 points in the first quarter. 

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    Donnell Suggs

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  • Atlanta Hawks lose a ‘tough test’ to Detroit Pistons 120-112

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    A pair of free throws from Atlanta Hawks guard Nickeil Alexander Walker (at line) cut the Piston lead to four points with just under two minutes remaining in the game. Photo by Donnell Suggs/The Atlanta Voice

    On Tuesday night, the Atlanta Hawks hosted the Detroit Pistons, the Eastern Conference’s best team. They lost, but might have learned some valuable lessons along the way. Final score: 120-112.

    Earlier that afternoon, The Atlanta Voice asked what kind of test playing the Pistons would be this early in the season. Hawks forward Jalen Johnson, the reigning Eastern Conference Player of the Week, said it would be much more than just another regular-season game.

    The Atlanta Hawks and forward Jalen Johnson (above) are on a five-game win streak. Tuesday night’s game against the Detroit Pistons at State Farm Arena is more just a regular season game, says Johnson. ” Photo by Donnell Suggs/The Atlanta Voice

    “I think it’s going to be a good test. They are a great team; they have been hot. We just have to come in with a chip on our shoulder.”

    Johnson averaged 24 points, 12 rebounds, nine assists, and two steals during the four games he played last week. He said the Hawks have been playing well lately, but needed to continue building on the things that have helped them achieve a five-game win streak. That starts again tonight.

    “It’s a new game tonight, we have to protect home court,” Johnson said.

    Hawks guard Dyson Daniels, second in the league in steals (2.3) behind Oklahoma City Thunder guard Cason Wallace (2.4), brother of Hawks reserve point guard Keaton Wallace, was looking forward to a rare early-season big game. 

    Hawks guard Dyson Daniels (above) said games like the one against Detroit on Tuesday night were what good teams want to be a part of. “These are the games you want to play,” he said. Photo by Donnell Suggs/The Atlanta Voice

    “These are the games you want to play,” said Daniels. “It’s going to be a tough test, but we’re up for it. The guys are ready to go.” 

    Daniels and Johnson were correct; it was a tough test. Detroit went ahead early and, other than two ties in the second quarter, maintained a lead throughout the first half. Piston star guard and an early All-NBA candidate, Cade Cunningham, was averaging 27.5 points per game coming into the contest. Cunningham was held to four points late in the first half before scoring the Pistons’ final six points of the half. 

    Midway through the third quarter, the Hawks would seize some of the momentum, cutting the Pistons’ lead to five points on a three-pointer from Onyeka Okongwu. Cunningham scored four straight points and found his teammates, mainly forward Jalen Duran, for layups. 

    With a minute remaining in the third quarter, Atlanta gave up four unanswered points to Pistons reserves to go down 94-78. Four consecutive points from Johnson cut the Pistons’ lead to 12 points, 94-82, at the end of the quarter.

    The fourth quarter began with the home team slicing Detroit’s lead to eight points after Nickeil Alexander-Walker and Okongwu scored five unanswered points. A Daniels floater brought the crowd to its feet, and a tip-in by Mouhamed Gueye on the following possession made the score 97-93 with eight minutes to play. Daniels hit another floater in the late to bring Atlanta within a point, 99-98, and force a Pistons timeout. Hawks All-Star guard Trae Young could be seen cheering his teammates on from the bench. Young is expected to be out through November.

    Consecutive Atlanta turnovers gave Detroit time to get its act together and extend its lead to six points with less than five minutes to play. A dunk down the middle of the lane by former OTE star Ausar Thompson was one of the Pistons’ second-half highlights.

    With the score 108-104 and just under two minutes on the clock, Alexander-Walker drove to the basket and drew a foul. He made both free throws to pull Atlanta to within two points for the first time since the game began.

    Atlanta wouldn’t seriously threaten Detroit again.

    The Hawks, now 9-6 overall and 7-2 on the road this season, will play consecutive road games before returning to State Farm Arena to host the Charlotte Hornets on Sunday. Atlanta will travel to San Antonio to play the Spurs on Thursday and the New Orleans Pelicans on Saturday. Ironincally, that will be the same weekend the Atlanta Hawks will play the New Orleans Saints in the Caesars Superdome in what has been deemed a must-win-or-else game for head coach Raheem Morris. 

