When the Hawks drafted a first pick… who will never play for them!

Now holders of the first choice of the 2024 Draft, while they only had a 3% chance of obtaining it, the Hawks will have the opportunity to select this position for the… second time in their history in Georgia (they had it two other times in 1952, Milwaukee period, then 1955, Saint-Louis period).

The first time was in 1975, at a time when the franchise was led by John Drew and (damn) Tom Van Arsdale. Coming out of a nasty season with 31 wins and 51 losses, mainly caused by the departure of the brilliant Pete Maravich to the Jazz and the serious injury of Lou Hudson.

David Thompson initially preferred the ABA to the NBA

Arrived at the 1975 Draft, Atlanta thus finds himself in possession of the first choice and it is at that moment difficult not to fall under the spell of David Thompson, the legendary scorer at North Carolina State (26.8 points and 8.1 rebounds on average throughout his four-year career). A guard crowned NCAA champion and MOP of the Final Four in 1974, before being elected best university player in 1975…

Unsurprisingly, the Hawks therefore selected the one who was nicknamed “Skywalker” because of his crazy relaxation (but who could not dunk in the NCAA, because it was prohibited because of Lew Alcindor, future Kareem Abdul-Jabbar…). The downside is that the future Hall of Famer – that Michael Jordan himself will choose for his speech in Springfield – will not evolve… Never under the colors of the franchise!

In question, in particular: the attraction of David Thompson for the ABA, the famous rival league of the very conservative NBA, where he said that his spectacular style of play could prosper more there. To make matters worse, Atlanta had to deal with competition from the… Nuggets, at that time dominant in the ABA, who could boast of counting in their ranks Monte Towe, who was none other than the best friend of the number one in the Draft 1975. Not to mention Larry Brown, Denver coach, very attached to North Carolina.

Internal problems in Atlanta

Elements which finally convinced “Skywalker” to go to the ABA and not to the Hawks, especially since they were also in the dark regarding their management. In need of money and penalized by several fines (including one for having recruited… Julius Erving, while his rights already belonged to the Squires in the ABA and the Bucks in the NBA), their future seemed uncertain and this did not help to seduce the university star, despite a concrete and attractive salary offer placed on his table.

It should also be noted that, that year, Marvin Webster, another prospect drafted in the Top 3 by Atlanta, also preferred to join Denver in the ABA. Proof that the franchise's internal problems led to its downfall in the mid-70s and, ultimately, the team would be sold and change ownership in 1977, which would do it a lot of good (thanks Ted Turner ).

Without David Thompson, the “Michael Jordan before Michael Jordan” for some, playing for a second in the colors of the Hawks. Indeed, after his time with the Nuggets in the ABA, he continued with them in the NBA and became a renowned All-Star there (three times), first forming a formidable duo with Dan Issel, before forming a whole also dangerous with Alex English. Then his problems with alcohol and drug addiction ultimately caused his downfall in the 1980s…

How to read the stats? MJ = matches played; Min = Minutes; Shots = Successful shots / Attempted shots; 3pts = 3-points / 3-points attempted; LF = free throws made / free throws attempted; Off = offensive rebound; Def=defensive rebound; Tot = Total rebounds; Pd = assists; Fte: Personal fouls; Int = Intercepts; Bp = Lost balls; Ct: Against; Pts = Points.