1998–99 Atlanta Hawks season

{{short description|NBA professional basketball team season}}

{{Use mdy dates|date=August 2023}}

{{NBA season

| team = Atlanta Hawks

| end_year = 1999

| wins = 31

| losses = 19

| division = Central

| division_place = 2

| conf_place = 4th

| coach = Lenny Wilkens

| arena = Georgia Dome, McCamish Pavilion

| television = WATL
Fox Sports South
(Bob Rathbun, Mike Glenn)

| radio = WCNN

| playoffs = East Conference Semi-finals
(Eliminated 0-4)

| bbr_team = ATL

}}

The 1998–99 NBA season was the Hawks' 50th season in the National Basketball Association, and 31st season in Atlanta.[https://www.basketball-reference.com/teams/ATL/1999.html 1998-99 Atlanta Hawks] Due to a lockout, the regular season began on February 5, 1999, and was cut from 82 games to 50.{{cite news | agency = CBS News.com Staff | title = NBA: Let The Games Begin! | work = CBS News | date = January 6, 1999 | url = https://www.cbsnews.com/news/nba-let-the-games-begin/ | access-date = December 15, 2022}}

The Hawks continued to split their home games between the Georgia Dome, and the Alexander Memorial Coliseum for the second consecutive season.{{cite news | title = Headliners | work = Orlando Sentinel | date = February 20, 1999 | url = https://www.orlandosentinel.com/1999/02/20/headliners-496/ | access-date = April 9, 2024}} In the off-season, the team signed free agents LaPhonso Ellis,{{cite news | last = Jorgensen | first = Loren | title = Fans Enjoy Scrimmage, Jazz Win That One, But Pursuit of LaPhonso Ellis Is Still Up in Air | work = Deseret News | date = January 26, 1999 | url = 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 | access-date = October 18, 2022}}{{cite news | title = Hawks to Sign LaPhonso Ellis | publisher = United Press International | date = January 30, 1999 | url = https://www.upi.com/amp/Archives/1999/01/30/Hawks-to-sign-LaPhonso-Ellis/6747917672400/ | access-date = October 14, 2021}}{{cite newspaper | agency = Associated Press | title = Ellis Leaves Jazz to Sign With Hawks | newspaper = The Item | date = January 31, 1999 | page = 6B | url = https://books.google.com/books?id=FVYlAAAAIBAJ&dq=1999+atlanta+hawks+signed+forward+LaPhonso+ellis&pg=PA11&article_id=6767,6936205 | access-date = November 1, 2024}} second-year guard Anthony Johnson and re-signed former Hawks forward Grant Long.{{cite news | last = Broussard | first = Chris | title = N.B.A.: NOTEBOOK -- NETS; Gatling Finds a Way to Add to Points Total | work = The New York Times | date = February 2, 1999 | url = https://www.nytimes.com/1999/02/02/sports/nba-notebook-nets-gatling-finds-a-way-to-add-to-points-total.html | access-date = July 19, 2021}}{{cite newspaper | title = Pro Basketball | newspaper = The Free Lance-Star | date = February 2, 1999 | page = B4 | url = https://books.google.com/books?id=2wMzAAAAIBAJ&dq=1999+atlanta+hawks+signed+forward+grant+long&pg=PA7&article_id=6529,199356 | access-date = November 3, 2024}}{{cite news | last = Wise | first = Mike | title = PRO BASKETBALL; A Scrum for the Title | work = The New York Times | date = February 4, 1999 | url = https://www.nytimes.com/1999/02/04/sports/pro-basketball-a-scrum-for-the-title.html | access-date = June 28, 2022}} Ellis would reunite with his former teammate of the Denver Nuggets, 3-time Defensive Player of the Year Dikembe Mutombo. However, Ellis would be out for the remainder of the season with a hernia injury after just 20 games,{{cite news | agency = Associated Press | title = Hawks' Ellis Out for Year | work = CBS News | date = April 6, 1999 | url = https://www.cbsnews.com/news/hawks-ellis-out-for-year/ | access-date = July 21, 2021}}{{cite news | agency = Associated Press | title = Celtic Great Russell Heads Back to Boston; Hernia Fells LaPhonso for the Rest of the Season | work = Deseret News | date = April 8, 1999 | url = 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 | access-date = October 3, 2022}} being replaced by second-year forward Chris Crawford as the team's starting small forward. The Hawks played around .500 with a 9–9 start, then later on posted a 7-game winning streak in April, and won nine of their final eleven games. The team finished in second place in the Central Division with a 31–19 record.{{cite web | title = 1998–99 Atlanta Hawks Schedule and Results | publisher = Basketball-Reference | url = https://www.basketball-reference.com/teams/ATL/1999_games.html | access-date = June 21, 2021}}

