Top 5 Point Guards In Atlanta Hawks History
Doc Rivers tops the list of greatest Atlanta Hawks point guards
The Atlanta Hawks came into the NBA during 1946, giving them 74 years in the league. In those years, they haven’t really been known for their point guard depth. Some notable point guards who played in Atlanta include Spud Webb, Jason Terry, Mike Bibby, and Dennis Schroder.
Trae Young
It’s about time we all cut the craziness. Rather some want to admit it or not, Trae Young is one of the greatest point guards in Hawks history.
I mean, let’s just keep it real. As a matter of fact, when he was drafted by the Dallas Mavericks and traded to the Hawks for Luka Doncic, some called it one of the most even draft night trades ever.
Even though he was selected as the fifth pick in the 2018 NBA draft, Young was one of the best Oklahoma Sooners basketball players ever. He might even have his college jersey retired one day but that’s a conversation for another day.
As soon as he put on the Hawks jerseys, though, he got to work. On Oct. 21, 2018 (just his third career game), he recorded 35 points and 11 assists in a 133-111 victory against the Cleveland Cavaliers.
Young continued to build on that performance.
In the month of November, he averaged 14 points and eight assists, winning his first of four Rookie of the Month awards. His best game of the month was arguably Nov. 19. He recorded a season-high 17 assists, 25 points, and three rebounds in a 127-119 loss to the Los Angeles Clippers.
During the season, Young had trouble keeping his 3-point shot consistent. As expected, he was able to hit from Stephen Curry range but his percentage was real low.
But on Feb. 25, his shot was working. He made eight 3-pointers in a 119-111 loss to the Houston Rockets while finishing with 36 points.
Now let’s fast forward two years later.
On May 23, 2021, Young made his playoff debut and didn’t waste it. He recorded 32 points, seven rebounds, and 10 assists against the New York Knicks, capping it off with a game-winner.
He joined LeBron James, Chris Paul, and Derrick Rose as the only players in NBA history to record 30 points and 10 assists in their playoff debuts.
The Hawks went on to defeat the Knicks in five games with Young averaging 29 points and nine assists. With those performances, he soon became a hated player in New York.
He didn’t take his foot off the pedal.
In Game 5 of the Eastern Conference semifinals, he logged in 39 points, seven assists and three steals in a 109-106 victory against the Philadelphia 76ers.
Once the Hawks advanced to the Eastern Conference finals, Young had his best playoff performance to date.
In Game 1, he had 48 points, 11 assists, and seven rebounds in a 116-113 victory against the Milwaukee Bucks. The Hawks would go on to lose that series in six games, though.
The Hawks were so impressed by Young’s season that they decided to sign him to a five-year max extension worth up to $172 million and possibily $207 million.
That says A LOT! And believe me, Young lived up to that contract.
On Jan. 3, 2022, he scored a career-high 56 points in a 136-131 loss to the Portland Trail Blazers. He even had 14 assists to go with that scoring display.
That was one of the many scoring outlets Young had that season. Between Nov. 22 to Jan. 7, Young recorded 17 straight 25-point games, breaking a franchise record tie with Hawks’ legend Dominique Wilkins.
If that isn’t good enough, here’s another fact: After the 2021-22 season, Young became the second player in NBA history to lead the league in total points and assists, joining Tiny Archibald.
Young is still performing for the Hawks and could be for a long time. But, as of right now, the two-time All-Star ranks 10th on the Hawks’ all-time scoring list with 8,990 points, third in assists with 3,285, and third in 3-pointers made with 884.
Lenny Wilkens
Lenny Wilkens might have played his best basketball with the Seattle Supersonics but he got his start with the Hawks.
And what a start it was!
When he was chosen as the sixth pick in the 1960 NBA draft, he didn’t have his best rookie year. He only averaged 11 points and two assists.
But his next seven years with the Hawks would be memorable.
He averaged 16 points and five assists but his greatest year was the 1967-68 season. He averaged 20 points and eight assists with his best game arguably on Jan. 20. He logged in a season-high 39 points and 18 assists in a 120-115 victory against the Supersonics.
That season was so amazing he was placed second to Wilt Chamberlain in the MVP voting!
After that season, Wilkens was traded to the Supersonics for Walt Hazzard.
While playing for the Hawks, Wilkens was a five-time All-Star who currently ranks fifth on their all-time assists list with 3,049.
Jeff Teague
Even though he played with guys like Kyle Korver and Al Horford, Jeff Teague was that guy.
But let’s start from the beginning.
Once he was drafted as the 19th pick in the 2009 NBA draft, he wanted to imprint his name in the league. In his first year, he was ranked 10th in the NBA in assists by rookies with an average of 1.7.
