List of Atlanta Hawks seasons

This is a list of seasons completed by the Atlanta Hawks of the National Basketball Association (NBA). In its 75-year history, the franchise has represented the cities of Buffalo, New York (1946), Moline, Illinois (1946–51), Milwaukee, Wisconsin (1951–55), St. Louis, Missouri (1955–68) and Atlanta, Georgia (since 1968). The club played its first three seasons in the National Basketball League (NBL), which merged with the Basketball Association of America in 1949, creating the NBA.

In 71 completed NBA seasons (1949–2020), the Hawks have compiled an all-time record of 2,921–3,059 (.488), including 2,164–2,282 (.487) in Atlanta.

Table key

AMVP	All-Star Game Most Valuable Player
COY	Coach of the Year
DPOY	Defensive Player of the Year
Finish	Final position in league or division standings
GB	Games behind first-place team in division^[a]
L	Number of regular season losses
EOY	Executive of the Year
FMVP	Finals Most Valuable Player
JWKC	J. Walter Kennedy Citizenship
MVP	Most Valuable Player
ROY	Rookie of the Year
SMOY	Sixth Man of the Year
SPOR	Sportsmanship Award
MIP	Most Improved Player Award
W	Number of regular season wins

Seasons

NBA champions	Conference champions	Division champions	Playoff berth

Season	League	Regular Season								Playoffs	Awards
Season	League	Conference	Finish	Division	Finish	Wins	Losses	Win%	GB	Playoffs	Awards
Buffalo Bisons / Tri-Cities Blackhawks
1946–47^[b]	NBL	—	—	Eastern	5th	19	25	.432	12
Tri-Cities Blackhawks
1947–48	NBL	—	—	Western	2nd	30	30	.500	13	Won Opening Round (Kautskys) 3–1 Lost Division Semifinals (Lakers) 2–0
1948–49	NBL	—	—	Western	2nd	36	28	.563	1	Won Opening Round (Red Skins) 2–0 Lost Division Semifinals (All-Stars) 3–1	Don Otten (MVP)
1949–50^[c]	NBA	—	—	Western	3rd	29	35	.453	10	Lost Division Semifinals (Packers) 2–1
1950–51	NBA	—	—	Western	5th	25	43	.368	19
Milwaukee Hawks
1951–52	NBA	—	—	Western	5th	17	49	.258	24
1952–53	NBA	—	—	Western	5th	27	44	.380	21.5
1953–54	NBA	—	—	Western	4th	21	51	.292	25
1954–55	NBA	—	—	Western	4th	26	46	.361	17		Bob Pettit (ROY)
St. Louis Hawks
1955–56	NBA	—	—	Western	3rd	33	39	.458	4	Won Division Semifinals (Lakers) 2–1 Lost Division Finals (Pistons) 3–2	Bob Pettit (MVP, AMVP)
1956–57	NBA	—	—	Western	1st	34	38	.472	—	Won Division Finals (Lakers) 3–0 Lost NBA Finals (Celtics) 4–3
1957–58	NBA	—	—	Western	1st	41	31	.569	—	Won Division Finals (Pistons) 4–1 Won NBA Finals (Celtics) 4–2	Bob Pettit (AMVP)
1958–59	NBA	—	—	Western	1st	49	23	.681	—	Lost Division Finals (Lakers) 4–2	Bob Pettit (MVP, AMVP^[d])
1959–60	NBA	—	—	Western	1st	46	29	.613	—	Won Division Finals (Lakers) 4–3 Lost NBA Finals (Celtics) 4–3
1960–61	NBA	—	—	Western	1st	51	28	.646	—	Won Division Finals (Lakers) 4–3 Lost NBA Finals (Celtics) 4–1
1961–62	NBA	—	—	Western	4th	29	51	.363	25		Bob Pettit (AMVP)
1962–63	NBA	—	—	Western	2nd	48	32	.600	5	Won Division Semifinals (Pistons) 3–1 Lost Division Finals (Lakers) 4–3	Harry Gallatin (COY)
1963–64	NBA	—	—	Western	2nd	46	34	.575	2	Won Division Semifinals (Lakers) 3–2 Lost Division Finals (Warriors) 4–3
1964–65	NBA	—	—	Western	2nd	45	35	.563	4	Lost Division Semifinals (Bullets) 3–1
1965–66	NBA	—	—	Western	3rd	36	44	.450	9	Won Division Semifinals (Bullets) 3–0 Lost Division Finals (Lakers) 4–3
1966–67	NBA	—	—	Western	2nd	39	42	.481	5	Won Division Semifinals (Bulls) 3–0 Lost Division Finals (Warriors) 4–2
1967–68	NBA	—	—	Western	1st	56	26	.683	—	Lost Division Semifinals (Warriors) 4–2	Richie Guerin (COY)
Atlanta Hawks
1968–69	NBA	—	—	Western	2nd	48	34	.585	7	Won Division Semifinals (Rockets) 4–2 Lost Division Finals (Lakers) 4–1
1969–70	NBA	—	—	Western	1st	48	34	.585	—	Won Division Semifinals (Bulls) 4–1 Lost Division Finals (Lakers) 4–0
1970–71	NBA	Eastern	5th	Central	2nd	36	46	.439	6	Lost Conference Semifinals (Knicks) 4–1
1971–72	NBA	Eastern	4th	Central	2nd	36	46	.439	2	Lost Conference Semifinals (Celtics) 4–2
1972–73	NBA	Eastern	4th	Central	2nd	46	36	.561	6	Lost Conference Semifinals (Celtics) 4–2
1973–74	NBA	Eastern	5th	Central	2nd	35	47	.427	12
1974–75	NBA	Eastern	8th	Central	4th	31	51	.378	29
1975–76	NBA	Eastern	9th	Central	5th	29	53	.354	20
