March 27, 1998 - the then-largest crowd in NBA history gathered 62,000 large to set eyes upon the final stop in Atlanta that Michael Jordan would ever make (until his tenure as a Wizard).
Long-time Hawks fans remember this day vividly; the Bulls' 89-74 victory in the Georgia Dome marked the last time Jordan ever suited up in Chicago colors in Atlanta. As another legendary career approaches its midnight hour, Atlanta may have a similar chance to witness history early this season.
Ever since their less-than-stellar postseason exit against the Minnesota Timberwolves this April, rumors have been flying around Los Angeles speculating if the 2025-2026 campaign will be LeBron James' final year in the NBA. Recently, multiple scouts, agents, and rival team representatives shared their common belief that James will announce his retirement at the end of the year (Brett Siegel, ClutchPoints).
To absolutely nobody's surprise, the get-in price to Los Angeles' singular trek to Atlanta on November 8th is more than double any other Hawks home game throughout the entire season at a whopping $307, confirming the rising belief in LeBron's inevitable retirement.
In addition to the historical significance of the November 8th bout, it also presents Atlanta with a genuine opportunity to test their mettle against the supercharged Western Conference.
Pushing the pace is critical for Atlanta to come out victorious
An early victory against the media darling Los Angeles Lakers would undoubtedly put the league on notice to the Hawks' legitimacy as Eastern Conference contenders.
Marking the 10th game on Atlanta's calendar, the battle against Los Angeles is only the 2nd game against a Western Conference team for the Hawks. Having just hosted Toronto the night before, the game will not only test Atlanta's resilience against star power, but also their stamina in an early part of another grueling 82-game season.
Despite playing on the second game of a back-to-back, the key to beating the Lakers is pace, pace, and more pace.
Los Angeles ranked 9th-to-last amongst teams in pace last season, while Atlanta ranked 3rd. Having the ability to use their young legs in transition to outpace older squads served the Hawks well last year, while the Lakers' age and shoddy-at-best transition defense plagued them throughout the season.
If Atlanta can push through the fatigue of playing the night prior against a formidable Raptors squad, the Lakers will likely prove too sluggish to contest Atlanta's youth and energy. Look for Dyson Daniels to spark fast-break opportunities with his stellar on-ball defense on Luka and Lebron, and Kristaps Porzingis to stifle the Lakers' interior attack to ignite easy transition looks.
Can the Hawks succeed where they fell short 27 years ago against Jordan's 1998 Bulls, and snag victory in the midst of history? While one final win against LeBron may not nullify the years of defeat he has delivered to Atlanta, it may serve as a springboard for success as the Hawks look to build towards the future.