The NBA has a long-standing tradition of using basketball to honor the legacy of Martin Luther King Jr. The organization has played games on MLK Day every year since 1986, except during the 1998-99 season. Notably, the Atlanta Hawks have hosted a game on MLK Day on 29 occasions. However, this year was different. With the 2024-25 NBA season fast approaching, the league recently unveiled its schedule for MLK Day (20/1/2025) and the Hawks will not be hosting a game. This change along with another significant development has fans extremely disappointed and Hawks star Trae Young did not hold back his displeasure.

“MLK disappointed in y’all.. @NBA I’m sorry Atlanta,” Young took to X to express what he felt. According to the schedule, a game between the Atlanta Hawks and the New York Knicks will take place at 3 pm ET. Breaking tradition the Hawks will have to travel to the Knicks’ home base.

Additionally, Young seemed frustrated by another issue – the lack of coverage. Both TNT and NBA TV will bypass the game, directing their attention to three other matchups scheduled for that day.

As the birthplace of Martin Luther King Jr, Atlanta holds a special spot in the history of the Civil Rights Movement history. The Hawks franchise has led efforts to honor King, introducing MLK jerseys during the 2020-21 NBA season and installing a tribute wall at the State Farm Arena. Yet, this year, Atlanta fans won’t witness a Hawks game, prompting the question: Why?

NCAA football beats the NBA on MLK Day

As it turns out, the city of Atlanta is already scheduled to host a big event on MLK Day. After a six-year gap, the playoffs game of the College Football National Championship is set to return to the city, and will take place at the Mercedes-Benz Stadium. The last time Atlanta hosted a game was on January 8, 2018. However, the games in 2025 and 2026 are scheduled for late January, with the upcoming 2025 matchup aligning perfectly with MLK Day.

A major reason for this change may be the fact that a 12-team playoff bracket has been introduced for the 2024-25 season, which is an expansion of the previous four-team format. With more regular season games taking place, the playoffs had to be shifted, which ended up being unfortunate for the NBA, especially the Atlanta Hawks. The change in schedule for the NBA team due to the football championship was also confirmed by The Athletic journalist John Hollinger. “No MLK game for Hawks is wild, but I believe this is because NCAA football championship is happening right next door that day,” he said.

At 32 games, the Atlanta franchise ties with the Philadelphia 76ers and the Washington Wizards for the third-most games played on MLK Day. However, at a 32-22 win record, the Hawks have the second highest win percentage after the Golden State Warriors (30-21). Much of the credit for the record can be given to the home-court advantage that the Hawks possessed. However, with that being taken away, the chances for Trae Young and co. seem bleak, particularly as they face an opponent against whom they hold a challenging 8-12 record.

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Since 2002, another NBA franchise that has been playing during MLK Day has been the Memphis Grizzles. After all, the Tennessee city is the place where Martin Luther King was assassinated. Unlike Atlanta, however, the team will host their matchup against the Minnesota Timberwolves in their home arena, FedEx Forum, in Memphis. Furthermore, their game will air on TNT, while Hawks fans will need NBA League Pass to watch their team in action. It’s unfortunate that the Hawks are playing on the road and with limited viewing options, especially given their impressive tribute to King last year.

Before you go, remember to check out this crossover between BG12 and Georgia Bulldogs star Silas Demary Jr.