Soaring Down South
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Top 5 Point Guards in Atlanta Hawks History

By Collin Huguley

Apr 5, 2016; Los Angeles, CA, USA; Los Angeles Clippers head coach Doc Rivers gestures during the second half against the Los Angeles Lakers at Staples Center. The Clippers beat the Lakers 103-81. Mandatory Credit: Richard Mackson-USA TODAY Sports
Apr 5, 2016; Los Angeles, CA, USA; Los Angeles Clippers head coach Doc Rivers gestures during the second half against the Los Angeles Lakers at Staples Center. The Clippers beat the Lakers 103-81. Mandatory Credit: Richard Mackson-USA TODAY Sports /
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3. Doc Rivers

Years Spent with Team: 1983-1991

Statistics (per game with Atlanta) : 13.0 points, 6.8 assists, 3.5 rebounds, 2.1 steals.

Shooting Percentages with Atlanta: .455/.325/.782

Remember that guy that you hated for coaching the Celtics title team in 2008? Yeah, he was actually a tremendous player for the Atlanta Hawks long before that.

Glenn “Doc” Rivers was a smart, savvy, smash-mouth point guard of the highest order. The Hawks’ all-time assist leader was not only an elite distributor, but also one of the toughest defenders in the league. Rivers could shut down any other point guard in the NBA and was technically sound in doing so. He was always in breathing distance of his man and opponents knew that they were in for a long night with Rivers defending them.

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Rivers was also the sidekick to the great, Dominique Wilkins for the Hawks. The Rivers-to-Wilkins connection was very hard to stop in the 80’s and one could argue that Wilkins wouldn’t have had as great a career without Rivers feeding him.

While Larry Bird and the Celtics were running all over the Eastern Conference, it is easy now to over look those Hawks. But they had some epic battles with the Celtics in the playoffs and were a threat to that legendary team with one of the NBA’s best passers feeding, arguably, the greatest finisher ever in Wilkins.

When watching Rivers play during his time with the Hawks, it is easy to see how he became a great coach. His play was so smart, tough, and professional all while he was as pure a point guard as they come. While he was a great player, he was, outrageously, only named to one NBA All-Star team. His tenacious defense, solid driving game offensively, and incredible passing and intangibles make him one of the best point guards to ever take the floor for the Hawks.

Next: No. 2

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