Inside the 2014–15 Atlanta Hawks: The Season That Changed Basketball in Atlanta

The 2014–15 Atlanta Hawks season is still talked about all over Atlanta—from barbershops on Auburn Avenue to office break rooms in Buckhead. If you live in the city, moved here later, or are visiting and curious why locals light up when that team comes up, this guide walks you through what made that season special and how you can still feel its impact around Atlanta today.

Why the 2014–15 Hawks Matter So Much in Atlanta

For Atlanta sports fans, the 2014–15 Hawks were a turning point:

• They played a beautiful, team-first style of basketball.
• They put basketball front and center in a city often dominated by college football and the Braves.
• They helped re-energize Downtown Atlanta, especially around what was then Philips Arena (now State Farm Arena).

If you’re trying to understand Atlanta’s modern sports identity, this Hawks season is one of the key chapters.

Quick Snapshot: 2014–15 Atlanta Hawks Season

Here’s a simple overview you can skim before diving deeper:

The Team: Who Were the 2014–15 Atlanta Hawks?

The 2014–15 Hawks didn’t have a single “mega-superstar” in the LeBron or Curry mold. Instead, they were known for balance, ball movement, and depth. That’s part of why Atlanta fans connected so strongly—this team felt like a true collective.

Key Players Atlanta Fans Remember

• Al Horford – A steady inside presence, smart defender, and leader.
• Paul Millsap – Versatile forward, tough on both ends, fan favorite.
• Jeff Teague – Fast, attacking point guard, drove the offense.
• Kyle Korver – One of the league’s best shooters, stretched the floor from deep.
• DeMarre Carroll – High-energy defender, did the dirty work that fans love.

If you go to State Farm Arena today, you’ll still hear older fans talk about how this starting five fit together so cleanly.

Coaching and Playing Style: “Spurs East” in Atlanta

Head coach Mike Budenholzer, who came from the San Antonio Spurs system, brought a style that transformed how people in Atlanta thought about NBA basketball.

What Their Style Looked Like

If you were at Philips Arena that season, you would have seen:

• Constant ball movement – Extra passes, good-to-great shot philosophy.
• Spacing and shooting – Korver curling off screens, bigs spacing out.
• Team defense – Everyone helping, rotating, and contesting.
• Unselfish offense – Multiple players scoring in double figures every night.

This was the year national media started calling Atlanta “Spurs East,” and locals took pride in how smart and organized their team looked on national TV.

Regular Season Success: Why 60 Wins Was a Big Deal for Atlanta

Before 2014–15, the Hawks had some competitive years, but they were rarely considered among the league’s true contenders. That changed dramatically.

Milestones Locals Still Talk About

• 60–22 record – The best regular season in franchise history.
• 19-game winning streak – At one point, Atlanta felt like the center of the NBA.
• Undefeated January (17–0) – They swept the month, bringing huge buzz to Downtown.

For people who worked or lived near Philips Arena, game nights became big city events—restaurants around Centennial Olympic Park and along Marietta Street filled up before and after home games, and the arena district felt electric.

Four All-Stars from One Team: A Proud Moment for the City

In February 2015, the Hawks sent four players to the NBA All-Star Game:

• Al Horford
• Paul Millsap
• Jeff Teague
• Kyle Korver

For Atlanta fans, that was more than a fun fact; it was validation that team basketball and balance could get national respect.

What That Meant in Atlanta

• Sports bars from Midtown to East Atlanta Village were packed on All-Star Sunday.
• Kids in local leagues around the metro area started patterning their games on Hawks players—not just national stars.
• The team’s reputation helped grow youth participation and interest in basketball in gyms from Decatur to Cobb County.

Playoff Run: The Eastern Conference Finals Journey

The 2014–15 Hawks didn’t just have a strong regular season; they made a deep playoff run that shaped how Atlantans saw their team.

Playoff Path Overview

• Entered as the #1 seed in the Eastern Conference.
• Won their first two playoff series to reach the Eastern Conference Finals.
• Their run ended there, but the journey put them in the national spotlight.

During that stretch, Philips Arena was packed, with downtown streets busier on game nights and MARTA trains pushing extra traffic to Dome/GWCC/Philips Arena/CNN Center Station (today’s GWCC/State Farm Arena/CNN Center station).

