The Atlanta Hawks are widely regarded in NBA circles as the epitome of mediocrity. They're a .500 team that masquerades as something more or less for brief periods of time, with statistics too strange to feel real that display their inability to sustainably ascend.
If the Hawks are going to change the culture and become a consistent contender, then they must break their most infuriating habit of all: The streakiness that defines them.
Atlanta is currently 31-31, which epitomizes the .500 play that they're known for. It's what's transpired over the past 34 games that's most frustrating, however, as Atlanta's broken through the .500 mark at 16-12 yet has maintained its agonizing tendencies.
That started with a two-game winning streak that was immediately followed by a two-game losing streak—which led to a three-game winning streak and four straight losses.
From there, it was a four-game winning streak followed by five losses in seven games. That brings Atlanta to the present, in which it's won four of its past five. While most teams would be excited by the recent success, it's just another example of the Hawks either getting hot or turning ice cold.
Until Atlanta discovers a healthier middle ground, it simply won't be able to sustain its quality and become the contender it has the realistic dreams of being.
Hawks are either hot or cold, never seem to find a middle ground
The Hawks' streaky play has somehow brought them back to zero—all but literally. They have a net rating of 0.0, a +/- of +1, and have scored the eighth-most points in the NBA while allowing the 10th-most. Somehow, it's on brand.
The Hawks have won more than 44 games just two times over the past 15 completed seasons, and have won at least 40 in all but four.
Three woeful seasons between 2017-18 and 2019-20 enabled the Hawks to land Trae Young and build a team that reached the 2021 Eastern Conference Finals. True to form, they've gone 232-230 in the five seasons since, including 2025-26.
Now on pace for a season 41-41 season in four years, the Hawks can't keep allowing the highs and lows of a season to erode their signs of progress.
There's renewed hope in Atlanta with the emergence of Jalen Johnson and the arrival of Jonathan Kuminga. Trading Young has also opened up the playbook for players such as Nickeil Alexander-Walker and Onyeka Okongwu, while new additions CJ McCollum and Corey Kispert have refreshing value to offer.
One can only hope that the Hawks will finally break the habit of playing streaky basketball and finally escape the depths of mediocrity.