The 1969-70 Atlanta Hawks season marked the team’s second year in Atlanta after relocating from St. Louis. Coached by Richie Guerin, the Hawks competed in the Western Division of the NBA. They finished the regular season with a 48-34 record, securing second place in their division.
Key players for the Hawks included Lou Hudson, who led the team in scoring, and Walt Bellamy, an essential presence in the paint. The team was known for its strong defensive play and balanced scoring attack. Atlanta’s performance earned them a spot in the playoffs, where they faced the Chicago Bulls in the Western Division Semifinals.
The Hawks emerged victorious against the Bulls in a seven-game series, advancing to the Western Division Finals. However, their playoff run ended there, as they were defeated by the Los Angeles Lakers in a four-game sweep. Despite the disappointing end, the season solidified the Hawks’ reputation as a competitive team in the NBA.
- Regular Season Record: 48-34
- Playoff Result: Division Semifinals: 4-1, Division Finals: 0-4
Atlanta Hawks Roster and Stats for 1969-70 Season
| Regular Season | Playoffs | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Player | GP | PTS | REB | AST | STL | BLK | 3P% | GP | PTS | REB | AST | STL | BLK | 3P% |
| Lou Hudson | 80 | 25.4 | 4.7 | 3.4 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 9 | 21.9 | 4.4 | 3.7 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Joe Caldwell | 82 | 21.1 | 5.0 | 3.4 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 9 | 25.0 | 5.0 | 4.2 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Walt Bellamy | 23 | 15.5 | 13.5 | 3.8 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 9 | 16.8 | 15.6 | 3.9 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Walt Hazzard | 82 | 15.3 | 4.0 | 6.8 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 7 | 21.4 | 3.4 | 7.7 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Bill Bridges | 82 | 14.8 | 14.4 | 4.2 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 9 | 11.6 | 17.1 | 3.2 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Jim Davis | 82 | 13.6 | 9.7 | 2.8 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 9 | 4.2 | 3.3 | 0.7 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Gary Gregor | 81 | 8.1 | 4.9 | 0.9 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 7 | 2.3 | 2.4 | 0.3 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Butch Beard | 72 | 7.0 | 1.9 | 1.6 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 9 | 9.0 | 2.9 | 0.9 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Don Ohl | 66 | 6.2 | 1.2 | 1.4 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Dave Newmark | 64 | 4.9 | 2.7 | 0.6 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 6 | 5.7 | 2.0 | 0.3 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Grady O'Malley | 24 | 2.1 | 1.1 | 0.4 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Gene Tormohlen | 2 | 2.0 | 2.0 | 0.5 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Richie Guerin | 8 | 0.9 | 0.3 | 1.3 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 2 | 16.5 | 4.0 | 2.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
Atlanta Hawks in the 1970 NBA Playoffs
Playoffs Second Round vs. Chicago Bulls
In the 1970 NBA Playoffs, the Atlanta Hawks faced a formidable challenge in the second round against the Los Angeles Lakers. Despite their efforts, the Hawks were overpowered by the Lakers, who boasted the superstar duo of Jerry West and Wilt Chamberlain, losing the series in a decisive four-game sweep. This result highlighted the contrasting levels of talent and playoff experience between the two teams at the time.
| Date | Opponent | Result | High Scorer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mar 25, 1970 | vs. Chicago Bulls | W 129-111 | |
| Mar 28, 1970 | vs. Chicago Bulls | W 124-104 | |
| Mar 31, 1970 | @ Chicago Bulls | W 106-101 | |
| Apr 03, 1970 | @ Chicago Bulls | L 131-120 | |
| Apr 05, 1970 | vs. Chicago Bulls | W 113-107 |
1970 Conference Championship vs. Los Angeles Lakers
| Date | Opponent | Result | High Scorer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Apr 12, 1970 | vs. Los Angeles Lakers | L 119-115 | |
| Apr 14, 1970 | vs. Los Angeles Lakers | L 105-94 | |
| Apr 17, 1970 | @ Los Angeles Lakers | L 115-114 | |
| Apr 19, 1970 | @ Los Angeles Lakers | L 133-114 |
Atlanta Hawks 1969-70 Regular Season Game Log
Here is the game log for the 1969-70 season for the Atlanta Hawks.
