The 1982-83 Atlanta Hawks finished the NBA regular season with a 43-39 record, placing third in the Central Division. Under head coach Kevin Loughery, the team made a significant turnaround from the previous season. Key player Dominique Wilkins, in his rookie year, made an immediate impact, showcasing his scoring prowess and athleticism.
Despite the team’s improvement, the Hawks faced challenges in the playoffs. They went up against the Boston Celtics in the first round. The Celtics, led by Larry Bird, proved too strong, defeating the Hawks 2-1 in a best-of-three series. This marked Atlanta’s second consecutive first-round playoff exit. Nevertheless, the progress made during the season laid a foundation for future success, with Wilkins emerging as the franchise’s cornerstone.
- Regular Season Record: 43-39
- Playoff Result: Eastern Conference First Round: 1-2
Atlanta Hawks Roster and Stats for 1982-83 Season
| Regular Season | Playoffs | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Player | GP | PTS | REB | AST | STL | BLK | 3P% | GP | PTS | REB | AST | STL | BLK | 3P% |
| Dan Roundfield | 77 | 19.0 | 11.4 | 2.9 | 0.7 | 1.5 | 25.0 | 3 | 17.7 | 14.0 | 3.3 | 1.3 | 1.3 | 0.0 |
| Dominique Wilkins | 82 | 17.5 | 5.8 | 1.6 | 0.9 | 0.8 | 22.2 | 3 | 15.7 | 5.0 | 0.3 | 0.7 | 0.3 | 100.0 |
| Eddie Johnson | 61 | 16.0 | 2.0 | 5.2 | 0.9 | 0.1 | 35.9 | 0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Johnny Davis | 53 | 12.9 | 2.4 | 5.9 | 0.7 | 0.1 | 33.3 | 3 | 17.0 | 1.7 | 9.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Rory Sparrow | 49 | 12.6 | 2.9 | 4.9 | 1.2 | 0.0 | 23.1 | 0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Tom McMillen | 61 | 8.3 | 3.6 | 1.2 | 0.3 | 0.4 | 0.0 | 3 | 3.3 | 2.3 | 0.7 | 0.3 | 0.7 | 0.0 |
| Tree Rollins | 80 | 7.8 | 9.3 | 0.9 | 0.5 | 4.3 | 0.0 | 3 | 9.7 | 10.0 | 1.0 | 0.3 | 3.3 | 0.0 |
| Mike Glenn | 73 | 7.3 | 1.2 | 1.7 | 0.3 | 0.1 | 0.0 | 3 | 9.3 | 1.7 | 1.0 | 0.7 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Wes Matthews | 64 | 6.9 | 1.4 | 3.9 | 0.7 | 0.1 | 31.8 | 3 | 3.3 | 0.0 | 3.7 | 0.0 | 0.3 | 0.0 |
| Rudy Macklin | 73 | 6.0 | 2.6 | 1.0 | 0.4 | 0.1 | 0.0 | 3 | 10.0 | 5.0 | 0.7 | 0.7 | 0.7 | 0.0 |
| Steve Hawes | 46 | 5.0 | 5.0 | 1.3 | 0.5 | 0.2 | 15.4 | 0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Randy Smith | 15 | 4.7 | 0.5 | 0.9 | 0.1 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 2 | 3.0 | 0.5 | 2.0 | 0.5 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Rickey Brown | 26 | 4.7 | 3.4 | 0.3 | 0.2 | 0.2 | 0.0 | 2 | 1.5 | 1.5 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Keith Edmonson | 32 | 3.6 | 1.2 | 0.7 | 0.3 | 0.2 | 0.0 | 1 | 2.0 | 1.0 | 1.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Sam Pellom | 2 | 2.0 | 0.0 | 0.5 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| George Johnson | 37 | 1.7 | 3.2 | 0.5 | 0.2 | 1.5 | 0.0 | 1 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Scott Hastings | 10 | 1.4 | 1.0 | 0.2 | 0.1 | 0.1 | 0.0 | 0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
Atlanta Hawks in the 1983 NBA Playoffs
Playoffs First Round vs. Boston Celtics
In the first round of the 1983 NBA Playoffs, the Atlanta Hawks faced the Boston Celtics in a challenging best-of-three series. The Hawks, led by coach Kevin Loughery and star player Dominique Wilkins, struggled against the more experienced Celtics, ultimately losing the series 2-1. Despite their early exit, the series showcased Wilkins' emerging talent, setting the stage for his future stardom in the league.
