Head coach Lenny Wilkens Arena The Omni | Owner(s) Ted Turner Record 57–25 (.695) | |
Place Division: 1st (Central)
Conference: 1st (Eastern) Playoff finish East Conference Semifinals
(eliminated 2-4) | ||
The 1993–94 NBA season was the Hawks' 45th season in the National Basketball Association, and 26th season in Atlanta. In the offseason, Michael Jordan shocked the NBA by announcing his retirement. This meant that various teams in the league had an opportunity to contend for a championship. The Hawks hired Hall of Famer Lenny Wilkens as their new head coach. Wilkens was a star guard for the franchise when it was based in St. Louis in the 1960s. Wilkens was quickly moving up the all-time coaching wins list after successful runs with the Seattle SuperSonics and Cleveland Cavaliers. Wilkens employed a defensive system which benefited several members of the team. The team also signed free agents Craig Ehlo and Andrew Lang during the offseason.
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The Hawks got off to a slow start losing four of their first five games, but then went on a 14-game winning streak as they held a 34–13 record before the All-Star break. Despite being in first place in the East, the Hawks would trade franchise leading scorer Dominique Wilkins to the Los Angeles Clippers for All-Star forward Danny Manning on February 24. By the end of the season, the Hawks finished first overall in the Eastern Conference with a record of 57 wins and 25 losses. Guards Stacey Augmon and Mookie Blaylock were both named to the NBA All-Defensive team. Blaylock was also selected for the 1994 NBA All-Star Game along with Wilkins, and Coach of The Year, Lenny Wilkens coaching the Eastern Conference.
In the playoffs, the Hawks defeated the Miami Heat in the Eastern Conference Quarterfinals in five games after trailing 2–1, but lost to the 5th-seeded Indiana Pacers four games to two in the semifinals. Following the season, Manning signed as an unrestricted free agent with the Phoenix Suns, Duane Ferrell signed with the Indiana Pacers, and Adam Keefe was traded to the Utah Jazz.
Playoffs
Entering the playoffs, the Hawks struggled, as they needed the full five games to get past the Miami Heat in the Eastern Conference quarterfinals. In the Eastern Conference semifinals, the Hawks were upset by the Indiana Pacers in 6 games.
East First Round
(1) Atlanta Hawks vs. (8) Miami Heat: Hawks win series 3-2
Last Playoff Meeting: This is the first meeting between the Hawks and Heat.
East Conference Semifinals
(1) Atlanta Hawks vs. (5) Indiana Pacers: Pacers win series 4-2
Last Playoff Meeting: 1987 Eastern Conference First Round (Atlanta won 3-1)