Atlanta Hawks: Introducing the All-Time Third-Team
By Nate Friesen
G – Mookie Blaylock
Mookie Blaylock is arguably the worst player on all three All-Hawks teams. However, Mookie was still an awesome player, especially for the Hawks.
He was drafted 12th overall by the New Jersey Nets back in the 1989 NBA Draft. Blaylock played seven seasons with the Hawks and they were the best seven seasons of his career. Blaylock was a part of some really good Hawks teams but it never resulted in a championship.
In Blaylock’s seven seasons with the Hawks, he averaged just 14.9 points, 7.3 assists and 2.6 steals per game. He also had some truly incredible shooting splits for a defense-first guard with shooting splits of .413/.347/.735.
Despite his impressive averages and his impact on both ends of the floor, Mookie Blaylock only ever made one All-Star appearance. It came in his second season with the Hawks where he averaged a career-high 9.7 assists per game.
Similar to a lot of great Hawks players of the past, Blaylock’s impact went well beyond the box score. He was a great leader and his impact on the defensive end of the floor went far beyond just 2.6 steals per game.
While some may say Mookie Blaylock doesn’t belong on this list, I believe he does for all the reasons listed above.