1976–77	NBA	Eastern	9th	Central	6th	31	51	.378	18
1977–78	NBA	Eastern	6th	Central	4th	41	41	.500	11	Lost First Round (Bullets) 2–0	Hubie Brown (COY)
1978–79	NBA	Eastern	5th	Central	3rd	46	36	.561	2	Won First Round (Rockets) 2–0 Lost Conference Semifinals (Bullets) 4–3
1979–80	NBA	Eastern	2nd	Central	1st	50	32	.610	—	Lost Conference Semifinals (76ers) 4–1
1980–81	NBA	Eastern	8th	Central	4th	31	51	.378	29
1981–82	NBA	Eastern	6th	Central	2nd	42	40	.512	13	Lost First Round (76ers) 2–0
1982–83	NBA	Eastern	6th	Central	2nd	43	39	.524	8	Lost First Round (Celtics) 2–1
1983–84	NBA	Eastern	7th	Central	3rd	40	42	.488	10	Lost First Round (Bucks) 3–2
1984–85	NBA	Eastern	9th	Central	5th	34	48	.415	25
1985–86	NBA	Eastern	4th	Central	2nd	50	32	.610	7	Won First Round (Pistons) 3–1 Lost Conference Semifinals (Celtics) 4–1	Mike Fratello (COY) Stan Kasten (EOY)
1986–87	NBA	Eastern	2nd	Central	1st	57	25	.695	—	Won First Round (Pacers) 3–1 Lost Conference Semifinals (Pistons) 4–1	Stan Kasten (EOY)
1987–88	NBA	Eastern	4th	Central	3rd	50	32	.610	4	Won First Round (Bucks) 3–2 Lost Conference Semifinals (Celtics) 4–3
1988–89	NBA	Eastern	4th	Central	3rd	52	30	.634	11	Lost First Round (Bucks) 3–2
1989–90	NBA	Eastern	9th	Central	6th	41	41	.500	18		Doc Rivers (JWKC)
1990–91	NBA	Eastern	6th	Central	4th	43	39	.524	18	Lost First Round (Pistons) 3–2
1991–92	NBA	Eastern	9th	Central	5th	38	44	.463	29
1992–93	NBA	Eastern	7th	Central	4th	43	39	.524	14	Lost First Round (Bulls) 3–0
1993–94	NBA	Eastern	1st	Central	1st	57	25	.695	—	Won First Round (Heat) 3–2 Lost Conference Semifinals (Pacers) 4–2	Lenny Wilkens (COY)
1994–95	NBA	Eastern	7th	Central	5th	42	40	.512	10	Lost First Round (Pacers) 3–0	Joe O'Toole (JWKC)
1995–96	NBA	Eastern	6th	Central	4th	46	36	.561	26	Won First Round (Pacers) 3–2 Lost Conference Semifinals (Magic) 4–1
1996–97	NBA	Eastern	4th	Central	2nd	56	26	.683	13	Won First Round (Pistons) 3–2 Lost Conference Semifinals (Bulls) 4–1	Dikembe Mutombo (DPOY)
1997–98	NBA	Eastern	5th	Central	4th	50	32	.610	12	Lost First Round (Hornets) 3–1	Dikembe Mutombo (DPOY) Alan Henderson (MIP) Steve Smith (JWKC)
1998–99^[e]	NBA	Eastern	4th	Central	2nd	31	19	.620	2	Won First Round (Pistons) 3–2 Lost Conference Semifinals (Knicks) 4–0
1999–00	NBA	Eastern	14th	Central	7th	28	54	.341	28
2000–01	NBA	Eastern	13th	Central	7th	25	57	.305	27
2001–02	NBA	Eastern	12th	Central	6th	33	49	.402	17
2002–03	NBA	Eastern	11th	Central	5th	35	47	.427	15
2003–04	NBA	Eastern	12th	Central	7th	28	54	.341	33
2004–05	NBA	Eastern	15th	Southeast	5th	13	69	.159	46
2005–06	NBA	Eastern	14th	Southeast	5th	26	56	.317	26
2006–07	NBA	Eastern	13th	Southeast	5th	30	52	.366	14
2007–08	NBA	Eastern	8th	Southeast	3rd	37	45	.451	15	Lost First Round (Celtics) 4–3
2008–09	NBA	Eastern	4th	Southeast	2nd	47	35	.573	12	Won First Round (Heat) 4–3 Lost Conference Semifinals (Cavaliers) 4–0
2009–10	NBA	Eastern	3rd	Southeast	2nd	53	29	.646	6	Won First Round (Bucks) 4–3 Lost Conference Semifinals (Magic) 4–0	Jamal Crawford (SMOY)
2010–11	NBA	Eastern	5th	Southeast	3rd	44	38	.537	14	Won First Round (Magic) 4–2 Lost Conference Semifinals (Bulls) 4–2
2011–12^[f]	NBA	Eastern	5th	Southeast	2nd	40	26	.606	6	Lost First Round (Celtics) 4–2
2012–13	NBA	Eastern	6th	Southeast	2nd	44	38	.537	22	Lost First Round (Pacers) 4–2
2013–14	NBA	Eastern	8th	Southeast	4th	38	44	.463	16	Lost First Round (Pacers) 4–3
2014–15	NBA	Eastern	1st	Southeast	1st	60	22	.732	—	Won First Round (Nets) 4–2 Won Conference Semifinals (Wizards) 4–2 Lost Conference Finals (Cavaliers) 4–0	Mike Budenholzer (COY) Kyle Korver (SPOR)
2015–16	NBA	Eastern	4th	Southeast	2nd	48	34	.585	—	Won First Round (Celtics) 4–2 Lost Conference Semifinals (Cavaliers) 4–0
2016–17	NBA	Eastern	5th	Southeast	2nd	43	39	.524	6	Lost First Round (Wizards) 4–2
2017–18	NBA	Eastern	15th	Southeast	5th	24	58	.293	20
2018–19	NBA	Eastern	12th	Southeast	5th	29	53	.354	13
2019–20^[g]	NBA	Eastern	14th	Southeast	5th	20	47	.299	34		Vince Carter (SPOR)
2020–21^[h]	NBA	Eastern	5th	Southeast	1st	41	31	.569	8	Won First Round (Knicks) 4–1 Won Conference Semifinals (76ers) 4–3 Lost Conference Finals (Bucks) 4–2

