The 1977-78 Atlanta Hawks season was marked by moderate success, ending with a 41-41 record. Under the leadership of head coach Hubie Brown, the Hawks secured a fourth-place finish in the Central Division of the NBA’s Eastern Conference. This performance earned them a spot in the playoffs.
In the postseason, the Hawks faced the Washington Bullets in the first round. The series extended to a full three games, as was the format of the time, but Atlanta was unable to advance, falling 2-0 to the eventual NBA champions. Key players for the season included John Drew, who led the team in scoring, and Tom McMillen, who provided significant contributions in the frontcourt.
The 1977-78 season was a stepping stone for the Hawks, showing potential for growth, though they struggled to maintain consistency against stronger teams in the league.
- Regular Season Record: 41-41
- Playoff Result: Eastern Conference First Round: 0-2
Atlanta Hawks Roster and Stats for 1977-78 Season
| Regular Season | Playoffs | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Player | GP | PTS | REB | AST | STL | BLK | 3P% | GP | PTS | REB | AST | STL | BLK | 3P% |
| John Drew | 70 | 23.2 | 7.3 | 2.0 | 1.1 | 0.2 | 0.0 | 2 | 26.0 | 7.5 | 1.5 | 0.5 | 0.5 | 0.0 |
| Steve Hawes | 75 | 12.7 | 9.2 | 2.5 | 0.7 | 0.4 | 0.0 | 2 | 8.0 | 8.5 | 4.0 | 0.5 | 1.0 | 0.0 |
| Charlie Criss | 77 | 11.4 | 1.6 | 3.8 | 0.8 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 2 | 13.5 | 2.0 | 1.5 | 2.0 | 0.5 | 0.0 |
| Ron Behagen | 26 | 11.0 | 6.7 | 1.3 | 1.0 | 0.2 | 0.0 | 0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Eddie Johnson | 79 | 10.5 | 1.9 | 2.9 | 0.6 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 2 | 15.5 | 3.0 | 3.0 | 4.0 | 0.5 | 0.0 |
| Tom McMillen | 68 | 9.9 | 6.1 | 1.2 | 0.2 | 0.1 | 0.0 | 2 | 13.0 | 11.0 | 0.5 | 0.5 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Armond Hill | 82 | 9.7 | 2.8 | 5.1 | 1.0 | 0.1 | 0.0 | 2 | 8.0 | 1.5 | 3.5 | 1.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Ken Charles | 21 | 9.0 | 1.1 | 3.9 | 0.9 | 0.1 | 0.0 | 0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Ollie Johnson | 82 | 8.5 | 3.2 | 1.5 | 0.5 | 0.2 | 0.0 | 2 | 4.0 | 1.5 | 1.0 | 0.5 | 0.5 | 0.0 |
| Tree Rollins | 80 | 7.6 | 6.8 | 1.0 | 0.5 | 1.8 | 0.0 | 2 | 8.0 | 4.5 | 0.5 | 0.5 | 2.0 | 0.0 |
| John Brown | 75 | 7.3 | 4.0 | 1.4 | 0.4 | 0.1 | 0.0 | 2 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Tony Robertson | 63 | 5.9 | 1.1 | 1.6 | 0.7 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 2 | 2.5 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Claude Terry | 27 | 2.2 | 0.6 | 0.3 | 0.1 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
Atlanta Hawks in the 1978 NBA Playoffs
Playoffs First Round vs. Washington Bullets
In the 1978 NBA Playoffs, the Atlanta Hawks faced off against the Washington Bullets in the first round. Despite a promising start with a victory in Game 1, the Hawks were ultimately eliminated as the Bullets rallied to win the series 2-1. This marked a challenging end for Atlanta, as Washington went on to capture the NBA Championship.
| Date | Opponent | Result | High Scorer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Apr 12, 1978 | @ Washington Bullets | L 103-94 | |
| Apr 14, 1978 | vs. Washington Bullets | L 107-103 |
Atlanta Hawks 1977-78 Regular Season Game Log
Here is the game log for the 1977-78 season for the Atlanta Hawks.
