1998–99 Atlanta Hawks season

NBA professional basketball team season August 2023 March 2026 Atlanta Hawks 1999 31 19 Central 2 4th Lenny Wilkens Georgia DomeAlexander Memorial Coliseum WATLFox Sports South(Bob Rathbun, Mike Glenn) WCNN East Conference Semi-finals(lost to Knicks 0–4) ATL The 1998–99 Atlanta Hawks season was the 50th season for the Atlanta Hawks in the National Basketball Association, and their 31st season in Atlanta, Georgia. Atlanta Hawks Basketball-Reference https://www.basketball-reference.com/teams/ATL/ August 6, 2026 Due to a lockout, the regular season began on February 5, 1999, and was cut from 82 games to 50. CBS News.com Staff NBA: Let The Games Begin! CBS News January 6, 1999 https://www.cbsnews.com/news/nba-let-the-games-begin/ December 15, 2022 Season summary Off-season For the second consecutive season, the Hawks continued to split their home games between the Georgia Dome, and the Alexander Memorial Coliseum. Headliners Orlando Sentinel February 20, 1999 https://www.orlandosentinel.com/1999/02/20/headliners-496/ April 9, 2024 During the off-season, the team signed free agents LaPhonso Ellis, Jorgensen Loren Fans Enjoy Scrimmage, Jazz Win That One, But Pursuit of LaPhonso Ellis Is Still Up in Air Deseret News January 26, 1999 https://www.deseret.com/1999/1/26/19427148/fans-enjoy-scrimmage-br-jazz-win-that-one-but-pursuit-of-laphonso-ellis-is-still-up-in-air October 18, 2022 Hawks to Sign LaPhonso Ellis United Press International January 30, 1999 https://www.upi.com/Archives/1999/01/30/Hawks-to-sign-LaPhonso-Ellis/6747917672400/ October 14, 2021 Associated Press Ellis Leaves Jazz to Sign With Hawks The Item January 31, 1999 6B https://books.google.com/books?id=FVYlAAAAIBAJ&dq=1999+atlanta+hawks+signed+forward+LaPhonso+ellis&pg=PA11&article_id=6767,6936205 November 1, 2024 second-year guard Anthony Johnson and re-signed former Hawks forward Grant Long; Broussard Chris N.B.A.: Notebook -- Nets: Gatling Finds a Way to Add to Points Total The New York Times February 2, 1999 https://www.nytimes.com/1999/02/02/sports/nba-notebook-nets-gatling-finds-a-way-to-add-to-points-total.html July 19, 2021 Pro Basketball The Free Lance-Star February 2, 1999 B4 https://books.google.com/books?id=2wMzAAAAIBAJ&dq=1999+atlanta+hawks+signed+forward+grant+long&pg=PA7&article_id=6529,199356 November 3, 2024 Wise Mike Pro Basketball: A Scrum for the Title The New York Times February 4, 1999 https://www.nytimes.com/1999/02/04/sports/pro-basketball-a-scrum-for-the-title.html June 28, 2022 Ellis would reunite with his former teammate of the Denver Nuggets, 3-time Defensive Player of the Year Dikembe Mutombo. Regular season With the addition of Ellis and Long, the Hawks got off to a 6–3 start to the regular season, but then lost six of their next nine games, falling to .500 in winning percentage with a 9–9 start to the season. Ellis suffered a hernia injury after 20 games, and was out for the remainder of the season; Associated Press Hawks' Ellis Out for Year CBS News April 6, 1999 https://www.cbsnews.com/news/hawks-ellis-out-for-year/ July 21, 2021 Associated Press Celtic Great Russell Heads Back to Boston; Hernia Fells LaPhonso for the Rest of the Season Deseret News April 8, 1999 https://www.deseret.com/1999/4/8/19438906/celtic-great-russell-heads-back-to-boston-br-hernia-fells-laphonso-for-the-rest-of-the-season October 3, 2022 he was replaced with second-year forward Chris Crawford as the team's starting small forward. However, after holding a 22–17 record as of April 13, 1999, the team posted a seven-game winning streak during that month, and won nine of their final eleven games of the season. The Hawks