Finding the best member of the Atlanta Hawks to wear every number.
The Atlanta Hawks have a long history and if you included their time in Buffalo, Milwaukee, and St. Louis, they’re (tied with four other teams) the third-oldest franchise in pro basketball.
That means many players have suited up in a Hawks uniform, wearing many different numbers. Here we’ll be digging through that long history to find the best member of the Atlanta Hawks to wear each number.
#00/0: Jeff Teague
I’ve combined double zero and zero, which worked out because Jeff Teague has worn both. Teague has now spent eight seasons in Atlanta across two stints since being drafted 19th overall in 2009. He peaked in 2015 when he made his lone All-Star appearance.
Other candidates: Tony Delk
#1: Wes Matthews
Not a particularly strong number for the Atlanta Hawks, Wes Matthews is probably the best player to wear numero uno. He spent a total of four seasons with the Hawks, averaging 8.2 points per game. He then won two NBA championships as a bench piece on the late-80s Showtime Lakers.
Other candidates: Josh Childress, Stephen Jackson, Tracy McGrady
#2: Joe Johnson
A tough choice here, as Joe Johnson battled Stacey Augmon and Moses Malone for this honor. I gave the slight edge to ‘Iso Joe’ using his tenure as a tie-breaker. He spent seven years with the Hawks, quickly rising the team’s all-time scoring list.
Other candidates: Moses Malone, Stacey Augmon
#3: Eddie Johnson
From Joe Johnson to Eddie Johnson, the latter of which spent nine years with the Hawks from 1977-86. During his time in Atlanta, he made two All-Star teams and two All-Defensive teams. He has the third-most assists and ninth-most points in team history.
Other candidates: Shareef Abdur-Rahim, Craig Ehlo
#4: Paul Millsap
I had to put Paul Millsap over Spud Webb, which was one of the hardest decisions on this list. Millsap’s stay in Atlanta was short and sweet. He made the All-Star team in each of his four seasons as a Hawk, making an All-Defensive team and was a key contributor of the 2014-2015 Hawks who won the most games in team history.
Other Candidates: Chris Crawford, Spud Webb
#5: Josh Smith
Josh Smith was always a fan favorite, although he’s remembered more fondly than he probably should be. J-Smoove was always a solid two-way player, however, blocking shots and skying for jams that helped revive “The Highlight Factory” moniker.
Other Candidates: DeMarre Carroll, Dion Glover
#6: Cliff Hagan
One of the weaker numbers in the top-20, Hagan only wins this on a technicality. The Hall-of-Famer donned three separate numbers during his time as a Hawk:17, 6, 16. He wore number six for just one season, but once you see his competition below, you’ll see why I went with Hagan.
Other Candidates: Pero Antic, Kirk Hinrich, Mario West
#7: Toni Kukoc
Another weak number that ended in a battle of two international forwards who spent just two years in Atlanta. I went with Toni Kukoč over Ersan Ilyasova because while he will never be remembered as a Hawk, he was great during his peak with the Bulls.
Other candidates: Ersan Ilyasova
#8: Walt Bellamy
Like Toni Kukoč, Walt Bellamy played for the Atlanta Hawks past his prime but still put up solid numbers during his five seasons in Atlanta. the Hall-of-Fame center spent five of his final six years with the team, averaging 15.6 points and 12.2 rebounds per game.
Other Candidates: Dwight Howard, Steve Smith
#9: Bob Pettit
A no-brainer here, as Bob Pettit is arguably the best player in franchise history. The 11-time All NBA selection wore his number nine on both the St.Louis and Atlanta Hawks, leading the league in scoring two years and helping the Hawks win their only championship in franchise history. His number is retired by the team.
Other Candidates: none
#10: Mookie Blaylock
“The Thief,” Mookie Blaylock spent his prime with the Hawks from ’92-’99, making six All-Defense teams. He’s the team’s all-time steals leader and only Doc Rivers has more assists. The Atlanta Hawks should consider retiring his number, he was that good.
Other Candidates: Steve Hawes, Tyronn Lue
#11: Trae Young
In his two years in the league, Trae Young has shown the potential of becoming the best player in Hawks’ history. He’s a true offensive superstar and one of the best passers in the league as well. The 21-year-old is already great and has a ton of room to grow.