Steve Smith led the team 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 Mutombo provided the team with 10.8 points, 12.2 rebounds and 2.9 blocks per game. In addition, Alan Henderson provided with 12.5 points and 6.6 rebounds per game, while Ellis contributed 10.2 points and 5.5 rebounds, and Long played a sixth man role, averaging 9.8 points and 5.9 rebounds per game off the bench. Corbin contributed 7.5 points per game also off the bench, and Crawford provided with 6.9 points per game.{{cite web | title = 1998–99 Atlanta Hawks Roster and Stats | publisher = Basketball-Reference | url = https://www.basketball-reference.com/teams/ATL/1999.html | access-date = June 21, 2021}} Mutombo and Blaylock were both named to the NBA All-Defensive Second Team, and Mutombo also finished in second place in Defensive Player of the Year voting.{{cite news | title = Around the NBA | work = Los Angeles Times | date = May 20, 1999 | url = https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1999-may-20-sp-39226-story.html | access-date = September 30, 2022}}{{cite web | title = 1998–99 NBA Awards Voting | publisher = Basketball-Reference | url = https://www.basketball-reference.com/awards/awards_1999.html | access-date = January 2, 2022}}

In the Eastern Conference First Round of the playoffs, the Hawks faced off against the Detroit Pistons. Despite losing Henderson to an eye injury in Game 1, and losing Crawford to a shoulder injury in Game 2,{{cite news | agency = Associated Press | title = Hawks Fly Past Broken Pistons | work = CBS News | date = May 10, 1999 | url = https://www.cbsnews.com/news/hawks-fly-past-broken-pistons/#app | access-date = October 6, 2022}}{{cite news | agency = Associated Press | title = Hawks' Mutombo Guarantees Win Over Pistons in Game 5 | work = Deseret News | date = May 16, 1999 | url = https://www.deseret.com/1999/5/16/19445773/hawks-mutombo-guarantees-win-over-pistons-in-game-5 | access-date = October 6, 2022}} the Hawks defeated the Pistons in five games,{{cite news | agency = Associated Press | title = N.B.A. PLAYOFFS; Hawks' Long Haunts His Former Teammates | work = The New York Times | date = May 17, 1999 | url = https://www.nytimes.com/1999/05/17/sports/nba-playoffs-hawks-long-haunts-his-former-teammates.html | access-date = July 14, 2021}}{{cite news | agency = Associated Press | title = An Unlikely Hawk Comes to Rescue | work = Los Angeles Times | date = May 17, 1999 | url = https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1999-may-17-sp-38203-story.html | access-date = November 25, 2022}}{{cite news | last = Newberry | first = Paul | title = The Other Grant Sends Pistons Out of Playoffs | newspaper = The Washington Post | date = May 16, 1999 | url = https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/sports/nba/longterm/1999/playoffs/atldet17.htm | access-date = June 3, 2022}}{{cite web | title = 1999 NBA Eastern Conference First Round: Pistons vs. Hawks | publisher = Basketball-Reference | url = https://www.basketball-reference.com/playoffs/1999-nba-eastern-conference-first-round-pistons-vs-hawks.html | access-date = February 9, 2023}} but would be swept by the 8th-seeded New York Knicks in four straight games in the Eastern Conference Semi-finals.{{cite news | last = Roberts | first = Selena | title = N.B.A. PLAYOFFS; Knicks Put the Hawks Away and Breeze to Eastern Finals | work = The New York Times | date = May 25, 1999 | url = https://www.nytimes.com/1999/05/25/sports/nba-playoffs-knicks-put-the-hawks-away-and-breeze-to-eastern-finals.html | access-date = July 28, 2017}}{{cite news | agency = Associated Press | title = Knicks Keep Moving On Up | work = Los Angeles Times | date = May 25, 1999 | url = https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1999-may-25-sp-40916-story.html | access-date = November 25, 2022}}{{cite news | last = Wilbon | first = Michael | title = Knicks Beat Hawks, 79-66, to Sweep Series | newspaper = The Washington Post | date = May 25, 1999 | url = https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/sports/nba/longterm/1999/playoffs/knicks25.htm | access-date = May 29, 2022}}{{cite web | title = 1999 NBA Eastern Conference Semifinals: Knicks vs. Hawks | publisher = Basketball-Reference | url = https://www.basketball-reference.com/playoffs/1999-nba-eastern-conference-semifinals-knicks-vs-hawks.html | access-date = February 9, 2023}} The Knicks would become the first #8 seed to reach the NBA Finals, but would lose in five games to the San Antonio Spurs.{{cite news | last = Roberts | first = Selena | title = Spurs Win Title as Knicks' Dream Ends | work = The New York Times | date = June 26, 1999 | url = https://archive.nytimes.com/www.nytimes.com/library/sports/basketball/062699bkn-knicks.html | access-date = May 30, 2022}}{{cite news | last = Kawakami | first = Tim | title = Spurs Tower Over NBA | work = Los Angeles Times | date = June 26, 1999 | url = https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1999-jun-26-sp-50369-story.html | access-date = July 25, 2022}}{{cite news | last = Wyche | first = Steve | title = In the End, Spurs of the Moment | newspaper = The Washington Post | date = June 26, 1999 | url = https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/sports/nba/longterm/1999/finals/articles/nba26.htm | access-date = May 30, 2022}}{{cite news | last = Bembry | first = Jerry | title = It's Spurs' Moment; A. Johnson's Shot Beats Knicks, 78-77, Clinches NBA Crown | work = The Baltimore Sun | date = June 26, 1999 | url = https://www.baltimoresun.com/news/bs-xpm-1999-06-26-9906260043-story.html | access-date = December 15, 2022}}{{cite web | title = 1999 NBA Finals: Knicks vs. Spurs | publisher = Basketball-Reference | url = https://www.basketball-reference.com/playoffs/1999-nba-finals-knicks-vs-spurs.html | access-date = February 9, 2023}} This season would also be the last time the Hawks appear in the playoffs until 2008.