But it’s safe to say his best game was on Apr. 14, the final game of the season. He played all 48 minutes against the Cleveland Cavaliers, finishing with 24 points, five rebounds, and 15 assists (all season-highs).
The 2012-13 season proved to be his breakout one, though.
He recorded 10 20-point/10-assist games, the third-highest total in a single season in Hawks history (Pete Maravich had 12 in the 1972-73 season and Eddie Johnson had 11 in 1984-85).
His best game, though? Jan. 16, 2013.
He recorded a then career-high 28 points in a 109-95 victory against the Brooklyn Nets while dishing out 11 assists.
Teague’s excellence that season didn’t go unrecognized. On Jul. 13, 2013, he signed an extended four-year contract worth $32 million.
The contract only made him go harder.
On Dec. 26, 2013, he scored a career-high 34 points in a 127-125 double overtime victory against the Cavaliers. He had his best stretch of games right before the season ended. Between Apr. 7 and Apr. 13, he averaged 20 points, two rebounds, five assists, and one steal. He ultimately won his first Player of the Week award.
During the 2015-16 season, he averaged 15 points and seven assists, winning his first All-Star selection but as a reserve. It was the last biggest moment as a Hawk.
On Jul. 7, 2016, he was traded to the Indiana Pacers in a three-team trade involving the Utah Jazz. He returned to Atlanta in 2020 but played just 25 games, starting in four.
Right now, Teague ranks No. 6 on the Hawks’ all-time assists list with 2,771 and No. 7 on their steals list with 632.
Mookie Blaylock
Although a lot of folks may not mention Mookie Blaylock when discussing great Hawks players, he definitely deserves a spot.
After playing his first three years in the NBA with the New Jersey Nets, he and Roy Hinson were traded to the Hawks for Rumeal Robinson.
Blaylock gave the Hawks a great seven years. After they missed the playoffs in 1992, he helped them get there every year he was there. The Hawks even recorded a franchise second-best record in the 1993-94 season, 57-25.
During his time with the Hawks, he played at his highest peak. He averaged 14 points, seven assists, and two steals. He even led the NBA in steals twice in a row (1997, 1998) while collecting 58 win shares.
Here’s another few interesting facts: On Nov. 12, 1996, he recorded a career-high 39 points while hitting six 3-pointers in a 87-83 victory against the Cavaliers. That was his best game in terms of scoring. As for playmaking, that was on Mar. 6, 1993. He logged in a career-high 23 assists in a 139-118 victory against the Jazz.
Blaylock was also an All-Star in 1994 while being named to the NBA All-Defensive First Team twice (1994, 1995) and the NBA All-Defensive Second Team four times (1996-1999).
Blaylock is the Hawks’ all-time leader in steals with 1,321 and three-pointers made with 1,050. He also ranks No. 2 on their assists list with 3,764.
Doc Rivers:
To a lot of NBA fans, Doc Rivers is known for his coaching career. He has coached the Orlando Magic, Boston Celtics, Los Angeles Clippers and, currently, the Philadelphia 76ers.
But before that, he was an actual NBA player and arguably the greatest point guard in Hawks history.
Rivers was drafted by the Hawks as the seventh pick in the second round of the 1983 NBA draft. He didn’t have the most electrifying career but when it comes to the Hawks and their “true” fans, Rivers is a household name.
He played alongside the great Dominqiue Wilkins for his entire tenure with the Hawks. He’s had some memorable moments but the game he’ll never forget took place on Oct. 28, 1983, his first career game.
The Hawks played the Nets on that night with the Nets taking a 126-108 victory. But Rivers had a chance to play against Julius Erving, who referred to him as “Doc”.
The reason Erving referred to him as a “Doc” goes back to Rivers’ college days. When Rivers played at the Marquette University, he worn a Dr. J T-shirt (in honor of Erving). It prompted his assistant coach, Rick Majerus, to call him “Doc”.
He went on to average nine points in the rest of his rookie season.
The remainder of Rivers’ career with the Hawks was the best of his playing career. He never averaged less than 10 points in the next seven seasons. He also averaged a career-high 10 assists in the 1986-87 season.
After his time with the Hawks, Rivers would go on to perform for the Los Angeles Clippers, New York Knicks, and San Antonio Spurs before retiring.
During his time with the Hawks, he earned himself an All-Star selection in 1987-88, averaging 14 points and nine assists that season. He’s currently the Hawks’ all-time leader in assists with 3,866 and ranks No. 3 on their all-time steals list with 1,166.
Cory Nelson is a contributor to Sports Illustrated’s channel “Inside The Heat”. He attended Northern Virginia Community College. He can be reached at corymckenzienelson@hotmail.com or follow him on Twitter @CKenzyNelson and Instagram @ckenzynelson