finished in second place in the Central Division with a 31–19 record, and earned the fourth seed in the Eastern Conference; 1998–99 Atlanta Hawks Schedule and Results Basketball-Reference https://www.basketball-reference.com/teams/ATL/1999_games.html June 21, 2021 the team qualified for the NBA playoffs for the seventh consecutive year. Steve Smith led the Hawks in scoring with 18.7 points per game, while Mookie Blaylock averaged 13.3 points, 5.8 assists and 2.1 steals per game, and led the team with 77 three-point field goals, but only shot .379 in field-goal percentage, and Alan Henderson provided the team with 12.5 points and 6.6 rebounds per game. In addition, Mutombo provided with 10.8 points, 12.2 rebounds and 2.9 blocks per game, while Ellis contributed 10.2 points and 5.5 rebounds. Off the bench, Long played a sixth man role, averaging 9.8 points and 5.9 rebounds per game, while Corbin contributed 7.5 points per game, Crawford, the team's starting small forward, averaged 6.9 points per game, and Johnson provided with 5.0 points and 2.2 assists per game. 1998–99 Atlanta Hawks Roster and Stats Basketball-Reference https://www.basketball-reference.com/teams/ATL/1999.html June 21, 2021 Mutombo and Blaylock were both named to the NBA All-Defensive Second Team, while Mutombo also finished in second place in Defensive Player of the Year voting, behind his former Georgetown University teammate, Alonzo Mourning of the Miami Heat; Around the NBA Los Angeles Times May 20, 1999 https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1999-may-20-sp-39226-story.html September 30, 2022 1998–99 NBA Awards Voting Basketball-Reference https://www.basketball-reference.com/awards/awards_1999.html January 2, 2022 Smith finished tied in 16th place in Most Valuable Player voting, and head coach Lenny Wilkens finished tied in eighth place in Coach of the Year voting. The Hawks finished 27th in the NBA in home-game attendance, with an attendance of 331,831 at the Georgia Dome, and the Alexander Memorial Coliseum during the regular season, which was the third-lowest in the league. 1998–99 NBA Season Summary Basketball-Reference https://www.basketball-reference.com/leagues/NBA_1999.html December 12, 2024 NBA playoffs In the Eastern Conference First Round of the 1999 NBA playoffs, the Hawks faced off against the 5th–seeded Detroit Pistons, who were led by All-Star forward Grant Hill, sixth man Jerry Stackhouse, and Lindsey Hunter. Despite losing Henderson to an eye injury in Game 1, and losing Crawford to a shoulder injury in Game 2, Associated Press Hawks Fly Past Broken Pistons CBS News May 10, 1999 https://www.cbsnews.com/news/hawks-fly-past-broken-pistons/#app October 6, 2022 Associated Press Hawks' Mutombo Guarantees Win Over Pistons in Game 5 Deseret News May 16, 1999 https://www.deseret.com/1999/5/16/19445773/hawks-mutombo-guarantees-win-over-pistons-in-game-5 October 6, 2022 the Hawks won the first two games over the Pistons at home at the Georgia Dome, and took a 2–0 series lead. However, the team lost the next two games on the road, which included a Game 4 loss to the Pistons at The Palace of Auburn Hills, 103–82. Pistons, Dumars Extend Series  Tampa Bay Times  May 15, 1999  https://www.tampabay.com/archive/1999/05/15/pistons-dumars-extend-series/ June 9, 2026 1999 NBA Eastern Conference First Round Game 4: Atlanta Hawks at Detroit Pistons Box Score, May 14, 1999 Basketball-Reference https://www.basketball-reference.com/boxscores/199905140DET.html June 7, 2026 With the series tied at 2–2, the Hawks won Game 5 over the Pistons at home, 87–75 at the Alexander Memorial Coliseum to win in a hard-fought five-game