| Date | Opponent | Result | High Scorer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Apr 19, 1983 | @ Boston Celtics | L 103-95 | |
| Apr 22, 1983 | vs. Boston Celtics | W 95-93 | |
| Apr 24, 1983 | @ Boston Celtics | L 98-79 |
Atlanta Hawks 1982-83 Regular Season Game Log
Here is the game log for the 1982-83 season for the Atlanta Hawks.
| Date | Opponent | Result | High Scorer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Oct 29, 1982 | @ Detroit Pistons | L 94-86 | |
| Oct 30, 1982 | vs. Boston Celtics | L 112-97 | |
| Nov 02, 1982 | vs. Washington Bullets | W 105-88 | |
| Nov 04, 1982 | vs. Milwaukee Bucks | L 104-100 | |
| Nov 06, 1982 | vs. Detroit Pistons | W 95-93 | |
| Nov 09, 1982 | @ Denver Nuggets | W 106-105 | |
| Nov 12, 1982 | @ Utah Jazz | W 106-98 | |
| Nov 13, 1982 | @ Golden State Warriors | L 114-101 | |
| Nov 16, 1982 | @ Portland Trail Blazers | L 106-87 | |
| Nov 17, 1982 | @ Seattle SuperSonics | L 119-97 | |
| Nov 20, 1982 | @ Phoenix Suns | L 91-80 | |
| Nov 23, 1982 | vs. Chicago Bulls | W 132-102 | |
| Nov 27, 1982 | vs. Indiana Pacers | W 117-98 | |
| Nov 30, 1982 | vs. Philadelphia 76ers | W 111-97 | |
| Dec 01, 1982 | @ Boston Celtics | L 122-97 | |
| Dec 03, 1982 | vs. New Jersey Nets | L 107-99 | |
| Dec 04, 1982 | @ New York Knicks | W 80-79 | |
| Dec 07, 1982 | @ Cleveland Cavaliers | W 102-90 | |
| Dec 08, 1982 | @ Philadelphia 76ers | L 132-85 | |
| Dec 10, 1982 | vs. Milwaukee Bucks | L 104-83 | |
| Dec 11, 1982 | @ Chicago Bulls | W 117-107 | |
| Dec 15, 1982 | @ Indiana Pacers | W 107-101 | |
| Dec 16, 1982 | vs. Cleveland Cavaliers | W 106-97 | |
| Dec 18, 1982 | vs. Boston Celtics | L 107-103 | |
| Dec 21, 1982 | @ Chicago Bulls | L 124-116 | |
| Dec 23, 1982 | @ Milwaukee Bucks | L 101-90 | |
| Dec 25, 1982 | @ Washington Bullets | W 97-91 | |
| Dec 28, 1982 | vs. San Diego Clippers | W 123-113 | |
| Dec 29, 1982 | @ New Jersey Nets | L 104-99 | |
| Jan 02, 1983 | vs. Kansas City Kings | L 108-104 | |
| Jan 04, 1983 | vs. San Antonio Spurs | L 104-95 | |
| Jan 06, 1983 | @ New York Knicks | W 99-98 | |
| Jan 07, 1983 | vs. Dallas Mavericks | W 110-102 | |
| Jan 08, 1983 | vs. Chicago Bulls | W 109-89 | |
| Jan 11, 1983 | vs. Philadelphia 76ers | L 109-99 | |
| Jan 14, 1983 | vs. New York Knicks | W 88-80 | |
| Jan 15, 1983 | vs. Los Angeles Lakers | L 120-101 | |
