I am not a Hawks "fan." I root for the team that puts money in my bank account, but I'm originally from the Chicago area and grew up ignoring the Hawks, as most who aren't from Atlanta probably did. I had no allegiance to this team prior to taking a job with them in late 2012. But man, does this team have me hooked.
And yes, that's present tense.
I can't sympathize with those who have suffered through decades of disappointment with the Hawks, though I've been briefed. Franchise history has certainly backed up that sentiment. Fans were thirsting for a reason to believe that the most recent iteration would be different. So when the Hawks marched through the most successful season in franchise history, True Believers, as they've become know as, began doing exactly that: Believing.
Was it when Al Horford took the court, fully healthy, for the first time in 10 months on Oct. 29 in Toronto following surgery to replace a torn pectoral muscle?
Maybe it was Black Friday, the first of nine straight wins that opened the eyes of those who thought the Hawks were a fringe playoff team?
Perhaps it was a few weeks later, when Shelvin Mack went 6-6 from three in a blowout win on Cleveland's floor without Jeff Teague, the first statement win that stamped Atlanta as a legitimate contender?
How about the perfect January? The 19-game winning streak?
At some point, you believed. The degree of belief was different for everybody. Some believed the Hawks could win the NBA Championship. Others believed they could content in the East. Some may have just believed that these weren't the Hawks of old, but rather a team that was going to go out and compete every night, and do it in a way that was enjoyable to watch.
And so it's only fitting that after the greatest season in franchise history came to a close Tuesday with a sweep at the hands of the Cleveland Cavaliers, True Believers filled social media not with negative sentiment, but with positive messages of pride, hope and passion.
Whatever you may have been feeling during and in the immediate aftermath of Game 4, take a minute to remember how special this season was. I've been told apathy has been the most common emotion in the past. That's clearly no longer the case. What Coach Bud and his staff have built in two years is a system that's set up for sustained success. Year 1 was the foundation. Year 2 was the potential. And in Year 3, they're going to be a Finals contender regardless of what happens in the offseason.
So I hope you appreciated what a magical and fun season this was. After all, I appreciated it. I'm a True Believer.
And if you're reading this, you're a bigger Hawks fan than me.
Story by Jaryd Wilson