Soaring Down South
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Atlanta Hawks: 20 best players of all-time

By Bre'ana Singleton

Apr 19, 2016; Atlanta, GA, USA; Atlanta Hawks guard Jeff Teague (0) is guarded against Boston Celtics guard Terry Rozier (12) near the Atlanta Hawks logo in the fourth quarter of game two of the first round of the NBA Playoffs at Philips Arena. The Hawks won 89-72. Mandatory Credit: Jason Getz-USA TODAY Sports
Apr 19, 2016; Atlanta, GA, USA; Atlanta Hawks guard Jeff Teague (0) is guarded against Boston Celtics guard Terry Rozier (12) near the Atlanta Hawks logo in the fourth quarter of game two of the first round of the NBA Playoffs at Philips Arena. The Hawks won 89-72. Mandatory Credit: Jason Getz-USA TODAY Sports /
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player. 125. . C/PF. Atlanta Hawks. Kevin Willis. 19

Best Atlanta Hawks of all-time – Kevin Willis (1984-88, 1989-94; 2004-05)

Taken 11th overall in the 1984 NBA Draft out of Michigan State, Kevin Willis would go on to have one of the longest and most productive careers in NBA history.

Willis played 11 of his 24 NBA seasons with the Atlanta Hawks on rosters with all-time greats like Dominique Wilkins, Spud Webb, and Doc Rivers. Averaging 18.3 points and 15.5 rebounds per game in the 1991-1992 season earned Willis his first and only NBA All-Star appearance. In his tenth season, he was traded to the Miami Heat in 1994 for Steve Smith and Grant Long.

The Atlanta Hawks saw the playoffs six times with Willis on the roster but he won his sole NBA Championship in a veteran role late into his career with the San Antonio Spurs in 2003. He played for eight different franchises throughout his career. A tough, dirty working 7-footer, Willis is currently 24th on the all-time rebounding list, having grabbed 11,901 boards on his career.

As an Atlanta Hawks player, Kevin Willis averaged 14.1 points and 9.7 rebounds per game. He retired with the Dallas Mavericks in 2007.

18. player. 125. . PG. Atlanta Hawks. Mookie Blaylock

Best Atlanta Hawks of all-time – Mookie Blaylock (1992-1999)

In the same 1989 draft that featured Tim Hardaway, Shawn Kemp, and Vladi Divac, the New Jersey Nets drafted Mookie Blaylock 12th overall, then traded him to the Atlanta Hawks three years later.

In his second year with the Hawks, Blaylock had his only All-Star season, averaging 13.8 points, 5.2 rebounds, and 9.7 assists on the season. The point guard played with Dominique Wilkins and Kevin Willis toward the end of their careers, and Dikembe Mutumbo and Steve Smith toward the end of his own.

Blaylock reached the playoffs in each of his seven seasons with the Atlanta Hawks, which is something few players can boast.

An absolute menace on the defensive end, Mookie Blaylock was named to the NBA All-Defensive First team twice, and second-team, four times. He led the league in steals in two seasons and finished his career averaging an incredible 2.3 steals per game. Blaylock also shot the ball well for the Hawks, finishing top 5 in 3-point field goals made in three separate seasons. In his seven years with the Atlanta Hawks, Mookie Blaylock averaged 14.3 points, 4.6 rebounds, and 7.3 assists per game.

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