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    Donnell Suggs

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  • ‘It will surprise the world’: The return of Downtown Atlanta

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    A view of some of the construction in downtown Atlanta on Wednesday, Oct. 22, 2025.
    Photo by Tabius McCoy/The Atlanta Voice
    Atlanta Mayor Andre Dickens (above) poses for a photo on one of the outdoor spaces at The Mitchell, one of downtown Atlanta’s newest apartment buildings. Photo by Tabius McCoy/The Atlanta Voice

    There’s a lot going on downtown these days.

    Atlanta Mayor Andre Dickens stepped out onto a balcony at The Mitchell, one of the newest downtown apartment buildings, and took a look around at all that has taken place and continues to take place. Located across Centennial Olympic Park Drive from Mercedes-Benz Stadium, The Mitchell can be seen as the perfect example of what should be expected from downtown living going forward. Only a few feet away, Hotel Phoenix is still undergoing renovations, and just a few more feet away is COSM, a mixed-use entertainment venue located within Centennial Yards, which is also getting the construction treatment. 

    Dickens, currently two weeks away from a second election night and a potential second term as his hometown city’s mayor, likes what he sees. The mayor says the growth of the city of Atlanta can directly be connected to what its downtown looks and feels like.

    “I’m excited about downtown. Full stop,” said Dickens. “I want to see downtown come back and be better than ever before. I want to have people living here, working here, and entertained here. Just gathering downtown.” 

    “Over the next two years, you’re going to see it all come together,” said Dickens (right) of the downtown projects taking place.
    Photo by Tabius McCoy/The Atlanta Voice

    One of the latest additions to the downtown scenery, The Mitchell, is a 304-unit, 300,000-square-foot, 19-story residential project. The building is part of the billion-dollar revitalization of what was once called ‘The Gulch,” and is now part of one of the country’s most ambitious urban renewal projects. With less than a year before thousands of visitors come to downtown Atlanta for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, arguably the most popular sporting event on the planet, everything looks a lot different from the last time there was a global sporting event in downtown Atlanta. 

    “Cities across America have been struggling because downtowns are struggling, and Atlanta has been finding a way to bring back downtown,” Dickens said. “We’re doing it with Centennial Yards, South Downtown, and the area around Underground and Five Points. Over the next two years, you’re going to see it all come together.”

    Dickens attended the Atlanta Hawks season opener on Wednesday night. Games like these are what he described as reasons Atlanta’s downtown will continue to be a desired destination for the city’s residents and visitors. Photo by Dionnell Suggs/The Atlanta Voice

    The landscape of downtown Atlanta looks nothing like it did several decades ago, or even last year. On MLK, Jr. Drive, which was once full of Baptist and A.M.E. churches, now has towering apartment buildings popping out of the ground. The man behind the rooftops on The Mitchell and COSM, Evolve Contractors, a Black-owned commercial roofing and construction company, is Channing Baker, and he believes the timing couldn’t be better for all involved in the return of downtown.

    “It feels incredible. It’s the best timing because of the opportunities that Atlanta has provided,” Baker, owner of Evolve Contractors, said. “So far, the feedback has been that we have outperformed expectations.” 

    Baker told The Atlanta Voice that the rooftop on COSM is “about 90% completed.” 

    And that’s good because, along with the FIFA World Cup, next year will be the 30th anniversary of the 1996 Summer Olympic Games, which took place in Atlanta and several metro Atlanta counties, including Clayton, Hall, and Rockdale counties. The world came to see Atlanta as much more than a sleepy southern city, and the World Cup will further elevate the city’s international reputation alongside the busiest airport in the country, Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport. 

