The 2020–21 Atlanta Hawks season was the 72nd season of the franchise in the National Basketball Association (NBA) and the 53rd in Atlanta . On March 1, 2021, head coach Lloyd Pierce was fired after a 14–20 start[ 1] and replaced by Nate McMillan , who would serve out the remainder of the year as interim head coach. On May 12, the Hawks clinched their first playoff appearance since 2017 , ending their four-year playoff drought. On May 15, The Hawks clinched their first Southeast Division title since 2014–15 when the Miami Heat lost to the Milwaukee Bucks 122–108.
The Hawks surprised many on their playoff run as they went on to defeat the fourth seeded New York Knicks in five games in the first round.[ 2] Then in a major upset, the Hawks defeated the top seeded Philadelphia 76ers in seven games in the Eastern Conference Semi-finals; two of their victories involved coming back from large deficits. They advanced to the Eastern Conference finals for the first time since 2015.[ 3] However, their run would come to an end as they lost in six games to the eventual champion Milwaukee Bucks in the Eastern Conference finals, coached by former Hawks coach Mike Budenholzer , who had led them to the Eastern Conference finals in 2015.[ 4] The team is similar to the 1977–78 Seattle SuperSonics , as both teams struggled early on, made a coaching change, got a better record to surge up the standings, and had an unexpectedly deep playoff run.[ 5]
2020–21 Atlanta Hawks roster
Players
Coaches
Pos.
No.
Name
Height
Weight
DOB
From
G
13
Bogdanović, Bogdan
6 ft 6 in (1.98 m)
220 lb (100 kg)
1992-08-18
Serbia
C
15
Capela, Clint
6 ft 10 in (2.08 m)
240 lb (109 kg)
1994-05-18
Switzerland
F
20
Collins, John
6 ft 9 in (2.06 m)
235 lb (107 kg)
1997-09-23
Wake Forest
G
32
Dunn, Kris
6 ft 3 in (1.91 m)
205 lb (93 kg)
1994-03-18
Providence
F/C
24
Fernando, Bruno
6 ft 9 in (2.06 m)
240 lb (109 kg)
1998-08-15
Maryland
F
8
Gallinari, Danilo
6 ft 10 in (2.08 m)
233 lb (106 kg)
1988-08-08
Italy
G
0
Goodwin, Brandon
6 ft 0 in (1.83 m)
180 lb (82 kg)
1995-10-02
Florida Gulf Coast
F
18
Hill, Solomon
6 ft 6 in (1.98 m)
226 lb (103 kg)
1991-03-18
Arizona
G
3
Huerter, Kevin
6 ft 7 in (2.01 m)
190 lb (86 kg)
1998-08-27
Maryland
G/F
12
Hunter, De'Andre
6 ft 8 in (2.03 m)
225 lb (102 kg)
1997-12-02
Virginia
F/C
1
Knight, Nathan (TW)
6 ft 10 in (2.08 m)
253 lb (115 kg)
1997-09-20
William & Mary
G
4
Mays, Skylar (TW)
6 ft 4 in (1.93 m)
205 lb (93 kg)
1997-09-05
LSU
F/C
17
Okongwu, Onyeka
6 ft 10 in (2.08 m)
235 lb (107 kg)
2000-12-11
USC
G/F
22
Reddish, Cam
6 ft 8 in (2.03 m)
218 lb (99 kg)
1999-09-01
Duke
G
19
Snell, Tony
6 ft 6 in (1.98 m)
213 lb (97 kg)
1991-11-10
New Mexico
G
6
Williams, Lou
6 ft 1 in (1.85 m)
175 lb (79 kg)
1986-10-27
South Gwinnett HS (GA)
G
11
Young, Trae
6 ft 1 in (1.85 m)
180 lb (82 kg)
1998-09-19
Oklahoma
Head coach
Assistant coach(es)
Legend
(DP) Unsigned draft pick(FA) Free agent(S) Suspended(GL) On assignment to G League affiliate(TW) Two-way affiliate player Injured
Roster Last transaction: March 25, 2021
Notes
z – Clinched home court advantage for the entire playoffs
c – Clinched home court advantage for the conference playoffs