For locals, even those who weren’t hardcore basketball fans, it felt like “Atlanta is on the map.”

Experiencing the Legacy Today at State Farm Arena

Although Philips Arena has since been renovated and rebranded as State Farm Arena, the 2014–15 season still lingers in the building’s culture and fan experience.

Where the Hawks Play Now

State Farm Arena
1 State Farm Dr
Atlanta, GA 30303

This is the same physical site where the 2014–15 Hawks played—updated and modernized.

What You Can Do as a Fan in Atlanta

• Attend a Hawks game – Regular-season games still feature look-backs, classic highlights, and nods to past teams, including 2014–15.
• Visit on theme nights – The team occasionally hosts heritage or throwback nights where that era gets highlighted.
• Check out in-arena displays – Inside concourses, you may find historical references and imagery from standout seasons.

If you’re visiting Atlanta and want to understand how important that 2014–15 team was, catching a game here is one of the best ways.

How the 2014–15 Hawks Changed Basketball Culture in Atlanta

Beyond wins and losses, this season helped shift how the city relates to pro basketball.

More Than Just a Good Team

For people who grew up in metro Atlanta, the 2014–15 Hawks helped:

• Boost local pride – The idea that Atlanta could be a basketball city, not just a football town.
• Grow youth interest – Rec and AAU programs around Fulton, DeKalb, Gwinnett, and Clayton counties saw continued strong interest in the sport.
• Elevate NBA visibility – More jerseys, more Hawks gear, and more people following the league year-round.

Sports talk on local stations and at neighborhood bars leaned into NBA conversations more, thanks in large part to this team.

Where to Go in Atlanta if You’re a 2014–15 Hawks Fan

If you’re in Atlanta and want to connect with that era of Hawks basketball, here are practical options:

1. Catch a Hawks Home Game

• Location: State Farm Arena, 1 State Farm Dr, Atlanta, GA 30303
• Transit: Easy access via MARTA rail – GWCC/State Farm Arena/CNN Center Station (Blue/Green lines).
• Why go: The in-arena production often includes throwback content, classic highlight reels, and interviews referencing key past seasons.

2. Explore Hawks Merchandise and Memorabilia

At the arena’s team store, you may find:

• Retro-style Hawks gear.
• Items themed around memorable seasons and eras.
• Occasional nods to players from the 2014–15 roster.

You can also find Hawks merchandise in major sporting goods stores around Atlanta, especially in areas like Cumberland, Perimeter, and Buckhead.

3. Watch with Other Fans Around the City

On big game nights, sports bars in Downtown, Midtown, Inman Park, and West Midtown often show Hawks games. It’s common to hear older fans compare the current team to the 2014–15 squad, especially when ball movement and defense look similar.

Tips for New or Visiting Fans Trying to Understand That Season

If you didn’t live in Atlanta during 2014–15 but want to understand why locals care so much about that team, here’s a simple approach:

• Learn the starting five – Horford, Millsap, Teague, Korver, Carroll. Knowing those names helps you follow local references.
• Understand “60 wins” – When someone mentions “that 60-win team,” they’re almost always talking about the 2014–15 Hawks.
• Recognize the playing style – Team-first, lots of passing, shooters spread out, and everyone defending.
• Ask long-time fans – Atlantans who followed the Hawks then often enjoy telling stories about the 19-game win streak or how packed Philips Arena felt.

When you’re at a Hawks game or local sports bar, mentioning the 2014–15 season is an easy way to connect with fans who have been following the team for a while.

What the 2014–15 Hawks Mean for Atlanta Today

For Atlanta, the 2014–15 Hawks season is remembered as:

• A benchmark for what a successful, well-coached, team-first squad can look like.
• A cultural touchstone that helped push pro basketball further into the city’s mainstream sports conversation.
• A reminder that downtown Atlanta can buzz with big-time playoff energy when a local team is truly contending.

If you live in Atlanta or are visiting and want to understand the city’s modern sports story, the 2014–15 Atlanta Hawks are a key chapter—one that still shapes how fans think about the team whenever they walk into State Farm Arena.