All-time records

Note: Statistics are correct as of the conclusion of the 2019–20 NBA season.

NBA records

Statistic	Wins	Losses	Win%
Tri-Cities Blackhawks regular season record (1949–1951)	54	78	.409
Milwaukee Hawks regular season record (1951–1955)	91	190	.324
St. Louis Hawks regular season record (1955–1968)	553	452	.550
Atlanta Hawks regular season record (1968–2020)	2,068	2,133	.492
All-time regular season record	2,766	2,853	.492
Tri-Cities Blackhawks post-season record (1949–1951)	1	2	.333
Milwaukee Hawks post-season record (1951–1955)	—	—	—
St. Louis Hawks post-season record (1955–1968)	58	55	.513
Atlanta Hawks post-season record (1968–2020)	96	149	.392
All-time post-season record	155	206	.429
All-time regular and post-season record	2,921	3,059	.488

^[3]^[4]

NBL records

Statistic	Wins	Losses	Win%
Buffalo Bisons regular season record (1946)	5	8	.385
Tri-Cities Blackhawks regular season record (1946–1949)	80	75	.516
All-time regular season record	85	83	.506
Buffalo Bisons post-season record (1946)	—	—	—
Tri-Cities Blackhawks post-season record (1946–1949)	6	6	.500
All-time post-season record	6	6	.500
All-time regular and post-season record	91	89	.506

^[5]^[6]