series; Game 5 of the series was played at the Alexander Memorial Coliseum, because the Georgia Dome was booked for a concert. Associated Press N.B.A. Playoffs: Hawks' Long Haunts His Former Teammates The New York Times May 17, 1999 https://www.nytimes.com/1999/05/17/sports/nba-playoffs-hawks-long-haunts-his-former-teammates.html July 14, 2021 Newberry Paul The Other Grant Sends Pistons Out of Playoffs The Washington Post May 16, 1999 https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/sports/nba/longterm/1999/playoffs/atldet17.htm June 3, 2022 1999 NBA Eastern Conference First Round: Pistons vs. Hawks Basketball-Reference https://www.basketball-reference.com/playoffs/1999-nba-eastern-conference-first-round-pistons-vs-hawks.html February 9, 2023 In the Eastern Conference Semi-finals, the team faced off against the 8th–seeded New York Knicks, a team that featured All-Star center Patrick Ewing, Allan Houston, and sixth man Latrell Sprewell. Despite having home-court advantage in the series, the Hawks lost the first two games to the Knicks at the Georgia Dome, before losing the next two games on the road, including a Game 4 loss to the Knicks at Madison Square Garden, 79–66, thus losing the series in a four-game sweep; the Hawks struggled only shooting .316 in field-goal percentage during the series. Roberts Selena N.B.A. Playoffs: Knicks Put the Hawks Away and Breeze to Eastern Finals The New York Times May 25, 1999 https://www.nytimes.com/1999/05/25/sports/nba-playoffs-knicks-put-the-hawks-away-and-breeze-to-eastern-finals.html July 28, 2017 Wilbon Michael Knicks Beat Hawks, 79-66, to Sweep Series The Washington Post May 25, 1999 https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/sports/nba/longterm/1999/playoffs/knicks25.htm May 29, 2022 1999 NBA Eastern Conference Semifinals: Knicks vs. Hawks Basketball-Reference https://www.basketball-reference.com/playoffs/1999-nba-eastern-conference-semifinals-knicks-vs-hawks.html February 9, 2023 The Knicks would become the first #8 seed to advance to the NBA Finals, but would lose to the San Antonio Spurs in five games in the 1999 NBA Finals. Roberts Selena Spurs Win Title as Knicks' Dream Ends The New York Times June 26, 1999 https://archive.nytimes.com/www.nytimes.com/library/sports/basketball/062699bkn-knicks.html May 30, 2022 Kawakami Tim Spurs Tower Over NBA Los Angeles Times June 26, 1999 https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1999-jun-26-sp-50369-story.html July 25, 2022 1999 NBA Finals: Knicks vs. Spurs Basketball-Reference https://www.basketball-reference.com/playoffs/1999-nba-finals-knicks-vs-spurs.html February 9, 2023 This season would also be the last time that the Hawks appeared in the NBA playoffs until the 2007–08 season, as what would follow was an eight-year playoff drought. Aftermath Following the season, Smith and second-year guard Ed Gray were both traded to the Portland Trail Blazers, Associated Press Hawks, Blazers to Make 4-Player Deal Deseret News July 31, 1999 https://www.deseret.com/1999/7/31/19458357/hawks-blazers-to-make-4-player-deal November 30, 2022 Associated Press Smith to Blazers in Mega Trade CBS News August 2, 1999 http://www.cbsnews.com/news/smith-to-blazers-in-mega-trade/ March 2, 2017 Wise Mike Pro Basketball: Trading Begins in the N.B.A. Bazaar The New York Times August 3, 1999 https://www.nytimes.com/1999/08/03/sports/pro-basketball-trading-begins-in-the-nba-bazaar.html July 10, 2022 while Blaylock was traded to the Golden State Warriors after seven seasons with the Hawks, Wise Mike Pro Basketball: Teams Find Lean Pickings in the Draft The New York Times June 30, 1999 