Head coach Lon Kruger Record 25–57 (.305) | Arena Philips Arena Playoff finish DNQ | |
Place Division: 4th (Central)
Conference: 13th (Eastern) | ||
The 2000-01 NBA season was the Hawks' 52nd season in the National Basketball Association and 33rd season in Atlanta. Under new head coach Lon Kruger, the Hawks got off to a bad start losing their first seven games. In January, they traded Jim Jackson to the Cleveland Cavaliers for Brevin Knight. After playing in the 2001 NBA All-Star Game, Dikembe Mutombo was traded at midseason along with Roshown McLeod to the Philadelphia 76ers for Theo Ratliff, Toni Kukoč and Nazr Mohammed. However, Ratliff was injured and did not play with the Hawks until next season. Mutombo would later on be named Defensive Player of the Year with the Sixers. Meanwhile, the Hawks continued to struggle as they finished seventh in the Central Division with a 25–57 record. Second-year star Jason Terry led them in scoring averaging 19.7 points per game. Following the season, Knight and Lorenzen Wright were both traded to the Memphis Grizzlies.