Atlanta Hawks forward Jalen Johnson (1) looks on after Game 6 in a first-round NBA basketball playoffs series against the New York Knicks Thursday, April 30, 2026, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/Brynn Anderson)
The young team gave fans something to root for after several roster changes propelled the Hawks into the playoffs.
Atlanta even held a 2-1 lead in the series against a higher-seeded New York Knicks team with championship aspirations.
The Knicks demolished the Hawks 140-89 to win the series Thursday night. The 47-point halftime margin was the largest in NBA playoff history. Some fans started heading to the exit early, like 11-year-old Zade Alia and his family.
Some fans started heading to the exit early like 11-year-old Zade Alia and his family. (Marlon Hyde/WABE)
“I’m feeling embarrassed,” said Alia. “We should be playing better, and I just feel bad.”
Daryl Graham had a more positive outlook on his Hawks. He said he expects this to be a learning moment that the team could bounce back from.
“Let’s remember this Hawks team had a major rebuild in the middle of the season. This is a new squad, right? We got rid of our star player of several years. We got a new squad. Considering this is a young team. I got to be happy that they’ve come as far as they came. They made it to the playoffs. So I’m not really upset,” said Graham.
After an up-and-down start to the season, the Hawks improved significantly after the trade deadline, sending away guard Trae Young and bringing in veteran CJ McCollum, among other roster moves.
After the All-Star break, Atlanta held the best record in the Eastern Conference. The team finished the regular season on a hot streak behind the play of All-Star Jalen Johnson and the NBA’s Most Improved Player, Nickeil Alexander-Walker, who received his award prior to the start of game six.
Heading into the offseason, the future remains bright.
“GM, let’s go get Giannis. Let’s go get somebody that can be our star. I love Jalen, but he’s not quite what I want. We have the money, let’s do it,” said Ethan Parker.
The Hawks are holding a projected lottery pick via New Orleans and another first-rounder from Cleveland in what some are calling a “stacked” 2026 draft class.