Other Candidates: Jamal Crawford
#12: Taurean Prince
Despite being a very popular number in the NBA, the Atlanta Hawks haven’t had a lot of greats wear number 12. Taurean Prince, who spent three years in Atlanta, wins by default, and to be fair, he did have his moments during the darkest parts of the team’s rebuild.
Other Candidates: Mike Farmer
#13: Dwight Jones
Dwight Jones had a solid 10-year career as a role player and started that journey in Atlanta. His first three years came in a Hawks #13 jersey, averaging over ten points per game in the last two.
Other Candidates: Boris Diaw
#14: Lenny Wilkens
One of the few people to be inducted to the Hall of Fame twice (as a player and coach), Lenny Wilkens played eight seasons with the St. Louis Hawks before coming back to coach the Atlanta Hawks during the nineties.
Other Candidates: Zelmo Beaty, Charlie Criss
#15: Al Horford
Some Atlanta Hawks have yet to forgive Al Horford, which is a bit silly. Horford was an absolute stud during his nine years as a Hawk, making four All-Star teams and an All-NBA team. He’s the fifth-best Hawk of all-time by both win shares and VORP metrics.
Other Candidates: Richie Guerin, Vince Carter
#16: Cliff Hagan
I was planning on giving number 16 to someone else since I gave Hagan number 6, but once again, the competition was weak. Hagan played the majority of his career donning 16, so it works out.
Other Candidates: none
#17: Dennis Shröder
Dennis Schröder was put in a tough spot during his time in Atlanta, working as a backup to Jeff Teague during the team’s successful seasons and then was given the keys for just one season before they blew it up and started over. Schröder was an explosive scorer and easily the best player on the ‘17-’18 team.
Other candidates: Chico Vaughn
#18: Richie Guerin
Richie Guerin worked as both a player and coach of the Hawks for a handful of seasons, although his play on the court was weaker in St.Louis than it was in New York. He only wore number nine for one season, but what I am supposed to do? Give it to the second-best Plumlee brother?
Other candidates: Miles Plumlee
#19: Richie Guerin
Oh yeah, he also wore number 19 for two seasons. Only six Hawks ever has worn this number, the rarest number in the teens.
Other candidates: Hub Reed
#20: John Collins
John Collins has exceeded all expectations since entering the league as the 19th overall pick and has formed a very solid duo with Trae Young. He should be a building block of this team moving forward.
Other Candidates: Ed Macauley
#21: Dominique Wilkins
Dominique Wilkins doesn’t need an introduction or even an explanation. He has a statue outside the arena and his number hangs in the rafters. No Hawk will number 21 again.
Other Candidates: none
#22: John Drew
After being a second-round selection of the team in 1974, John Drew played eight seasons with the Hawks. He made two All-Star teams and averaged over 20 points per game five times.
Other Candidates: Cam Reddish
#23: Lou Hudson
‘Sweet’ Lou Hudson is the only player in Hawks history to wear number 23, as the franchise retired the number soon after his retirement in 1979. He spent 11 seasons with the Hawks across St.Louis and Atlanta, making six All-Star games.
Other Candidates: none
#24: Marvin Williams
Close one here, but had to give Marvin Williams the nod just barely over Kent Bazemore. Despite not living up to the billing of the second overall pick, Williams was a solid two-way forward in his years with the Hawks.
Other candidates: Kent Bazemore, Jim Davis
#25: Doc Rivers
The Hawks all-time leader in assists is best known for his elite level coaching, but Doc Rivers was also a great player in his prime. He spent eight seasons running the Atlanta Hawks’ offense, averaging a career-high 10.0 assists per game in 1987.
Other Candidates: none
#26: Kyle Korver
Despite not being retired by the team, only three players ever have worn number 26 for the Hawks. Two of them played in the 50s, and the other is Kyle Korver. The marksmen led the league in three-point percentage in three of his four seasons in Atlanta.
Other Candidates: none
#27: Joe Caldwell
Jumping Joe Caldwell had a successful career in both the NBA and ABA, playing five years for the Hawks in both St. Louis and Atlanta. He was a dominant scorer, making over 50 percent of his 14.7 attempts per game in his final two seasons.