| Date | Opponent | Result | High Scorer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Oct 22, 1977 | vs. Cleveland Cavaliers | W 107-101 | |
| Oct 25, 1977 | @ Boston Celtics | L 110-103 | |
| Oct 26, 1977 | @ New Jersey Nets | W 113-110 | |
| Oct 28, 1977 | vs. Los Angeles Lakers | W 102-95 | |
| Nov 01, 1977 | vs. Seattle SuperSonics | W 102-99 | |
| Nov 02, 1977 | @ Detroit Pistons | W 102-89 | |
| Nov 04, 1977 | @ Kansas City Kings | W 111-110 | |
| Nov 05, 1977 | vs. Golden State Warriors | W 100-94 | |
| Nov 10, 1977 | @ Houston Rockets | W 132-101 | |
| Nov 11, 1977 | vs. Portland Trail Blazers | L 132-92 | |
| Nov 12, 1977 | @ San Antonio Spurs | L 116-99 | |
| Nov 15, 1977 | vs. Philadelphia 76ers | L 114-93 | |
| Nov 16, 1977 | @ Boston Celtics | L 131-105 | |
| Nov 19, 1977 | vs. New Jersey Nets | W 129-114 | |
| Nov 23, 1977 | vs. Denver Nuggets | W 105-104 | |
| Nov 25, 1977 | vs. Milwaukee Bucks | L 117-115 | |
| Nov 29, 1977 | vs. Boston Celtics | W 108-101 | |
| Nov 30, 1977 | @ Buffalo Braves | L 105-93 | |
| Dec 03, 1977 | @ Golden State Warriors | L 118-101 | |
| Dec 04, 1977 | @ Phoenix Suns | W 96-89 | |
| Dec 05, 1977 | @ Seattle SuperSonics | L 99-88 | |
| Dec 07, 1977 | @ Denver Nuggets | L 123-116 | |
| Dec 09, 1977 | vs. New York Knicks | L 103-84 | |
| Dec 10, 1977 | @ Cleveland Cavaliers | L 102-87 | |
| Dec 13, 1977 | @ New York Knicks | L 107-106 | |
| Dec 14, 1977 | @ Philadelphia 76ers | W 108-99 | |
| Dec 16, 1977 | vs. San Antonio Spurs | W 115-99 | |
| Dec 18, 1977 | vs. Phoenix Suns | W 134-129 | |
| Dec 20, 1977 | @ Chicago Bulls | L 94-86 | |
| Dec 21, 1977 | @ Indiana Pacers | L 109-98 | |
| Dec 23, 1977 | @ Milwaukee Bucks | W 109-93 | |
| Dec 25, 1977 | @ Washington Bullets | L 100-93 | |
| Dec 26, 1977 | vs. Washington Bullets | L 113-106 | |
| Dec 28, 1977 | vs. Indiana Pacers | W 99-92 | |
| Dec 30, 1977 | vs. Denver Nuggets | L 106-104 | |
| Jan 03, 1978 | vs. Detroit Pistons | L 106-103 | |
| Jan 04, 1978 | @ Detroit Pistons | L 111-97 | |
| Jan 06, 1978 | @ New Orleans Jazz | L 96-94 | |
| Jan 07, 1978 | vs. Houston Rockets | W 106-83 | |
| Jan 11, 1978 | vs. Washington Bullets | W 100-95 | |
| Jan 13, 1978 | vs. San Antonio Spurs | L 98-92 | |
| Jan 14, 1978 | @ Kansas City Kings | L 110-101 | |
| Jan 17, 1978 | vs. Kansas City Kings | W 111-90 | |
| Jan 18, 1978 | vs. New Orleans Jazz | L 108-106 | |
| Jan 19, 1978 | vs. Chicago Bulls | L 105-95 | |
| Jan 21, 1978 | vs. Indiana Pacers | W 111-100 | |
| Jan 22, 1978 | @ Cleveland Cavaliers | L 93-89 | |
| Jan 27, 1978 | vs. New York Knicks | W 105-96 | |
| Jan 29, 1978 | vs. Buffalo Braves | W 107-102 | |
| Jan 31, 1978 | @ Chicago Bulls | L 106-103 | |
| Feb 02, 1978 | @ Indiana Pacers | W 107-105 | |
| Feb 08, 1978 | @ Denver Nuggets | L 114-109 | |
| Feb 09, 1978 | @ Phoenix Suns | L 125-98 | |
| Feb 12, 1978 | @ Los Angeles Lakers | W 116-103 | |
| Feb 15, 1978 | @ Portland Trail Blazers | L 102-99 | |
| Feb 17, 1978 | @ New Orleans Jazz | W 111-102 | |
| Feb 18, 1978 | @ Houston Rockets | L 121-112 | |
| Feb 22, 1978 | vs. Phoenix Suns | W 107-95 | |
| Feb 23, 1978 | @ San Antonio Spurs | L 118-105 | |
| Feb 24, 1978 | vs. Golden State Warriors | L 97-96 | |
| Feb 26, 1978 | vs. Buffalo Braves | W 119-117 | |
| Feb 28, 1978 | vs. Boston Celtics | W 117-85 | |
| Mar 01, 1978 | @ New Jersey Nets | L 97-95 | |
| Mar 03, 1978 | vs. Houston Rockets | W 133-110 | |
| Mar 05, 1978 | vs. Seattle SuperSonics | W 101-94 | |
| Mar 07, 1978 | vs. Detroit Pistons | W 123-109 | |
| Mar 08, 1978 | @ Philadelphia 76ers | L 108-97 | |
| Mar 10, 1978 | vs. Portland Trail Blazers | W 114-105 | |
| Mar 12, 1978 | vs. Milwaukee Bucks | W 98-93 | |
| Mar 16, 1978 | @ Golden State Warriors | L 104-98 | |
| Mar 18, 1978 | @ Portland Trail Blazers | L 105-86 | |
| Mar 19, 1978 | @ Los Angeles Lakers | L 101-87 | |
| Mar 21, 1978 | @ Milwaukee Bucks | L 100-86 | |
| Mar 24, 1978 | vs. New Orleans Jazz | W 96-94 | |
| Mar 25, 1978 | @ Washington Bullets | L 98-95 | |
| Mar 28, 1978 | vs. Los Angeles Lakers | W 105-104 | |
| Mar 31, 1978 | vs. Philadelphia 76ers | W 111-110 | |
| Apr 02, 1978 | vs. New Jersey Nets | W 124-113 | |
| Apr 04, 1978 | @ New York Knicks | W 105-101 | |
| Apr 05, 1978 | @ Buffalo Braves | W 87-74 | |
| Apr 07, 1978 | vs. Cleveland Cavaliers | L 111-109 | |
| Apr 09, 1978 | vs. Chicago Bulls | W 99-85 |