Best: Atlanta Hawks — Dominique Wilkins
Unless you grew up watching Bob Pettit dominate the 50s and 60s, Dominique Wilkins is almost certainly the player you associate most with the Hawks franchise. The Human Highlight Reel averaged 26 points a game over 12 seasons for Atlanta.
Nique won a scoring title and led the Hawks to eight playoff appearances, and he was one of the best dunkers and most prolific scorers in league history. Wilkins was such a good dunker he once beat Michael Jordan in a dunk contest, and he’s often back as a judge today.
Worst: Atlanta Hawks — Ed Macauley
Poor Ed Macauley never asked for this. In 1956 Macauley was living the high life, coming off six consecutive All-Star seasons for the Boston Celtics. That year Boston traded Macauley and rookie Cliff Hagan for another rookie named Bill Russell who would go on to change their franchise forever.
Russell played 13 seasons and won 11 championships and five MVP awards. Macauley made only one more All-Star Game for the Hawks, then played two more forgettable seasons and retiring. Believe it or not, Ed Macauley is in the Basketball Hall of Fame today, thanks to his contributions to the Celtics. But his biggest contribution to Boston was no doubt the player he took away from the Atlanta Hawks.