The Atlanta Hawks have a rich history dating back to 1946 when they were founded as the Buffalo Bisons. Over the next couple of decades, the franchise underwent several relocations, including Moline, Illinois and Milwaukee, before finally settling in St. Louis as the St. Louis Hawks (1955-1968). Then in 1968, the franchise found its permanent home in Atlanta.
Throughout their existence, the Hawks have consistently been competitive in the NBA, making playoffs appearances in every decade. However, it was during the 1980s and 1990s that the Hawks truly flourished, with "The Human Highlight Film" Dominique Wilkins becoming the face of the franchise. Presently, the Hawks play their home games at the State Farm Arena in Atlanta and are owned by Steve Koonin, CEO of State Farm Bank. Their mascot, “Harry the Hawk” is one of the most beloved mascots in the NBA, bringing boundless energy and impressive dance skills to every home game.
In recent seasons, the Hawks have experienced success led by Trae Young and Jalen Johsnson.
How many NBA championships have the Atlanta Hawks won?
The Atlanta Hawks have won one NBA championship in franchise history. However, this title was not won during their time in Atlanta. When the franchise was located in St. Louis, they won the NBA championship in 1958.
After winning the championship as St. Louis Hawks, the franchise was relocated to Atlanta in 1968, but the championship won by the St. Louis Hawks is officially recognized as part of the Atlanta Hawks' history by the NBA. Therefore, the 1958 NBA title remains the only championship won by the Hawks franchise.
Atlanta Hawks NBA Finals Appearance History
The Atlanta Hawks have made four appearances in the NBA Finals in their franchise history. Their first NBA Finals appearance was in 1957. During the 1956-1957 NBA season when they were known as the St. Louis Hawks, and were led by superstar power forward Bob Pettit.
At first, the Hawks faced a challenging start to the season under coach Red Holzman but soon, they underwent a complete transformation under coach Alex Hannum, who led them to the 1957 Finals. However, the St. Louis Hawks were ultimately defeated by the Boston Celtics in a grueling seven-game series.
The following year in 1958, the Hawks returned to the NBA Finals once again, and this time they were better prepared for the Celtics. They emerged victorious, winning the NBA championship title with an iconic 50-point performance from Bob Pettit in a decisive game.
With Pettit in the form of his life, the Hawks again made it back to the NBA Finals in both 1960 and 1961. However, the domination of the Boston Celtics dynasty had begun. The Celtics crushed the Hawks’ resistance once again in the 1960 Finals in seven games, and then in 1961, they beat them again, this time in just five games. The Hawks’ overall Finals record stands at 1-3, with each Finals series being contested against their arch-rivals, the Boston Celtics.
Year | Head Coach | Against | Venue | Result |
1957 | Alex Hannum | Boston Celtics | Boston Garden | Hawks lost 3-4 |
1958 | Alex Hannum | Boston Celtics | Kiel Auditorium (St. Louis, Missouri) | Hawks won 4-2 |
1960 | Ed Macauley | Boston Celtics | Boston Garden | Hawks lost 3-4 |
1961 | Ed Macauley | Boston Celtics | Boston Garden | Hawks lost 1-4 |
What teams did the Atlanta Hawks lose the NBA Finals against?
The Atlanta Hawks have lost three NBA Finals (1957, 1960 and 1961), all against the Boston Celtics. Since 1961, the Atlanta Hawks have not made another appearance in the NBA Finals. It's worth noting that since relocating to Atlanta in 1968, the Hawks have never made it to the NBA Finals.
Atlanta Hawks Last NBA Finals Appearance
The Atlanta Hawks last NBA Finals appearance was in 1961. This was yet another battle against their rivals Boston Celtics, but the Atlanta Hawks failed to win the series.
The 1961 NBA Finals were over in five games as the star-studded Boston Celtics team starring Bob Cousy, Bill Russell, Sam Jones and K.C. Jones crushed the Hawks in five games.
FAQs on Atlanta Hawks Finals Appearances
A. The Atlanta Hawks, formerly known as St. Louis Hawks, played in the four NBA Finals — 1957, 1958, 1960 and 1961.
A. The Atlanta Hawks, formerly known as St. Louis Hawks, won the NBA Finals once in 1958.
A. The Atlanta Hawks have one NBA championship. The Hawks won the NBA title in 1958 as the St. Louis Hawks.
A. The star players on the Hawks in 1958 NBA finals included Bob Pettit, Cliff Hagan, and Slater Martin.
A. As of March 2024, there are five NBA franchises that have never made it to the NBA Finals — the LA Clippers, Charlotte Hornets, Memphis Grizzlies, Minnesota Timberwolves and the New Orleans Pelicans.
