Atlanta Hawks Refuse to Cancel 'Magic City Monday' Promo Despite NBA Player Backlash

The team's decision to honor a famous Atlanta strip club has sparked a moral debate in the league.

Published on Mar. 5, 2026

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The Atlanta Hawks announced a 'Magic City Monday' promotion for their March 16 game against the Orlando Magic, honoring one of Atlanta's most famous cultural landmarks - the strip club Magic City. The promotion has faced backlash from NBA players like Luke Kornet and Al Horford, who have publicly criticized the team for promoting an environment that could objectify women. However, the Hawks have refused to cancel the event, arguing that Magic City is an integral part of Atlanta's identity and pop culture.

Why it matters

The debate over the Hawks' promotion highlights the complex relationship between professional sports and adult entertainment. While many NBA players and fans have criticized the team's decision, the Hawks maintain that Magic City is a well-established part of Atlanta's cultural landscape that deserves recognition. This incident reflects the broader challenges the league faces in navigating moral and ethical issues as it continues to expand its commercial partnerships and marketing efforts.

The details

The Hawks' 'Magic City Monday' promotion is tied to a STARZ docuseries about the history of the famous Atlanta strip club. The team says the event is a crossover between local culture, media promotion, and basketball entertainment. However, some NBA players, like Spurs' Luke Kornet and Warriors' Al Horford, have publicly criticized the Hawks, arguing the promotion could objectify women and that the league should hold itself to a higher standard.

  • The Hawks announced the 'Magic City Monday' promotion for their March 16 game against the Orlando Magic.
  • Spurs' Luke Kornet published a blog post this week asking the Hawks to cancel the promotion.
  • Warriors' Al Horford voiced support for Kornet's criticism on social media.

The players

Atlanta Hawks

The professional basketball team based in Atlanta, Georgia.

Luke Kornet

A center for the San Antonio Spurs who publicly criticized the Hawks' 'Magic City Monday' promotion.

Al Horford

A center for the Golden State Warriors who voiced support for Kornet's criticism of the Hawks' promotion.

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What they’re saying

“We must hold ourselves to a higher standard and not promote environments that could objectify women.”

— Luke Kornet, San Antonio Spurs Center (Blog Post)

“I agree with Luke. The NBA should avoid promoting anything that could be seen as disrespectful to women.”

— Al Horford, Golden State Warriors Center (Twitter)

What’s next

The Hawks have stated they have no plans to change or cancel the 'Magic City Monday' promotion, indicating the event will proceed as scheduled on March 16.

The takeaway

This debate highlights the complex relationship between professional sports and adult entertainment, as well as the challenges the NBA faces in navigating moral and ethical issues while expanding its commercial partnerships and marketing efforts. The Hawks' decision to move forward with the promotion, despite player criticism, reflects the team's view that Magic City is an integral part of Atlanta's cultural identity that deserves recognition.