Other candidates: Zaza Pachulia
#28: Andrew Lang
like 26, not many Hawks have used this number. Andrew Lang wore it during his three seasons in Atlanta from 1994-1996, and no Hawk has worn it since.
Other candidates: Frank Selvy
#29: Paul Silas
St. Louis was the launching ground of Paul Silas‘ career, as he went on to have a very successful career in uniforms other than the Hawks. He also went on to have a solid head coaching career.
Other candidates: none
#30: Tree Rollins
A staple of the 1980s Atlanta Hawks, Tree spent a total of 11 seasons with the Hawks. He led the league in blocks in 1983 with over four per game, making two All-Defensive teams from the center spot.
#31: Zelmo Beaty
The Hall-of-Fame center played seven seasons with the Hawks before moving to the ABA. He averaged a double-double in every season of his Hawks career outside of his rookie campaign.
Other Candidates: Jason Terry
#32: Bill Bridges
Bill Bridges was a high usage center for all ten years of his Atlanta Hawks career, ranking fourth all-time in minutes played for the team. Not bad for a third-round pick.
Other Candidates: Jon Koncak
#33: Antoine Carr
A well-known journeyman role player, Antoine Carr played for six teams in his 16-year career. It all began in Atlanta, where he spent the first six seasons of his career before eventually joining the John Stockton, Karl Malone-led Jazz teams.
Other Candidates: Jim McElroy
#34: Clyde Lovellette
One of the oldest players on this list, Clyde began his NBA career in 1953 with the Minneapolis Lakers. He joined the Hawks the year after they won the championship and spent a total of four years in St.Louis, making two All-Star teams. He was named to the Hall-of-Fame in 1988.
Other Candidates: Gene Tormohlen
#35: Antoine Carr
Carr switched his number to 35 in 1989. He is one of just two Hawks (along with Sly Williams) to wear the number 35 for the Hawks in more than one season.
Other Candidates: Sly Williams
#36: Royal Ivey
Maybe the weakest number thus far, only three Hawks have ever worn number 36: Royal Ivey, Etan Thomas, and Rasheed Wallace. The latter two played a combined 14 games for the team, so we’ll give it to Ivey.
Other Candidates: Rasheed Wallace.
#37: N/A
No Atlanta Hawks have ever worn this number.
#38: Mikki Moore
Mikki Moore‘s Basketball Reference page is an interesting one. He played for nine different teams in his 13-year career, stopping in Atlanta in 2003. He’s the only Hawk to ever wear the number.
#39: N/A
Note: players wear numbers above 40 very infrequently, and I’ve put the rest of them in groups of ten.
#40-49: Pete Maravich (44)
‘Pistol’ Pete Maravich began his NBA career with the Atlanta Hawks as the third overall pick in 1970. Although he spent just four years with the team, they were impactful enough to have the Hawks retire his number in 2017.
Other Candidates: Alan Henderson (44), Theo Ratliff (42), Kevin Willis (42)
#50-59: Dikembe Mutombo (55)
Dikembe Mutombo‘s jersey was also recently retired, with the Atlanta Hawks rising his 55 in 2015. The ferocious shot-blocker spent five seasons with the from 1996-2001, averaging over three rejections per game during that time.
Other Candidates: Cliff Levingston (53), John Brown (50)
#60-69: N/A
No member of the Atlanta Hawks has ever worn a number in the 60s, which is probably the most interesting part of this whole piece.
#70-79: Chuck Share (70)
Chuck Share started his NBA career way back in 1951, playing seven years for the Hawks in both Milwaukee and St. Louis. He averaged 25.3 minutes per game for the championship-winning team in 1957-1958.
Other Candidates: Vladimir Radmanović (77)
#80-89: N/A
Same as 60-69, no player has worn one of these numbers for the Hawks. If it helps, I wore number 80 in middle school.
#90-99: DeAndre’ Bembry
DeShawn Stevenson was a better player in his prime than DeAndre’ Bembry but played just one year in Atlanta compared to Bembry’s four (and counting). Honorably, Bembry wears 95 to honor his late brother who was born in 1995.
Other Candidates: DeShawn Stevenson (92), Doy Ray (96)
All jersey statistics courtesy of Basketball-Reference