An Eastern Conference rival reached out to the Atlanta Hawks, looking to lure head coach Quin Snyder away.
The response? A “firm denial” by Atlanta’s franchise.
According to a report from ESPN’s Shams Charania, the New York Knicks were looking to tab Snyder as the 32nd head coach in team history, or at least meet to discuss the position.
Instead, the Hawks made it clear that Snyder wasn’t going anywhere. New York must continue its search to replace Tom Thibodeau with other candidates, and quickly.
It’s a strong vote of confidence that new general manager Onsi Saleh is sending Snyder’s way, in the aftermath of The Zach Lowe Show on June 9. “I think this is a signal that Quin Snyder is, maybe, going to be the most important non-ownership voice on the team,” insider Zach Lowe said on the podcast, signaling Atlanta’s belief in their leader.
Snyder looked to provide stability to the Hawks after a roller-coaster stretch of seasons since the firing of Mike Budenholzer. The 58-year-old has led Atlanta to 36- and 40-win full seasons since his hiring.
Though the Hawks haven’t made a substantial run in the NBA postseason under Snyder’s leadership, they’re in a much better position than when he took over. Young pieces like Onyeka Okongwu, Dyson Daniels, and Jalen Johnson have all seen growth during their time in Atlanta. Barring poor offseason decision-making, the Hawks look the part of a riser in the Eastern Conference for the 2025-26 season.
Quin Snyder staying with Hawks is good news
Atlanta’s fans should take Snyder’s remaining with the team not just as a positive for continuity, but a showing of his league-wide value. A legitimate conference contender saw the Hawks’ head coach as someone who could push them over the top to a championship. That’s something that Atlanta hasn’t had since it employed Mike Budenholzer in 2018.
Snyder’s coaching success while working in a smaller market like Utah (and without the luxury of being a free agent hotspot) made him an attractive target for Atlanta back in 2022. He posted a 372–264 mark in eight seasons with the Jazz, including six playoff appearances. Though Atlanta is certainly a larger-scale market comparatively, it’s not one that has the ability to woo top talent simply because of its location.
No matter what the immediate future holds for the Hawks as a franchise, one thing is clear. Quin Snyder is calling the shots as head coach, and Atlanta wants it to stay that way.