    Atlanta Fire Department Station 1 Assistant Fire Chief Dwayne Johnson (left) gives Dickens a tour of the station. Fire Station 1 is centrally located in the midst of all the change taking place downtown. Photo by Tabius McCoy/The Atlanta Voice

    On “Downtown Day”, Wednesday, Oct. 22, Dickens toured several sites, including Atlanta Fire Department Station 1, which serves downtown, including Castleberry Hill, and local businesses such as Wild Leap, a restaurant underneath the Steele Bridge. There, Dickens shook hands and held conversations with patrons. There are so many things to do downtown, including grabbing a meal before the Atlanta Hawks season opener against the visiting Toronto Raptors across the street at State Farm Arena. 

    Fire Station 1 is centrally located in the midst of all the change taking place downtown. Atlanta Fire Department Assistant Fire Chief for Station 1, Dwayne Johnson, said the growth means a lot to the city and its citizens, but it also means there is more of downtown to serve.

    “There’s growth everywhere, and from a fire department perspective, that means we have our job cut out for us,” Johnson said. “With growth comes growth.”

    Dickens welcomes the growth.

    City of Atlanta Chief Communications Officer Allison Fouche’ wears a “I’m Downtown” sticker in honor of “Downtown Day.” Photo by Donnell Suggs/The Atlanta Voice

    “I want this downtown to be one of the marquee downtowns in our nation,” said Dickens, who attended the Hawks game and received a loud ovation from the capacity crowd when he was shown on the big overhead screen. “I want it to be one of the top 10 downtowns in America that you can come to and get everything you need from a great home to a fantastic night on the town, and you can also work down here with the jobs, technology companies, and small businesses. So, I want it to work for everybody.” 

    Asked how far away this ambitious goal for downtown was from happening, Dickens said, “We are probably seven months from when people really see it, and about 24 months from when it’s like when everything will be done. I think we’re right on time with the revitalization.” 

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    Donnell Suggs

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  • ‘This is just game one of 82’: Atlanta Hawks lose home opener by 20

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    The Atlanta Hawks opened the 2025-26 season like they closed the 2024-25 season, with a loss. The Hawks fell to the Toronto Raptors, 138-118, in front of a sellout crowd of 17,800 fans. 

    With five minutes remaining in the game and the Hawks behind by 25 points, that sellout crowd began to start heading towards the exit. The NBA season is a marathon and not a sprint, so Wednesday night’s loss shouldn’t be seen as a sign for the rest of the season. That said, it was as bad a start as one could imagine for a team projected to be better than last season.

    Trae Young (above) scored 22 points during the loss. Eleven of those points were from the free-throw line.
    Photo by Donnell Suggs/The Atlanta Voice

    The Hawks took a 2-0 lead and never led the game again. Toronto guard RJ Barrett (game-high 25 points) and forward Scottie Barnes (22 points, six rebounds, and nine assists), arguably the team’s best players, along with veteran forward Brandon Ingram (16 points, nine rebounds), took charge of the game from the beginning. Atlanta couldn’t do anything to stop them.

    The Raptors outrebounded the Hawks by 20 (54-34) and scored 86 of their points in the paint. Toronto is a big team, but a 20-rebound advantage felt more like the Hawks’ lack of effort than the Raptors’ ability. After the game, Hawks head coach Quin Snyder said his team would have to do better going forward.

    Atlanta Hawks head coach Quin Snyder (above) credited forward Jalen Johnson and Zaccharie Risacher for playing hard the entire game. The Hawks were out-rebounded by 20 during the loss. Photo by Donnell Suggs/The Atlanta Voice

    “It’s hard to win games like that,” Snyder said. “There are a lot of things we need to clean up, and that’s stating the obvious.” 

    Snyder, Hawks guard Trae Young (5-14 from the floor, 22 points), and forward Jalen Johnson (team-high eight assists, 20 points, and seven rebounds) all said the loss was just one of 82 games and shouldn’t be a sign of the times in Hawks land.

    “Our team is going to be right, trust me,” Young said.

    Johnson, back on the court after a season-ending injury last season, was more straightforward about the loss. “We just got to be better,” he said.

    Johnson couldn’t have played much better. He ran the floor, led the team with seven rebounds, along with first-year Hawk Kristaps Porzingis (20 points), and did everything he could. 