Notes

^ The formula is as follows: $\mathrm {Games} \ \mathrm {behind} ={\frac {(\mathrm {TeamA's} \ \mathrm {wins} -\mathrm {TeamB's} \ \mathrm {wins} )+(\mathrm {TeamB's} \ \mathrm {losses} -\mathrm {TeamA's} \ \mathrm {losses} )}{\mathrm {2} }}$
^ After 13 games, the Buffalo Bisons relocated to Moline, Illinois, and were renamed Tri-Cities Blackhawks.
^ Prior to the season, the National Basketball League (NBL) merged with the Basketball Association of America (BAA), creating the National Basketball Association (NBA).
^ Bob Pettit shared the All-Star Game Most Valuable Player award with Elgin Baylor of the Minneapolis Lakers.
^ Due to a lockout, the season did not start until February 5, 1999, and all 29 teams played a shortened regular season schedule of 50 games.^[1]
^ Due to a lockout, the season did not start until December 25, 2011, and all 30 teams played a shortened regular season schedule of 66 games.^[2]
^ Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the season was suspended on March 11, 2020, ending the Hawks' season after 67 games.
^ Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the season did not start until December 22, 2020, and all 30 teams played a shortened regular season schedule of 72 games.

References

^ Donovan, John (February 4, 1999). "Let the semi-season begin: Expect injuries, intensity and a new champion in '99". CNN Sports Illustrated. Retrieved September 4, 2011.
^ Beck, Howard (November 28, 2011). "Two Exhibition Games for N.B.A. Teams". The New York Times. Retrieved April 7, 2021.
^ Atlanta Hawks at Basketball Reference
^ Atlanta Hawks at Land of Basketball
^ NBL records at Basketball Reference
^ Buffalo Bisons / Tri-Cities Blackhawks NBL records at Basketball Reference

[1] The formula is as follows: $\mathrm {Games} \ \mathrm {behind} ={\frac {(\mathrm {TeamA's} \ \mathrm {wins} -\mathrm {TeamB's} \ \mathrm {wins} )+(\mathrm {TeamB's} \ \mathrm {losses} -\mathrm {TeamA's} \ \mathrm {losses} )}{\mathrm {2} }}$

[2] After 13 games, the Buffalo Bisons relocated to Moline, Illinois, and were renamed Tri-Cities Blackhawks.

[3] Prior to the season, the National Basketball League (NBL) merged with the Basketball Association of America (BAA), creating the National Basketball Association (NBA).

[4] Bob Pettit shared the All-Star Game Most Valuable Player award with Elgin Baylor of the Minneapolis Lakers.

[6] Due to a lockout, the season did not start until February 5, 1999, and all 29 teams played a shortened regular season schedule of 50 games.^[1]

[8] Due to a lockout, the season did not start until December 25, 2011, and all 30 teams played a shortened regular season schedule of 66 games.^[2]

[9] Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the season was suspended on March 11, 2020, ending the Hawks' season after 67 games.

[10] Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the season did not start until December 22, 2020, and all 30 teams played a shortened regular season schedule of 72 games.

[5] Donovan, John (February 4, 1999). "Let the semi-season begin: Expect injuries, intensity and a new champion in '99". CNN Sports Illustrated. Retrieved September 4, 2011.

[7] Beck, Howard (November 28, 2011). "Two Exhibition Games for N.B.A. Teams". The New York Times. Retrieved April 7, 2021.

[11] Atlanta Hawks at Basketball Reference

[12] Atlanta Hawks at Land of Basketball

[13] NBL records at Basketball Reference

[14] Buffalo Bisons / Tri-Cities Blackhawks NBL records at Basketball Reference

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v t e Atlanta Hawks
Founded in 1946 Formerly the Buffalo Bisons (1946) and the Tri-Cities Blackhawks (1946–1951); played in Milwaukee (1951–1955) and St. Louis (1955–1968) Based in Atlanta, Georgia
Franchise	All-time roster Draft history Head coaches Seasons Current season
Arenas	Buffalo Memorial Auditorium Wharton Field House Milwaukee Arena Kiel Auditorium St. Louis Arena Alexander Memorial Coliseum Omni Coliseum Lakefront Arena Georgia Dome State Farm Arena
Personnel	Owner(s) Tony Ressler Jami Gertz Grant Hill Sara Blakely Jesse Itzler Steven Price Rick Schnall General manager Landry Fields Head coach Quin Snyder
G League affiliate	College Park Skyhawks
Retired numbers	9 21 23 44 55 59
NBA championships	1958
Culture and lore	The Human Highlight Film Pistol Pete Phantom Buzzer Game Life as We Know It
Category