y – Clinched division title
x – Clinched playoff spot
pb – Clinched play-in spot
o – Eliminated from playoff contention
* – Division leader
2020 preseason game log Total: 2–2 (home: 1-1; road: 1-1)
Preseason: 2–2 (home: 1–1; road: 1–1)
2020–21 season schedule
2020–21 game log Total: 41–31 (home: 25–11; road: 16–20)
December: 3–1 (home: 1–0; road: 2–1)
January: 7–8 (home: 4–4; road: 3–4)
February: 4–11 (home: 3–5; road: 1–6)
Game
Date
Team
Score
High points
High rebounds
High assists
Location Attendance
Record
20
February 1
L. A. Lakers
L 99–107
Trae Young (25)
Clint Capela (13)
Trae Young (16)
State Farm Arena 1,341
10–10
21
February 3
Dallas
L 116–122
John Collins (35)
Clint Capela (13)
Kevin Huerter (10)
State Farm Arena 1,259
10–11
22
February 4
Utah
L 91–112
Kevin Huerter (16)
Clint Capela (17)
Rajon Rondo (8)
State Farm Arena 1,261
10–12
23
February 6
Toronto
W 132–121
Trae Young (28)
Clint Capela (16)
Trae Young (13)
State Farm Arena 991
11–12
24
February 10
Dallas
L 117–118
John Collins (33)
Collins , Huerter (8)
Trae Young (15)
American Airlines Center 1,000
11–13
25
February 12
San Antonio
L 114–125
Trae Young (25)
Clint Capela (11)
Kevin Huerter (4)
State Farm Arena 1,451
11–14
26
February 13
Indiana
L 113–125
Clint Capela (24)
Clint Capela (10)
Trae Young (14)
State Farm Arena 1,393
11–15
27
February 15
@ New York
L 112–123
Trae Young (23)
Clint Capela (18)
Trae Young (8)
Madison Square Garden 0
11–16
28
February 17
@ Boston
W 122–114
Trae Young (40)
Clint Capela (13)
Trae Young (8)
TD Garden 0
12–16
29
February 19
@ Boston
L 109–121
Trae Young (31)
Clint Capela (15)
Trae Young (11)
TD Garden 0
12–17
30
February 21
Denver
W 123–115
Trae Young (35)
John Collins (11)
Trae Young (15)
State Farm Arena 1,362
13–17
31
February 23
@ Cleveland
L 111–112
Trae Young (28)
Clint Capela (16)
Trae Young (12)
Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse 2,720
13–18
32
February 24
Boston
W 127–112
Danilo Gallinari (38)
John Collins (11)
Trae Young (7)
State Farm Arena 1,537
14–18
33
February 26
@ Oklahoma City
L 109–118
John Collins (25)
Clint Capela (21)
Trae Young (8)
Chesapeake Energy Arena 0
14–19
34
February 28
@ Miami
L 99–109
John Collins (34)
Clint Capela (14)
Trae Young (9)
American Airlines Arena Limited seating
14–20
March: 9–4 (home: 3–0; road: 6–4)
April: 11–6 (home: 7–2; road: 4–4)
Game
Date
Team
Score
High points
High rebounds
High assists
Location Attendance
Record
48
April 1
@ San Antonio
W 134–129
Trae Young (30)
Clint Capela (17)
Trae Young (12)
AT&T Center 2,949
24–24
49
April 2
@ New Orleans
W 126–103
Bogdan Bogdanović (26)
Clint Capela (10)
Bogdan Bogdanović (7)
Smoothie King Center 3,700
25–24
50
April 4
Golden State
W 117–111
Clint Capela (24)
Clint Capela (18)
Bogdan Bogdanović (5)
State Farm Arena 2,937
26–24
51
April 6
New Orleans
W 123–107
Trae Young (30)
Clint Capela (12)
Trae Young (12)
State Farm Arena 2,816
27–24
52
April 7
Memphis
L 113–131
Bogdan Bogdanović (24)
Onyeka Okongwu (11)
Trae Young (11)
State Farm Arena 2,774
27–25
53
April 9
Chicago
W 120–108
Trae Young (42)
Clint Capela (10)
Trae Young (9)
State Farm Arena 996
28–25
54
April 11
@ Charlotte
W 105–101