    The two bench players brought in to help the Hawks’ depth, Nickeil Alexander-Walker (2-15 for 10 points) and Luke Kennard (1-5 from three-point land), weren’t much help tonight, but will need to be better if Atlanta is going to make the postseason without the help of a play-in game for the first time in years.

    Bright spot: Zaccharie Risacher scored 16 points and looked comfortable being a part of the Hawks’ offense. During his rookie season last year, he tended to shy away from the ball. Risacher, the runner-up for Rookie of the Year, took 13 shots, six of which were from behind the three-point line. 

    “He’s finding a good balance. You saw him attack the rim in transition,” Snyder said of Risacher. “He’s shooting the ball with confidence, and we need him to keep doing that.” 

    What’s next: The Hawks will travel south to Orlando to play a much-improved Magic squad on Friday, before returning to State Farm Arena to host the reigning NBA champion Oklahoma City Thunder on Saturday night.

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    Donnell Suggs

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  • ‘Definitely looking forward to it’: Atlanta Hawks open preseason in Houston on Monday

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    First-year Atlanta Hawks forward Kristaps Porzingis (right) works on his three-point form during practice on Sunday, Oct. 5, 2025. Photo by Donnell Suggs/The Atlanta Voice

    The Atlanta Hawks will begin the preseason away from home. The preseason opener will be in Houston on Monday night (8 p.m. tipoff).

    On Sunday morning, the Hawks practiced at the team facility in Brookhaven, putting in some work before heading to Houston.

    Newcomers Nickeil Alexander-Walker, Luke Kennard, and Kristaps Porzingis will play significant roles on this year’s team. On Sunday, Porzingis could be seen knocking down three-pointers during a drill. On the other side of the practice court, Kennard engaged in a three-point shootout with teammates like Vit Krejci, one of the team’s better long-range shooters last season. 

    Asked if they are looking forward to taking those three-pointers into an actual game, Lennard said, “Definitely looking forward to it.”

    “We have been pushing each other hard this last week of training camp. You’re going up against the same guys every day, so we’re excited to be all together as one team and compete as a group,” Kennard said.

    “I’m super-excited to compete wi
    th the new guys, and it’s going to be great. We have a lot of good people around here, and we’re just trying to put it all together,” Hawks reserve guard Vit Krejci (above) said. Photo by Donnell Suggs/The Atlanta Voice

    Krejci, who has been with the franchise since the 2022-23 season, said it has been a “long offseason” and he was ready to start playing in games again.

    “I’m super-excited to compete with the new guys, and it’s going to be great. We have a lot of good people around here, and we’re just trying to put it all together,” Krejci said.

    Monday night will be the start of a new season for Atlanta.

    “I’m sure it’s going to take a couple of games, a couple of practices, but you can see from the start till now that we are getting better and understand each other more as teammates,” said Krejci. 

    The Atlanta Hawks (above) will play the Houston Rockets in a home-and-away this preseason.
    Photo by Donnell Suggs/The Atlanta Voice

    Last year’s runner-up for NBA Rookie of the Year, Zaccharie Risacher, returns to the court with added confidence and more experience. His role as one of the team’s scoring options will change with the return of Jalen Johnson from injury. And then there’s All-Star guard and the team’s leading scorer and assist man, Trae Young. 

    With one year remaining on his current contract and a player option for $48.9 million for the 2026-27 season, Young will be playing for more than a division title and playoff spot this year. He wasn’t available to talk to the media after practice on Sunday. Young was all smiles while hoisting three-pointers with his teammates when the media was allowed onto the practice floor.

    Atlanta Hawks head coach Quin Snyder after practice on Sunday. Photo by Donnell Suggs/The Atlanta Voice

    Hawks head coach Quin Snyder said there were certain things any team wanted to accomplish during the preseason and that these next four games were “an opportunity to put different lineups on the floor.”

    The preseason schedule, following the game in Houston, will include a game in Memphis against the Grizzlies on Saturday, Oct. 11, and a pair of home games against the Miami Heat (Monday, Oct. 13) and the Rockets (Thursday, Oct. 22). 

