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The Atlanta Hawks are one of the oldest teams in the NBA That Have been around since the league’s inception. There have been many hall of fame players that have represented the Hawks on the basketball and over the course of their history have contributed tremendously to the teams successes and helping to shape the franchise’s storied past. Out of the listed players, five of them scored the most points as they ranked the best all-time scoring players for the team.
Starting with mind-blowing dunks to steady lucrative shots, these players not only provided fans with additional value but also a took the Hawks to great lengths. Yet, here are five comprehensive lists for the five scores of all-time for the Hawk, each of whom contributed a great deal to the historic basis of the team.
1. Dominique Wilkins scored 23,292 points partially during the season 1993-1994.
Wilkins, simply, is Hawks basketball: His name synonymous with the franchise to the point that saying ‘Hawks basketball’ is saying Dominique Wilkins. Known as the “The Human Highlight Film,” Wilkins offered the fans his scoring ability, competitiveness and, most of all, aerial shenanigans. He is also the Atlanta Hawks all-time leading scorer for he netted 23,292 points in his stay at the team.
Wilkins was the leading player of Atlanta Hawks starting from the 1982 up to 1994 and he took a very crucial part in the Hawks successes of the eighties as well as early s of the nineties. Wilkins, the nine-time NBA All-Star and two-time Slam Dunk Contest champ, contributed far more beyond the basket. His great natural ability for movement and artistry that he brought into the game changed the entire league and today he is among legends of NBA.
During his twelve seasons with the Hawks, Wilkins has set the standard of excellence and service. He remained a star in Atlanta scoring more than 25 points per game in his years with the team which put him in the upper echelon of NBA players. His highest scoring season was the 1985-86 season where averaged 30.3 points which gave him the NBA scoring championship.
Besides numbers, Wilkins’ impact is in the area of social context or organizational culture and image of the team. Dominant scoring and his special propensity for shining in vital situations made him very popular among the fan base, whereas his commitment to the team might become an example of how the generations of the Hawks players have to behave.
2. Bob Pettit - 20,880 Points
It may hardly be — but, traditionally, neither is there a Hawks dynasty – before the arrival of the Cedrick ‘Cornbread’ Maxwell and before the arrival of Dominique Wilkins there was Bob Pettit, who starred for the St Louis/Atlanta Hawks. Suffice to say that Pettit can be placed among the greatest NBA forwards of all times alongside helping build the Hawks. The player has scored 20,880 points throughout his time with the Hawks, which places him second on the teams all time scoring list.
Pettit spent thirteen seasons with the Hawks starting from 1954 and up to 1965 and in his period he won among other things two NBA MVP titles and eleven times being an All-Star. If there was one thing that Cavaness lacked, it was a prolific scoring prowess and even in this aspect he was among the best in his generation, being among the league’s leading scorers season after season.
Pettit wasn’t that obtrusive gunner from the paint; he was also good rebounder, defensive player, and team captain. He would be responsible for clinching the only NBA Championship of Atlanta Hawks in 1958 and he is one of the few players to have scored 50 points in NBA Finals game.
Before the era of three point line and technical training Pettit was taking his team to victory with powerful mid range jumpers or fighting in the paint. His work laid strong base for the early accomplishments of the Hawks and now he is one of the most revered figures in the team’s history.
3. Lou Hudson - 16,049 Points
Lou hudson, Who earned the nickname when participating in the Hawks team is an elegance and efficiency in attack to the team during the season: 1966/1977. In overall, scoring has never been a problem for the Hawks; Hudson being the third in the history of the team’s all-time scorers with 16049 points accumulated over the years.
His primary skills included shooting when this was combined with successful dribbling to get to the paint, dribble and shoot as well as shooting from any range. This made him such a dangerous player as he could fit in any position for him making him one of the most lethal goal scorer in the league during his time. However, it was quite clear that no matter if he is launching threes or attempting shots at the rim, he actually does not have an issue scoring.
Hudson a six times NBA All star player found his prime during the franchise’s stability in its Atlanta location. I admire him for he used to score goals while leading his team to achieve playoffs in most of their playing seasons. Apart from that, there was a season in 1972-73 when his score pointed out sharp and it was 27.1 to indicate that indeed he was that player who can provide a worthy point for the team.
Hudson may not have been as acclaimed in the wider national arena as some of his comrades at the Hawks but he was instrumental in the team. This together with his scoring prowess and ice cold temperament on the basketball court put him down in the annals of franchise history.
4. Cliff Hagan - 13,447 Points
Joe, considered one of the very first true superstars of the Hawks, ranks fourth all time in scoring with 13,447 points. One could describe Hagan as the most consistent and trustworthy performer, who played a very important role for the Hawks during the fifties – sixties.
He played for the Hawks from 1956 to 1966, was NBA All-Star six times, and helped the Hawks win their only Championship in 1958. His downtown shooting along with his post play made him a consistent point scorer in the basket. Hagan’s hook shot was very effective and he made lots of attempts at the shot during his years in basketball.
The other factor in the game where Hagan was spectacular was on defense; Hagan was always assigned a daunting role of having to defend the opponent’s star player. That is why during his ten years in the Hawks, he was able to make a significant contribution to the game on both offences and defense.
5. John Drew - 12,621 Points
The last on the list is John Drew, who played for Hawks from season 1974/75 to 1982- scoring 12,621 points altogether. More often than not a team player, Drew spent majority of his playing years with the Hawks during the late seventies and early eighties.
Drew was a two times NBA All-Star who could shoot from everywhere on the court. These were in addition to his fantastic slashing ability right to the basket and his midrange shootery made him a constant scoring option. He was at his best performances averaging over 20 points per season which made one of the highest scorers of the franchise.
While enduring trials and tribulations off the basketball facility, Drew did adequately on the basketball floor for the Hawks to remember. His plus shooting skills, and especially in the fast break was giving him one of the best player in his era.
Conclusion
Historically the Hawks main stars have been Dominique Wilkins, Bob Pettit, Lou Hudson, Cliff Hagan and John Drew who have performed for this team across different eras of basketball. All these players contributed their individual skills when wearing the Hawks uniform therefore they left a great impact to this franchise.
From Wilkins fantastic dunks to Pettit’ inside performance, the said five players have been the backbone of Hawks in many seasons. They have left behind their achievements to encourage future generations of players by naming the Atlanta Hawks.