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, which was the third-lowest during the regular season.{{cite web | title = 1998–99 NBA Season Summary | publisher = Basketball-Reference | url = https://www.basketball-reference.com/leagues/NBA_1999.html | access-date = December 12, 2024}} Following the season, Smith and second-year guard Ed Gray were both traded to the Portland Trail Blazers,{{cite news | agency = Associated Press | title = Hawks, Blazers to Make 4-Player Deal | work = Deseret News | date = July 31, 1999 | url = https://www.deseret.com/1999/7/31/19458357/hawks-blazers-to-make-4-player-deal | access-date = November 30, 2022}}{{cite news | title = Smith Going to Blazers for Rider and Jackson | work = Tampa Bay Times | date = August 1, 1999 | url = https://www.tampabay.com/archive/1999/08/01/smith-going-to-blazers-for-rider-and-jackson/ | access-date = June 24, 2023}}{{cite news | agency = Associated Press | title = Smith to Blazers in Mega Trade | work = CBS News | date = August 2, 1999 | url = http://www.cbsnews.com/news/smith-to-blazers-in-mega-trade/ | access-date = March 2, 2017}}{{cite news | last = Wise | first = Mike | title = PRO BASKETBALL; Trading Begins in the N.B.A. Bazaar | work = The New York Times | date = August 3, 1999 | url = https://www.nytimes.com/1999/08/03/sports/pro-basketball-trading-begins-in-the-nba-bazaar.html | access-date = July 10, 2022}} while Blaylock was traded to the Golden State Warriors after seven seasons in Atlanta,{{cite news | last = Wise | first = Mike | title = PRO BASKETBALL; Teams Find Lean Pickings in the Draft | work = The New York Times | date = June 30, 1999 | url = https://www.nytimes.com/1999/06/30/sports/pro-basketball-teams-find-lean-pickings-in-the-draft.html | access-date = July 13, 2022}}{{cite news | agency = Staff and Wire Reports | title = Aging Hawks Trade Blaylock to Warriors to Move to No. 10 | work = Los Angeles Times | date = June 30, 1999 | url = https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1999-jun-30-sp-51730-story.html | access-date = November 30, 2022}}{{cite news | last = Steele | first = David | title = Warriors Bring Blaylock Aboard; Coles, Ferrell, 10th Pick Traded to Hawks for Gritty Vet, 21st Pick | work = SFGate | date = June 30, 1999 | url = https://www.sfgate.com/sports/article/Warriors-Bring-Blaylock-Aboard-Coles-Ferrell-2922326.php | access-date = June 24, 2023}}{{cite news | agency = Associated Press | title = Hawks Shake Up NBA Draft with Blaylock Trade | work = Deseret News | date = June 30, 1999 | url = https://www.deseret.com/platform/amp/1999/6/30/19453256/hawks-shake-up-nba-draft-with-blaylock-trade | access-date = July 21, 2021}} Long signed as a free agent with the Vancouver Grizzlies,{{cite news | agency = Associated Press | title = Grizzlies Sign Veteran Long | work = CBS News | date = September 16, 1999 | url = https://www.cbsnews.com/news/grizzlies-sign-veteran-long/ | access-date = October 25, 2022}}{{cite news | last = Wise | first = Mike | title = 1999–2000 N.B.A. PREVIEW; The West Is Still the Best | work = The New York Times | date = October 31, 1999 | url = https://www.nytimes.com/1999/10/31/sports/1999-2000-nba-preview-the-west-is-still-the-best.html | access-date = June 8, 2022}} and Tyrone Corbin re-signed with the Sacramento Kings.{{cite news | title = Basketball Briefs | work = Deseret News | date = October 3, 1999 | url = https://www.deseret.com/1999/10/3/19468754/basketball-briefs | access-date = November 17, 2022}}