Bogdan Bogdanović (32)
Clint Capela (15)
Brandon Goodwin (8)
Spectrum Center 4,148
29–25
55
April 13
@ Toronto
W 108–103
Brandon Goodwin (23)
Clint Capela (21)
Lou Williams (5)
Amalie Arena 1,427
30–25
56
April 15
Milwaukee
L 109–120
Bogdan Bogdanović (28)
Clint Capela (16)
Trae Young (9)
State Farm Arena Limited seating
30–26
57
April 18
Indiana
W 129–117
Trae Young (34)
Clint Capela (24)
Trae Young (11)
State Farm Arena Limited seating
31–26
58
April 20
Orlando
W 112–96
Trae Young (25)
Clint Capela (19)
Trae Young (7)
State Farm Arena 2,219
32–26
59
April 21
@ New York
L 127–137
Clint Capela (25)
Clint Capela (22)
Trae Young (14)
Madison Square Garden 1,981
32–27
60
April 23
Miami
W 118–103
Bogdan Bogdanović (21)
John Collins (8)
Bogdan Bogdanović (8)
State Farm Arena 2,985
33–27
61
April 25
Milwaukee
W 111–104
Bogdan Bogdanović (32)
Clint Capela (14)
Lou Williams (6)
State Farm Arena 3,010
34–27
62
April 26
@ Detroit
L 86–100
Bogdan Bogdanović (17)
Clint Capela (15)
Brandon Goodwin (7)
Little Caesars Arena 750
34–28
63
April 28
@ Philadelphia
L 83–127
John Collins (21)
Capela , Williams (8)
Lou Williams (5)
Wells Fargo Center 4,094
34–29
64
April 30
@ Philadelphia
L 104–126
Trae Young (32)
Clint Capela (15)
Trae Young (4)
Wells Fargo Center 4,094
34–30
May: 7–1 (home: 7–0; road: 0–1)
2020–21 season schedule
2021 playoff game log Total: 10–8 (home: 4–4; road: 6–4)
First Round: 4–1 (home: 2–0; road: 2–1)
Game
Date
Team
Score
High points
High rebounds
High assists
Location Attendance
Series
1
May 23
@ New York
W 107–105 (OT)
Trae Young (32)
Clint Capela (13)
Trae Young (10)
Madison Square Garden 15,047
1–0
2
May 26
@ New York
L 92–101
Trae Young (30)
Clint Capela (12)
Trae Young (7)
Madison Square Garden 16,254
1–1
3
May 28
New York
W 105–94
Trae Young (21)
Clint Capela (12)
Trae Young (14)
State Farm Arena 15,743
2–1
4
May 30
New York
W 113–96
Trae Young (27)
Clint Capela (15)
Trae Young (9)
State Farm Arena 16,548
3–1
5
June 2
@ New York
W 103–89
Trae Young (36)
Clint Capela (15)
Trae Young (9)
Madison Square Garden 16,512
4–1
Conference semifinals: 4–3 (home: 1–2; road: 3–1)
Game
Date
Team
Score
High points
High rebounds
High assists
Location Attendance
Series
1
June 6
@ Philadelphia
W 128–124
Trae Young (35)
Clint Capela (10)
Trae Young (10)
Wells Fargo Center 18,624
1–0
2
June 8
@ Philadelphia
L 102–118
Gallinari , Young (21)
John Collins (10)
Trae Young (11)
Wells Fargo Center 18,624
1–1
3
June 11
Philadelphia
L 111–127
Trae Young (28)
Clint Capela (16)
Trae Young (8)
State Farm Arena 16,432
1–2
4
June 14
Philadelphia
W 103–100
Trae Young (25)
Clint Capela (13)
Trae Young (18)
State Farm Arena 16,502
2–2
5
June 16
@ Philadelphia
W 109–106
Trae Young (39)
John Collins (11)
Trae Young (7)
Wells Fargo Center 18,624
3–2
6
June 18
Philadelphia
L 99–104
Trae Young (34)
Capela, Huerter (11)
Trae Young (12)
State Farm Arena 16,610
3–3
7
June 20
@ Philadelphia
W 103–96
Kevin Huerter (27)
John Collins (16)
Trae Young (10)
Wells Fargo Center 18,624
4–3
Conference finals: 2–4 (home: 1–2; road: 1–2)
2021 playoff schedule
† Denotes player spent time with another team in the season. Stats reflect time with the Hawks only.