    The Hawks’ regular season begins at home at State Farm Arena against the Toronto Raptors on Wednesday, Oct. 22. Atlanta finished the 2024-25 season with a record of 40-42. It was the eighth consecutive season the Hawks finished with 43 or fewer wins in an individual season.  

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    Donnell Suggs

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  • Fifth Million Meal Pack brings community together in Atlanta

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    Photo by Tabius McCoy/The Atlanta Voice

    The Atlanta Hawks and State Farm brought thousands together at State Farm Arena on Saturday, September 27,  for the fifth Million Meal Pack, a large-scale volunteer initiative to fight hunger across metro Atlanta.

    More than 5,000 volunteers,  including families, churches, sororities, fraternities, corporate teams, and community groups,  rotated through five shifts to help pack more than one million shelf-stable meals. The event, held in partnership with U.S. Hunger, benefits nonprofits such as the Atlanta Community Food Bank, Hosea Helps, Midwest Food Bank, the Salvation Army of Metro Atlanta, and Sweetwater Mission.

    Photo by Tabius McCoy/The Atlanta Voice

    Since the program’s launch in 2019, the Hawks and State Farm have enlisted more than 21,000 volunteers and provided over 4.1 million meals to Georgians in need. The program did not happen during 2020-2021 as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic.

    “This work is core to being a civic asset,” said Alexis Roe, the Hawks’ vice president of community impact. “One in seven adults and one in five children live with food insecurity. Efforts like this remind families that this city embraces them, and that we’re committed to making their experience a little better by providing a meal.”

    The atmosphere inside the arena contrasted with the sobering statistics. Volunteers streamed in through tunnels filled with smoke and music, energized by DJs and Hawks talent. Roe credited the team’s live entertainment staff, led Saturday by DJ Mohawk, for keeping the energy high across shifts.

    Photo by Tabius McCoy/The Atlanta Voice

    For many, the event was personal. Juanita Gibbons Delaney, a registered nurse from Southwest Atlanta, joined alongside her church, Historic Ebenezer Baptist, and her nursing sorority, Chi Eta Phi. “I believe in volunteering and giving back,” she said. “If anyone’s hungry in the Atlanta area, we’ve got one million meals here for you.”

    Elizabeth Robinson, a longtime State Farm employee working in auto claims, originally from Illinois, volunteered as a table captain. She said she was inspired to step up after first participating as a packer last year. “I wanted to dedicate more of my time,” Robinson said. “Everyone comes in ready. I love to see the excitement when people walk through the tunnel, and the DJ hypes everyone up. It’s amazing.”

    The effort reflects a strong partnership between the Hawks and State Farm. King Butler, a State Farm vice president based in Atlanta, said employees and agents eagerly sign up each year. “The feedback we get is that this is one of the best events we do all year,” Butler said. “They know it makes a difference, and they have fun doing it.”

    The meals that were packed on Saturday did not sit idle. Pallets were immediately loaded onto trucks bound for food banks and pantries across the region. “These are shelf-stable, healthy meals, the kinds that food banks never have enough of,” said U.S. Hunger CEO Rick Whitted. “They’ll be in pantries and on families’ tables today and in the coming weeks.”

    Photo by Tabius McCoy/The Atlanta Voice

    For Whitted, the event was also about awareness. “As you’re packing, there’s a realization,  this is real food, going to real people who need real help,” he said. “That energy inspires people to keep serving their neighbors long after the event ends.”

    Hawks CEO Steve Koonin said the Million Meal Pack reflects the organization’s goal to be more than just a basketball franchise. “Sports bring people together,” Koonin said. “Seeing thousands of volunteers from all walks of life give back shows what this building can mean as a town hall for Atlanta.”

    Organizers emphasized that while one day can’t solve food insecurity, the Million Meal Pack is a powerful step. For Robinson, the event’s impact was clear: “We’re here for a worthy cause,” she said. “Helping people who don’t have enough, that’s what it’s all about.”

    Photo by Tabius McCoy/The Atlanta Voice

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    Noah Washington

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  • Insider Drops Critical Intel on Trae Young’s Future With Hawks

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    The Atlanta Hawks have yet to sign Trae Young to a contract extension, which seems rather alarming given that the Hawks do not have any club control on Young beyond this coming season. Young has a $49 million player option for 2026-27, and at this point, you would have to think he would decline it.

