Atlanta Hawks all-time team released by ‘NBA 2K18’

The good folks at NBA 2K18 have provided plenty of fodder during the 2017 offseason and the basketball world is grateful. We don’t yet know what the ratings look like for the entire Atlanta Hawks squad but a few (including John Collins) have trickled out and there is some entertainment value placed in seeing what those evaluations look like.

This week, though, the all-time teams for each of the league’s 30 franchises are being released.

In fact, Chris Vivlamore of the AJC has his hands on the Hawks version and the starting lineup reads as follows:

• Guard - Lou Hudson
• Guard - Joe Johnson
• Forward - Dominique Wilkins
• Forward - Bob Pettit
• Center - Dikembe Mutombo

There is little in the way of surprise here, especially with regard to the starting forwards. Surely, some fans will be upset at the inclusion of Joe Johnson ahead of a more famous option in Pete Maravich but, at the end of the day, it would be (very) easy to argue Johnson’s impact in a Hawks uniform was greater than that of Maravich.

At center, the inclusion of Mutombo (given his relatively small body of work) could draw ire when compared to the likes of Kevin Willis or Tree Rollins. Still, the Hawks recently recognized Mutombo’s work by retiring his jersey and he is beloved.

As for the 10-man bench, it includes the following:

• Jeff Teague
• Spud Webb
• Doc Rivers
• Steve Smith
• Pete Maravich
• Kyle Korver
• Stacey Augmon
• Paul Millsap
• Al Horford
• Kevin Willis

The absence of Rollins made the great Steve Holman (h/t AJC) ignore the list altogether.

Otherwise, though, it isn’t a terrible list. Korver’s inclusion (ahead of John Drew and Josh Smith, for instance) is slightly odd, but the sharp shooter was a part of the best team in franchise history and was an All-Star during the campaign. There could also be push-back on Mookie Blaylock not making the list (with Spud Webb included) and Jeff Teague sneaking in at the point guard spot.

There are certainly ways to pick this all-time roster apart and it is always fun to generate discussions in this way. What say you?