1997–98 Atlanta Hawks season


The 1997–98 NBA season was the Hawks' 49th season in the National Basketball Association, and 30th season in Atlanta. Due to the demolition of The Omni, the Hawks played their home games at the Georgia Dome, and their original home from 1968 to 1972, the Alexander Memorial Coliseum. The Hawks got off to a fast start winning their first eleven games, but later on struggled posting a 7-game losing streak between December and January. They finished fourth in the Central Division with a solid 50–32 record. Dikembe Mutombo and Steve Smith were both selected for the 1998 NBA All-Star Game. Mutombo was also named Defensive Player of the Year for the second consecutive time, while forward Alan Henderson won the Most Improved Player of The Year award. However, in the first round of the playoffs, the Hawks lost in four games to the Charlotte Hornets.
On March 27, 1998, the Hawks set a single game regular season attendance record of 62,046 fans in a game against the Chicago Bulls at the Georgia Dome. However, they lost 89–74. Following the season, Christian Laettner was traded to the Detroit Pistons, and Eldridge Recasner signed as a free agent with the Charlotte Hornets.

Offseason

Draft picks

RoundPickPlayerPositionNationalityCollege
122Ed GraySGUnited StatesCalifornia
249Alain DigbeuSG/SFFrance
250Chris CrawfordSFUnited StatesMarquette

Roster

Regular season

Season standings

Record vs. opponents

Game log

19–12

Playoffs

East first round

Charlotte Hornets vs. Atlanta Hawks
Last playoff meeting: This was the first meeting between the Hornets and Hawks.

Player statistics

Season

Playoffs

Awards and records

Trades

September 29, 1997
September 26, 1997
October 2, 1997
October 8, 1997
October 10, 1997
October 19, 1997
November 7, 1997
November 20, 1997
December 9, 1997
January 10, 1998
January 20, 1998
February 11, 1998
February 13, 1998
February 15, 1998
February 17, 1998