| Date | Opponent | Result | High Scorer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Oct 15, 1969 | vs. Seattle SuperSonics | W 124-119 | |
| Oct 18, 1969 | vs. Phoenix Suns | W 121-116 | |
| Oct 22, 1969 | vs. San Francisco Warriors | L 94-93 | |
| Oct 24, 1969 | @ Boston Celtics | W 122-110 | |
| Oct 25, 1969 | vs. Detroit Pistons | L 125-104 | |
| Oct 28, 1969 | @ New York Knicks | L 128-104 | |
| Oct 29, 1969 | vs. San Diego Rockets | W 117-113 | |
| Nov 01, 1969 | @ Baltimore Bullets | W 140-137 | |
| Nov 02, 1969 | vs. Seattle SuperSonics | W 125-113 | |
| Nov 05, 1969 | vs. Boston Celtics | W 128-121 | |
| Nov 06, 1969 | @ Chicago Bulls | W 142-137 | |
| Nov 08, 1969 | vs. San Francisco Warriors | W 106-93 | |
| Nov 10, 1969 | vs. Chicago Bulls | W 133-132 | |
| Nov 11, 1969 | vs. Philadelphia 76ers | W 124-107 | |
| Nov 14, 1969 | @ San Francisco Warriors | W 120-109 | |
| Nov 15, 1969 | @ San Diego Rockets | L 133-118 | |
| Nov 16, 1969 | vs. Phoenix Suns | L 139-118 | |
| Nov 19, 1969 | @ Seattle SuperSonics | W 137-116 | |
| Nov 21, 1969 | @ Detroit Pistons | W 118-106 | |
| Nov 22, 1969 | vs. Philadelphia 76ers | L 132-116 | |
| Nov 25, 1969 | vs. Milwaukee Bucks | L 130-115 | |
| Nov 26, 1969 | vs. New York Knicks | L 138-108 | |
| Nov 28, 1969 | @ Boston Celtics | W 130-105 | |
| Nov 29, 1969 | vs. Cincinnati Royals | W 128-111 | |
| Dec 04, 1969 | vs. Seattle SuperSonics | W 119-111 | |
| Dec 05, 1969 | @ Cincinnati Royals | L 156-127 | |
| Dec 07, 1969 | @ Los Angeles Lakers | W 104-103 | |
| Dec 09, 1969 | vs. San Francisco Warriors | W 117-115 | |
| Dec 10, 1969 | @ San Diego Rockets | L 126-107 | |
| Dec 12, 1969 | vs. Los Angeles Lakers | W 121-107 | |
| Dec 13, 1969 | vs. Milwaukee Bucks | L 121-100 | |
| Dec 16, 1969 | @ New York Knicks | W 125-124 | |
| Dec 17, 1969 | vs. Baltimore Bullets | L 138-133 | |
| Dec 18, 1969 | vs. Chicago Bulls | L 114-112 | |
| Dec 20, 1969 | vs. Boston Celtics | W 122-106 | |
| Dec 21, 1969 | vs. Chicago Bulls | W 118-111 | |
| Dec 26, 1969 | vs. Cincinnati Royals | L 130-110 | |
| Dec 27, 1969 | vs. Philadelphia 76ers | W 112-107 | |
| Dec 29, 1969 | vs. San Diego Rockets | W 122-118 | |
| Dec 31, 1969 | vs. Baltimore Bullets | W 122-111 | |
| Jan 02, 1970 | @ Philadelphia 76ers | L 121-117 | |
| Jan 03, 1970 | vs. Cincinnati Royals | L 104-102 | |
| Jan 04, 1970 | @ Milwaukee Bucks | W 126-125 | |
| Jan 06, 1970 | vs. Seattle SuperSonics | W 101-97 | |
| Jan 07, 1970 | @ Boston Celtics | W 112-106 | |
| Jan 09, 1970 | vs. Los Angeles Lakers | L 127-112 | |
| Jan 10, 1970 | @ Baltimore Bullets | L 130-109 | |
| Jan 12, 1970 | vs. Detroit Pistons | L 113-100 | |
| Jan 13, 1970 | @ Philadelphia 76ers | L 136-105 | |
| Jan 14, 1970 | vs. San Francisco Warriors | L 103-101 | |
| Jan 16, 1970 | vs. Cincinnati Royals | W 117-100 | |
| Jan 18, 1970 | vs. Chicago Bulls | W 125-107 | |
| Jan 25, 1970 | vs. Milwaukee Bucks | L 131-116 | |
| Jan 26, 1970 | @ San Francisco Warriors | W 131-104 | |
| Jan 28, 1970 | @ Seattle SuperSonics | L 120-119 | |
| Jan 29, 1970 | @ Phoenix Suns | L 111-102 | |
| Jan 30, 1970 | @ Los Angeles Lakers | L 102-87 | |
| Feb 01, 1970 | vs. Baltimore Bullets | L 133-124 | |
| Feb 02, 1970 | vs. Detroit Pistons | W 125-121 | |
| Feb 04, 1970 | vs. New York Knicks | W 111-96 | |
| Feb 06, 1970 | vs. Chicago Bulls | W 104-93 | |
| Feb 08, 1970 | @ Chicago Bulls | L 117-107 | |
| Feb 10, 1970 | @ San Francisco Warriors | L 113-104 | |
| Feb 11, 1970 | @ San Diego Rockets | W 155-131 | |
| Feb 12, 1970 | @ Los Angeles Lakers | L 136-114 | |
| Feb 15, 1970 | vs. Boston Celtics | W 146-125 | |
| Feb 18, 1970 | vs. Cincinnati Royals | W 139-125 | |
| Feb 21, 1970 | @ New York Knicks | W 122-106 | |
| Feb 22, 1970 | vs. Detroit Pistons | L 116-114 | |
| Feb 24, 1970 | @ Los Angeles Lakers | W 118-106 | |
| Feb 25, 1970 | @ Seattle SuperSonics | L 120-112 | |
| Feb 27, 1970 | @ Baltimore Bullets | L 114-107 | |
| Mar 01, 1970 | vs. Phoenix Suns | L 109-98 | |
| Mar 03, 1970 | vs. Los Angeles Lakers | W 101-93 | |
| Mar 05, 1970 | @ Milwaukee Bucks | W 126-117 | |
| Mar 08, 1970 | @ Phoenix Suns | L 130-119 | |
| Mar 10, 1970 | vs. Milwaukee Bucks | W 140-127 | |
| Mar 11, 1970 | vs. San Diego Rockets | W 122-121 | |
| Mar 15, 1970 | vs. Phoenix Suns | W 126-111 | |
| Mar 17, 1970 | @ Philadelphia 76ers | W 128-125 | |
| Mar 20, 1970 | vs. New York Knicks | W 110-102 | |
| Mar 22, 1970 | @ Detroit Pistons | W 130-126 |