Soaring Down South
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Atlanta Hawks’ Historic Christmas Day Drought

By Dallin Duffy

PORTLAND, OR - 1989: Dominique Wilkins #21 of the Atlanta Hawks looks on against the Portland Trailblazers at the Veterans Memorial Coliseum in Portland, Oregon circa 1989. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 1989 NBAE (Photo by Brian Drake/NBAE via Getty Images)
PORTLAND, OR - 1989: Dominique Wilkins #21 of the Atlanta Hawks looks on against the Portland Trailblazers at the Veterans Memorial Coliseum in Portland, Oregon circa 1989. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 1989 NBAE (Photo by Brian Drake/NBAE via Getty Images) /
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Analyzing the Atlanta Hawks’ streak without playing on Christmas Day.

Christmas Day NBA games are a true staple of the holiday season, a tradition the Atlanta Hawks haven’t taken part in for quite some time.

The last time the Atlanta Hawks played on Christmas Day was 1989, a 115-104 win over the Knicks. Spud Webb, Moses Malone, and Dominique Wilkins all scored 20+ in the victory, which will celebrate it’s 30th anniversary in a few days.

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The three-decade-long drought is the longest in the league by quite a large margin.

The Sacramento Kings own the 2nd-longest streak, last playing in 2003, beating the Hawks’ stretch by a good 13 years.

To be fair, the Charlotte Hornets and Memphis Grizzlies have never suited up on X-mas once.

In total, the Hawks have played 20 times on December 25th, winning nine of those.

Christmas Day games are usually reserved for the biggest players on the biggest teams, which are admittedly words not often used to describe the Hawks.

Even with some stars like Joe Johnson, Josh Smith, Al Horford, and Paul Millsap rolling through the ATL, those were some quiet, low-key stars.

Trae Young has potential to breakthrough into the mainstream more than any Hawks player since ‘Nique, and if the Hawks can add another star, they could have a chance to break back into the Christmas Day slate.

The NBA also schedules classic rivalries on Christmas, both infamous classic ones like Lakers/Celtics and more current ones like Bucks/Sixers.

The Hawks don’t have that storied rivalry match up that helps them get into into holiday must-see territory.

Next. Decade in Review: 2010-2011 Hawks. dark

For now, the Hawks players are probably happy they have the day off.

Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays to all our Hawks fans out there.

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