https://www.nytimes.com/1999/06/30/sports/pro-basketball-teams-find-lean-pickings-in-the-draft.html July 13, 2022 Staff and Wire Reports Aging Hawks Trade Blaylock to Warriors to Move to No. 10 Los Angeles Times June 30, 1999 https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1999-jun-30-sp-51730-story.html November 30, 2022 Associated Press Hawks Shake Up NBA Draft with Blaylock Trade Deseret News June 30, 1999 https://www.deseret.com/platform/amp/1999/6/30/19453256/hawks-shake-up-nba-draft-with-blaylock-trade July 21, 2021 Long signed as a free agent with the Vancouver Grizzlies, Associated Press Grizzlies Sign Veteran Long CBS News September 16, 1999 https://www.cbsnews.com/news/grizzlies-sign-veteran-long/ October 25, 2022 Wise Mike 1999–2000 N.B.A. Preview: The West Is Still the Best The New York Times October 31, 1999 https://www.nytimes.com/1999/10/31/sports/1999-2000-nba-preview-the-west-is-still-the-best.html June 8, 2022 and Tyrone Corbin re-signed with the Sacramento Kings. Basketball Briefs Deseret News October 3, 1999 https://www.deseret.com/1999/10/3/19468754/basketball-briefs November 17, 2022 Offseason Draft picks 1998 NBA draft Round Pick Player Position Nationality College 1 20 Roshown McLeod SF Duke 2 49 Cory Carr SG Texas Tech Roster Atlanta Hawks 1998–99 #B50000 #FFFFFF #000000 #FFFFFF 10 Mookie Blaylock G 6 0 180 1967–03–20 Oklahoma 33 Tyrone Corbin G/F 6 6 210 1962–12–31 DePaul 4 Chris Crawford basketball, born 1975 F 6 9 235 1975–05–13 Marquette 20 LaPhonso Ellis F 6 8 240 1970–05–05 Notre Dame yes 22 Ed Gray G 6 3 210 1975–09–27 California 44 Alan Henderson F 6 9 235 1972–12–02 Indiana yes 24 Anthony Johnson basketball G 6 3 190 1974–10–02 Charleston 43 Grant Long F 6 8 225 1966–03–12 Eastern Michigan 7 Roshown McLeod F 6 8 221 1975–11–17 Duke 55 Dikembe Mutombo C 7 2 260 1966–06–25 Georgetown 15 Jeff Sheppard G 6 3 190 1974–09–29 Kentucky 8 Steve Smith basketball G 6 8 200 1969–03–31 Michigan State 41 Mark West basketball C 6 10 230 1960–11–05 Old Dominion Lenny Wilkens Stan Albeck Phil Hubbard Gary Wortman https://www.basketball-reference.com/teams/ATL/1999.html Regular season Season standings ATL ATL z - clinched division title y - clinched division title x - clinched playoff spot Game log Atlanta Hawks 1999 #C03 #FFFFFF Atlanta Hawks February no yes #000000 #B86D29 |- align="center" bgcolor="ffbbbb" |- || || || || || || |- Atlanta Hawks March no #000000 #B86D29 |- align="center" bgcolor="ffbbbb" |- || || || || || || |- Atlanta Hawks April no #000000 #B86D29 |- align="center" bgcolor="ffbbbb" |- || || || || || || |- Atlanta Hawks May no #000000 #B86D29 |- align="center" bgcolor="ffbbbb" |- || || || || || || |- ATL 1999 Playoffs Atlanta Hawks 1999 yes #C03 #FFFFFF Atlanta Hawks First round yes no yes #000000 #B86D29 3 0 0 2 |- | 1 | May 8 | Detroit | W 90–70 | Steve Smith (19) | Dikembe Mutombo (19) | Mookie Blaylock (7) | Georgia Dome20,884 | 1–0 |- | 2 | May 10 | Detroit | W 89–69 | Dikembe Mutombo (28) | Dikembe Mutombo (13) | Mookie Blaylock (6) | Georgia Dome16,377 | 2–0 |- | 3 | May 12 | @ Detroit | L 63–79 | Tyrone Corbin (16) | Dikembe Mutombo (10) | Mookie Blaylock (5) | The Palace of Auburn Hills14,812 | 2–1 |- | 4 | May 14 | @ Detroit | L 82–103 | Steve Smith (21) | Dikembe Mutombo (8) | Corbin, Johnson (4) | The Palace of Auburn Hills16,216 | 2–2 |- | 5 | May 16 | Detroit | W 87–75 | Grant Long (26) | Dikembe Mutombo (18) | Blaylock, Smith (6) | Alexander Memorial Coliseum8,460 | 3–2 |- Atlanta Hawks Conference Semi-finals no yes #000000 #B86D29 0 2 0 2 |- | 1 | May 18 | New York | L 92–100 | Chris Crawford (26) | Dikembe Mutombo (13) | Mookie Blaylock (4) | Georgia Dome18,513 | 0–1 |- | 2 | May 20 | New York | L 70–77 | Mookie Blaylock (17) | Dikembe Mutombo (17) | Steve Smith (2) | Georgia Dome22,558 | 0–2 |- | 3 | May 23 | @ New York | L 78–90 | Long, Smith (17) | Dikembe Mutombo (16) | Mookie Blaylock (3) | Madison Square Garden19,763 | 0–3 |- | 4 | May 24 | @ New York | L 66–79 | Steve Smith (14) | Long, Mutombo (11) | three players tied (3) | Madison Square Garden19,763 | 0–4 |- ATL 1999 yes Player statistics Season PlayerGPGSMPGFG%3P%FT%RPGAPGSPGBPGPPG Blaylock, Mookie Mookie Blaylock 48 48 36.7 .379 .307 .758 4.7 5.8 2.1 .2 13.3 Corbin, Tyrone Tyrone Corbin 47 6 22.7 .391 .319 .650 3.1 0.9 0.7 .1 7.5 Crawford, Chris Chris Crawford 42 30 18.7 .431 .333 .814 2.1 .6 .2 .3 6.9 Ellis, LaPhonso LaPhonso Ellis 20 20 27.0 .421 .200 .705 5.5 .9 .4 .4 10.2 Gray, Ed Ed Gray 30 3 11.2 .291 .286 .757 .9 .4 .4 . 4.9 Henderson, Alan Alan Henderson 38 37 30.1 .442 .000 .671 6.6 .7 .9 .5 12.5 Johnson, Anthony Anthony Johnson 49 2 18.1 .404 .263 .695 1.5 2.2 .7 .1 5.0 Long, Grant Grant Long 50 13 27.6 .421 .167 .783 5.9 1.1 1.1 .3 9.8 McLeod, Roshown Roshown McLeod 34 0 10.2 .380 .100 .822 1.5 .4 .1 . 4.8 Mutombo, Dikembe Dikembe Mutombo 50 50 36.6 .512 . .684 12.2 1.1 .3 2.9 10.8 Sheppard, Jeff Jeff Sheppard 18 5 10.3 .385 .286 .615 1.2 .9 .2 . 2.2 Smith, Steve Steve Smith 36 36 36.5 .402 .338 .849 4.2 3.3 1.0 .3 18.7 West, Mark Mark West 49 0 10.2 .373 . .356 2.6 .3 .1 .4 1.2 Williams, Shammond Shammond Williams 2 0 2.0 .000 . .750 . .5 . . 1.5 Playoffs PlayerGPGSMPGFG%3P%FT%RPGAPGSPGBPGPPG Blaylock, Mookie Mookie Blaylock 9 9 39.8 .326 .353 .467 4.0 4.0 2.0 0.212.6 Corbin, Tyrone Tyrone Corbin 9 4 29.8 .417 .261 .750 3.7 1.8 0.7 0.07.7 Crawford, Chris Chris Crawford 6 5 20.8 .333 .286 .885 3.2 0.8 0.2 0.29.8 Gray, Ed Ed Gray 8 0 8.9 .366 .364 .909 1.1 0.5 0.8 0.15.5 Henderson, Alan Alan Henderson 1 0 4.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.00.0 Johnson, Anthony Anthony Johnson 9 0 12.3 .276 .500 .700 1.0 1.1 0.1 0.12.7 Long, Grant Grant Long 9 9 39.8 .409 .250 .727 8.2 0.9 2.0 0.411.7 McLeod, Roshown Roshown McLeod 6 0 8.2 .524 1.000 0.5 0.2 0.2 0.24.3 Mutombo, Dikembe Dikembe Mutombo 9 9 42.2 .563 .702 13.9 1.2 0.6 2.612.6 Sheppard, Jeff Jeff Sheppard 4 0 3.0 .000 0.5 0.5 0.3 0.0 0.0 Smith, Steve Steve Smith 9 9 39.6 .353 .273 .907 3.4 3.3 1.6 0.217.3 West, Mark Mark West 9 0 7.6 .300 .500 1.0 0.2 0.2 0.10.9 Player statistics citation: Awards and records Mookie Blaylock, NBA All-Defensive Second Team Dikembe Mutombo, NBA All-Defensive Second Team Transactions Trades June 24, 1998 Traded Cory Carr, a 1999 second round draft pick and a 2000 second round draft pick to the Chicago Bulls for Shammond Williams. January 22, 1999 Traded Christian Laettner to the Detroit Pistons for Scot Pollard and a 1999 first round draft pick. Free agents January 21, 1999 Signed Jeff Sheppard as a free agent. Signed Anthony Johnson as a free agent. Signed Mark West as a free agent. January 30, 1999 Signed LaPhonso Ellis as a free agent. February 1, 1999 Signed Grant Long as a free agent. February 16, 1999 Waived Jeff Sheppard. February 19, 1999 Waived Scot Pollard. Waived Shammond Williams. February 22, 1999 Signed Jeff Sheppard as a free agent. March 4, 1999 Waived Jeff Sheppard. March 19, 1999 Signed Jeff Sheppard to the first of two 10-day contracts. April 8, 1999 Signed Jeff Sheppard to a contract for the rest of the season. Player transactions citation: 1998–99 Atlanta Hawks Transactions Basketball-Reference https://www.basketball-reference.com/teams/ATL/1999_transactions.html July 2, 2021 See also 1998-99 NBA season References Category:Atlanta Hawks seasons Atlanta Hawks Atlanta Hawks Atlanta Hawks