Atlanta Hawks fans got another major answer to one of their biggest questions this season: where, exactly, they’re going to watch the games.
After FanDuel Sports Network announced it was closing its doors, there was plenty of uncertainty around Hawks broadcasts. Over the summer, the team said games would air on Atlanta News First stations and Peachtree TV, and that Bob Rathbun and Hawks legend Dominique Wilkins would be back on the broadcast team for every game this season except those carried only on national TV.
Now the Hawks have taken things a step further. One day before their regular-season opener against the Orlando Magic, they announced they will be the first team to stream games exclusively on Amazon.
“Hawks basketball is coming to Prime Video! We're the first NBA team to stream local games exclusively on Prime Video, included with your Prime membership at no additional cost for in-market fans! 📺 👀 @NBAonPrime pic.twitter.com/VsaeIFgUw2”
The move gives Atlanta fans another easy path to follow the team, and it feels like the kind of setup other NBA franchises may soon look at closely. After all the confusion that followed the end of last season, the Hawks have landed on a broadcast plan that puts accessibility front and center.
“We are so excited to have an incredible relationship with Prime Video, who has proven to be an innovative and accessible pillar for both the NBA and NFL. Our fans are at the heart of all of our decisions so being able to deliver Hawks games to our fans however and wherever they choose to watch - whether that be in front of a Connected TV, on a tablet or on a cellphone - is critically important with consumer’s ever-changing viewing habits,” said Andrew Saltzman, president of business enterprise and chief commercial officer of the Atlanta Hawks and State Farm Arena. “We are committed to putting our fans first and maximizing accessibility throughout the state of Georgia and the Southeast.”
The timing matters, too. This is a roster drawing plenty of attention, with the Hawks returning the starting five of Jalen Johnson, CJ McCollum, Nickeil Alexander-Walker, Dyson Daniels, and Onyeka Okongwu. Atlanta also added Kingston Flemings, Lu Dort, and Aaron Wiggins.
With a playoff push in sight in a crowded Eastern Conference, the Hawks now head into the season with more than just intrigue on the floor. Their fans will have multiple ways to catch every game, and that alone is a pretty big win.
In Other News...
Hawks Win Over Magic Ends With Rivalry Tension Fans Will Notice
The Hawks opened their Southeast Division schedule with a 132-125 win over Orlando, extending their recent edge in the matchup to six straight. It was the kind of game that had enough offense to feel like a statement and enough edge to feel personal, with Paolo Banchero pouring in 35 points for the Magic while Jalen Johnson answered with 20 points and 14 rebounds for Atlanta.
The competitive tone carried into the final seconds, and the finish had a little more bite than a typical regular-season opener. After the final horn, the emotions spilled over between Banchero and Johnson, with teammates and staff stepping in to calm things down and keep the moment from turning into something bigger. [Read more 🡒]
Quin Snyder May Already Have A New Hawks Closer
In the Hawks season opener against the Magic, Aaron Wiggins quickly found himself in the kind of role teams usually reserve for players they trust when the game tightens. Quin Snyder leaned on him for meaningful minutes throughout the night, a sign that the newcomer was not just filling space in the rotation but was already being treated like someone who could stay on the floor when it mattered.
Wiggins rewarded that trust with a steady two-way showing, mixing scoring with activity on the glass and in the passing lanes while knocking down shots from deep. For a Hawks team still sorting out its late-game identity this early in the season, the bigger question is how long this level of confidence from Snyder lasts and whether Wiggins can keep turning opportunity into a closing role. [Read more 🡒]
Hawks Try To Stay Unbeaten With One Roster Question Looming
After opening the season with a win over Orlando, the Hawks head into their matchup with the Hornets with an early chance to build on that momentum. Nickeil Alexander-Walker and Dyson Daniels helped set the tone in the opener, and Atlanta has already shown enough to suggest its rotation can withstand a few bumps this early in the schedule.
The injury report, though, gives the Hawks one lingering roster wrinkle to sort through. Mouhamed Gueye and Henri Veesaar are both out, with Gueye still working back from a summer foot injury and Veesaar sidelined for the season, leaving Atlanta to keep juggling depth as it tries to stay unbeaten. [Read more 🡒]