    So exactly is the Hawks’ thought process here? Are they preparing to lose Young? Or are they just being cautious?

    More news: Report: Dallas Mavericks Preparing to Make Expensive Move

    NBA insider Marc Stein provided an update on the situation this week, noting that Atlanta is waiting to see how Young looks alongside of Jalen Johnson as a starter for a full season.

    Johnson was in the midst of a breakout campaign last year, averaging 18.9 points, 10 rebounds and five assists over 35.7 minutes a night. However, his season ended after just 36 games due to a shoulder injury.

    The Hawks selected Johnson back in the 2021 NBA Draft, but he did not become a full-time starter until his third season, when he appeared in 56 contests during the 2023-24 campaign.

    WASHINGTON, DC – FEBRUARY 08: Trae Young #11 of the Atlanta Hawks celebrates in the third quarter against the Washington Wizards at Capital One Arena on February 08, 2025 in Washington, DC.

    Photo by G Fiume/Getty Images

    Johnson has certainly had difficulty staying healthy thus far, which could throw a bit of a wrench into Atlanta’s plans this year. But it definitely makes sense for the Hawks to be in wait and see mode rather than hand Young a massive long-term contract that could end up coming back to bite them down the line.

    While Young did lead the NBA with 11.6 assists per game in 2024-25, he has not been quite what Atlanta expected in terms of representing an elite scoring threat the past several seasons.

    The 26-year-old averaged 24.2 points per game last year, his lowest mark since his rookie campaign in 2018-19. What’s more, Young made just 34 percent of his three-point attempts, marking the second time in three seasons that he shot under 35 percent from downtown.

    More news: Milwaukee Bucks Connected to Big Trade With Boston Celtics

    Young tallied a true-shooting percentage of 56.7 percent last season, his lowest mark since his debut campaign. He also posted a pedestrian .100 win shares per 48 minutes, well below his career average of .125 and significantly lower than his lifetime high of .181 that he achieved in 2021-22.

    Young’s stock has definitely dipped in recent years, so it’s certainly understandable that the Hawks are taking their time when it comes to determining his future.

    For more on the Atlanta Hawks and general NBA news, head on over to Newsweek Sports.

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  • Trae Young shines in Atlanta Hawks 121-116 victory over New York Knicks

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    Trae Young had 23 points, 10 assists and six rebounds as his Atlanta Hawks beat the New York Knicks 121-116 win Wednesday night State Farm Arena. It marked his seventh career 20-point, 10-assist game vs. them (regular season and playoffs).

    Head Coach Quin Snyder, Zaccharie Risacher, and Jalen Johnson joined Trae Young at the podium to discuss the victory.

    Risacher, the first overall pick of the 2024 NBA Draft, admitted to reporters what gave him the confidence ahead of his big 33-point night Wednesday night.

    “He basically tells me to shoot the f—ing ball,” Risacher said. “That’s not just from him. That’s from everybody on the coaching staff and my teammates. It helps with my confidence.”

    Dyson Daniels dunks the basketball during an NBA game between the New York Knicks and the Atlanta Hawks inside State Farm Arena on Wednesday, November 6, 2024. (Photo: Itoro N. Umontuen/The Atlanta Voice)

    Risacher is shooting 27% from three-point range this season.

    “I knew it was bound to happen eventually and I know it’s going to continue to happen with the way he’s been playing,” Young said of Risacher. “I struggled my first couple of months into my rookie year, and I was in Rookie of the Year debates in the second half. You’re going to go through ups and downs, especially in your rookie year. I know he wants to win, I know he wants to contribute. I just want him to always stay positive and keep his head on the right path.”

    “His progress isn’t going to be linear,” Snyder said. “He’s got to stay at it. We have confidence in him if he makes shots or he doesn’t. Today, he was really good on the defensive glass, as well.”

    The Hawks will face off against Detroit on Friday. They’ll be back at State Farm Arena Saturday night against the Chicago Bulls.

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    Itoro N. Umontuen

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