Atlanta Hawks: 20 best players of all-time

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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Atlanta Hawks(Photo by Jeenah Moon/Getty Images) /

125. . PF/SF. Atlanta Hawks. John Drew. 5. player

Best Atlanta Hawks of all-time – John Drew (1974-82)

Drafted out of Gardner-Webb University in the 1974 NBA Draft, the Atlanta Hawks brought John Drew to town as the 25th overall pick. Drew immediately made his presence felt as a rookie, averaging 18.5 points and 10.7 rebounds per game. He made the NBA All-Rookie First Team in 1975, leading the NBA in offensive rebounds that season, and made the All-Star Team in his sophomore season.

He would return to the All-Star Game in 1980, in a year where he averaged 19.5 points and 5.9 rebounds for the Atlanta Hawks. His best scoring year came in the 1976-1977 season, where Drew averaged 24.2 points and 9.1 rebounds per game, somehow not garnering another trip to the All-Star game that year. In his eight-year career with the Hawks, John Drew averaged 21.5 points, 7.5 rebounds, 1.6 assists, and 1.4 rebounds.

In 1982, the Atlanta Hawks traded John Drew and Freeman Williams to the Utah Jazz for Dominique Wilkins. Drew unfortunately struggled with substance abuse and played for 3 years in Utah before being effectively banned by the late David Stern for substance abuse infractions.

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