There have been more low points than high points for the Atlanta Hawks since the year 2000. They are one of five teams with 900 losses in that span (including the 2020-21 season), along with the Knicks, Timberwolves, Wizards and Nets.
Joe Johnson, who is largely associated with a successful run of seasons for the Hawks in the late 2000s and early 2010s, came to town at perhaps the lowest point of all, and he didn't sugarcoat just how difficult it was to play for a team coming off a 13-69 season, the eighth worst in NBA history.
"You have to look at pretty much a long-term situation, meaning what's going to be better or what's going to help you in the long run, and I knew there was gonna be some learning curves, coming from winning 62-63 games (with the Suns)..." Johnson said on BroBible's "Endless Hustle" podcast. "I knew it was gonna be tough but I wanted that challenge and I was willing to take upon that challenge and I did that.
"The first year or so here in Atlanta was brutal, man. It didn't even feel like the NBA, I'm gonna be honest with you. It felt like we probably had a couple hundred people in the stands. That was tough, but we kept grinding."
A couple hundred people in the stands... sounds familiar, doesn't it?
The Hawks were marginally better in Johnson's first season in Atlanta, finishing 26-56. Johnson immediately became the go-to scorer, dropping 20.2 points per game to go along with 4.1 rebounds, 6.5 assists and 1.3 steals. But, at the least, they had their foundation around which they could build.
"It was tough, but you know what, I talked to the guys who paved the way or came before me and guys that I know they kept in contact, and [they] told me to control the things that I can control, meaning just going to practice every day, working my butt off, improving, getting better, helping my teammates," Johnson said. "And these are the things I tried to do... building a pretty solid team and getting into the playoffs."
Two seasons after Johnson joined Atlanta, with rookie Al Horford and young players Josh Smith and Marvin Williams following Johnson's lead, the Hawks made their first playoff appearance since the 1998-99 season. They'd go on to make the playoffs for every single season of Johnson's career as a Hawk.
The "brutal" nature of the start to his career as an Atlanta Hawk must have dissipated pretty quickly, and he largely has himself and his All-Star play to thank.
LISTEN NOW on the RADIO.COM App
Follow RADIO.COM Sports
Twitter | Facebook I Instagram