^ 2025 second round draft pick to Oklahoma City.
Atlanta's 2025 2nd round pick to Oklahoma City protected for selections 31-55 (if this pick falls within its protected range and is therefore not conveyed, then Atlanta's obligation to Oklahoma City will be extinguished) [Atlanta-Oklahoma City, 11/24/2020]
^ "Lloyd Pierce Relieved of Head Coaching Duties" . NBA.com . March 1, 2021. Retrieved March 1, 2021 .
^ The Athletic Staff. "NBA Playoffs: Hawks beat Knicks in Game 5, advance to play 76ers" . The Athletic . Retrieved July 4, 2021 .
^ Polacek, Scott. "Trae Young, Kevin Huerter, Hawks Edge Joel Embiid, 76ers in Game 7; Will Face Bucks" . Bleacher Report . Retrieved June 21, 2021 .
^ "Middleton lifts Bucks past Hawks, into NBA Finals" . ESPN.com . July 4, 2021. Retrieved July 4, 2021 .
^ "Former Sonics coach Nate McMillan had great success in Seattle. What he's doing now with Atlanta might be his finest work yet" . seattletimes.com . June 21, 2021. Retrieved September 4, 2021 .
^ "Hawks-Suns game postponed for Health and Safety Protocols" . NBA.com . January 14, 2021. Retrieved January 18, 2021 .
^ "Hawks trade Dewayne Dedmon to Pistons for Tony Snell" . NBA.com . November 19, 2020. Retrieved November 19, 2020 .
^ "Atlanta Hawks Acquire Forward Danilo Gallinari" . NBA.com . November 24, 2020. Retrieved November 24, 2020 .
^ "Atlanta Hawks Acquire Veteran Lou Williams From LA Clippers" . NBA.com . March 26, 2021. Retrieved March 26, 2021 .
^ "Hawks reportedly agree to Two-Way contract with Nathan Knight" . November 19, 2020. Retrieved November 19, 2020 .
^ "Danilo Gallinari to sign with Atlanta Hawks" . NBA.com . November 20, 2020. Retrieved November 20, 2020 .
^ "Kris Dunn agrees to 2-year, $10M deal with Atlanta Hawks" . November 21, 2020. Retrieved November 21, 2020 .
^ "Rajon Rondo thanks Los Angeles Lakers, reaches 2-year deal with Atlanta Hawks" . November 21, 2020. Retrieved November 21, 2020 .
^ "Hill heads to Hawks" . NBA.com . November 23, 2020. Retrieved November 23, 2020 .
^ "Atlanta Hawks sign Bogdan Bogdanovic as Sacramento Kings decline to match offer play" . November 24, 2020. Retrieved November 24, 2020 .
^ "Vince Carter announces his retirement from NBA after 22 seasons" . NBA.com . June 25, 2020. Retrieved November 19, 2020 .
^ "Atlanta Hawks Acquire Tony Snell from Detroit Pistons" . NBA.com . November 20, 2020. Retrieved November 20, 2020 .
^ "Who is DeAndre' Bembry?" . November 22, 2020. Retrieved November 24, 2020 .
^ "Suns agree to 2-year deal with C Damian Jones" . November 22, 2020. Retrieved November 22, 2020 .
^ "C's to sign Jeff Teague on one-year deal" . November 21, 2020. Retrieved November 21, 2020 .