| Jan 17, 1983 | @ New Jersey Nets | W 102-96 | |
| Jan 19, 1983 | vs. Seattle SuperSonics | W 116-111 | |
| Jan 22, 1983 | @ Detroit Pistons | L 111-109 | |
| Jan 24, 1983 | vs. Detroit Pistons | L 112-108 | |
| Jan 25, 1983 | vs. Phoenix Suns | W 96-94 | |
| Jan 27, 1983 | @ San Diego Clippers | L 110-100 | |
| Jan 28, 1983 | @ Los Angeles Lakers | L 109-85 | |
| Feb 01, 1983 | vs. Cleveland Cavaliers | W 93-84 | |
| Feb 03, 1983 | vs. Denver Nuggets | L 126-112 | |
| Feb 04, 1983 | @ Cleveland Cavaliers | W 92-81 | |
| Feb 06, 1983 | @ Boston Celtics | W 116-111 | |
| Feb 08, 1983 | vs. New Jersey Nets | L 115-109 | |
| Feb 09, 1983 | @ Philadelphia 76ers | L 106-93 | |
| Feb 15, 1983 | @ Houston Rockets | W 101-91 | |
| Feb 19, 1983 | @ Dallas Mavericks | L 122-100 | |
| Feb 20, 1983 | @ San Antonio Spurs | L 103-100 | |
| Feb 22, 1983 | vs. Golden State Warriors | L 109-97 | |
| Feb 24, 1983 | vs. Detroit Pistons | W 116-107 | |
| Feb 26, 1983 | vs. New Jersey Nets | W 95-88 | |
| Feb 27, 1983 | @ Indiana Pacers | W 125-107 | |
| Mar 01, 1983 | vs. Indiana Pacers | W 109-106 | |
| Mar 03, 1983 | vs. Washington Bullets | W 91-89 | |
| Mar 04, 1983 | vs. Houston Rockets | W 115-87 | |
| Mar 06, 1983 | @ Washington Bullets | L 102-91 | |
| Mar 08, 1983 | vs. Portland Trail Blazers | W 110-93 | |
| Mar 09, 1983 | @ Milwaukee Bucks | L 109-100 | |
| Mar 12, 1983 | @ Detroit Pistons | W 120-119 | |
| Mar 15, 1983 | @ New York Knicks | L 119-97 | |
| Mar 16, 1983 | vs. Washington Bullets | W 94-81 | |
| Mar 18, 1983 | @ Cleveland Cavaliers | W 97-73 | |
| Mar 19, 1983 | vs. Utah Jazz | W 99-94 | |
| Mar 22, 1983 | @ Indiana Pacers | W 111-102 | |
| Mar 23, 1983 | @ Boston Celtics | L 114-102 | |
| Mar 25, 1983 | vs. New York Knicks | L 104-87 | |
| Mar 26, 1983 | @ New Jersey Nets | L 102-81 | |
| Mar 29, 1983 | vs. Cleveland Cavaliers | W 95-82 | |
| Mar 30, 1983 | @ Philadelphia 76ers | L 120-113 | |
| Apr 01, 1983 | @ Chicago Bulls | W 108-107 | |
| Apr 02, 1983 | vs. Indiana Pacers | W 109-99 | |
| Apr 05, 1983 | vs. Boston Celtics | L 117-95 | |
| Apr 08, 1983 | vs. Chicago Bulls | W 138-101 | |
| Apr 09, 1983 | @ Washington Bullets | L 100-78 | |
| Apr 12, 1983 | vs. Philadelphia 76ers | W 102-97 | |
| Apr 13, 1983 | @ Kansas City Kings | L 114-103 | |
| Apr 16, 1983 | vs. Milwaukee Bucks | W 96-79 |