1999–2000 Atlanta Hawks season
| 1999–2000 Atlanta Hawks season | |
|---|---|
| Head coach | Lenny Wilkens |
| Arena | Philips Arena |
| Results | |
| Record | 28–54 (.341) |
| Place | Division: 7th (Central) Conference: 14th (Eastern) |
| Playoff finish | Did not qualify |
Stats at Basketball Reference | |
| Local media | |
| Television | WHOT-TV Fox Sports Net South Turner South |
| Radio | WCNN |
The 1999–2000 NBA season was the 51st season for the Atlanta Hawks in the National Basketball Association, and their 32nd season in Atlanta, Georgia. The Hawks played their first season at the Philips Arena, which was built over the site of the Omni Coliseum. The team also had four first-round draft picks in the 1999 NBA draft, selecting point guard Jason Terry from the University of Arizona with the tenth overall pick (which was acquired from the Golden State Warriors), then selecting power forward Cal Bowdler out of Old Dominion University with the 17th overall pick, shooting guard Dion Glover out of Georgia Tech University with the 20th overall pick, and small forward Jumaine Jones from the University of Georgia with the 27th overall pick, but soon traded him to the Philadelphia 76ers in exchange for a future draft pick.
The Hawks changed their roster by making several off-season acquisitions, as the team acquired Isaiah Rider and Jim Jackson from the Portland Trail Blazers, acquired Bimbo Coles and former Hawks forward Duane Ferrell from the Golden State Warriors, and acquired Lorenzen Wright from the Los Angeles Clippers. However, Ferrell was released to free agency.
After a 9–9 start to the regular season, the Hawks struggled losing 11 of their next 13 games, and held a 19–28 record at the All-Star break. Rider led the team in scoring averaging 19.3 points per game, but had a history of behavioral problems both on and off the court. After showing up late for a game in March, he was released to free agency after 60 games, while Anthony Johnson was traded to the Orlando Magic in exchange for a future draft pick at mid-season; Rider would later on sign with the Los Angeles Lakers during the following off-season. The Hawks struggled posting a nine-game losing streak in April, and finished in seventh place in the Central Division with a disappointing 28–54 record, missing the NBA playoffs for the first time in eight years.
Jackson averaged 16.7 points and 5.0 rebounds per game, and led the Hawks with 117 three-point field goals, while Alan Henderson averaged 13.2 points and 7.0 rebounds per game, and Dikembe Mutombo provided the team with 11.5 points, 14.1 rebounds and 3.3 blocks per game, and was selected for the 2000 NBA All-Star Game in Oakland, California, and also finished tied in third place in Defensive Player of the Year voting. In addition, Coles contributed 8.1 points and 3.6 assists per game, while off the bench, LaPhonso Ellis provided with 8.4 points and 5.0 rebounds per game, but only played 58 games due to a calf injury, and Terry contributed 8.1 points and 4.3 assists per game, and was named to the NBA All-Rookie Second Team. Meanwhile, second-year forward Roshown McLeod contributed 7.2 points per game, but only played just 44 games due to injury, and Wright averaged 6.0 points and 4.1 rebounds per game off the bench.
The Hawks finished 25th in the NBA in home-game attendance, with an attendance of 600,954 at the Philips Arena, which was the fifth-lowest during the regular season. Following the season, head coach Lenny Wilkens resigned after seven seasons with the Hawks, and left to take a coaching job with the Toronto Raptors, while Coles signed as a free agent with the Cleveland Cavaliers, and Ellis signed with the Minnesota Timberwolves.
For the season, the Hawks changed their uniforms adding side panels to their jerseys and shorts, which would remain in use until 2007; although, the trim colors on the road jerseys were changed from white to red in 2004.