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“Over the last two years, Vince Carter has been a committed leader, respected mentor and influential example on the court, in the locker room and in the Atlanta community. Throughout his historic 22-year journey covering an unprecedented four different decades, his evolving career arc was perhaps like none other in league history – from Top 5 Draft Pick to Rookie of the Year to Slam Dunk Champion to superstar and eight-time All-Star to Twyman-Stokes Teammate of the Year and valuable role player. It’s an honor to the Hawks organization that he completed his Hall-of-Fame career wearing Atlanta across his chest and representing our city.”

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ATLANTA HAWKS STATEMENT ON RETIREMENT OF VINCE CARTER

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Hawks Fall Behind in Fourth, Lose to Timberwolves

ATLANTA - The Atlanta Hawks Basketball Club has signed center Tyler Zeller to a 10-day contract, it was announced today.

A six-year NBA veteran, Zeller has appeared in 406 career regular season contests (165 starts), averaging 7.0 points and 4.4 rebounds in 17.6 minutes (.508 FG%, .764 FT%) with Cleveland, Boston, Brooklyn and Milwaukee. He has participated in 25 postseason contests (seven starts) and has averaged 3.8 points and 2.6 rebounds in 10.9 minutes (.527 FG%, .739 FT%).

Selected by Dallas with the 17th overall pick of the 2012 NBA Draft, Zeller’s rights were traded to Cleveland on draft night, where he earned NBA All-Rookie second team honors in 2013.

Zeller played collegiately at North Carolina, where he capped his four-year career as ACC Player of the Year as well as a consensus second team All-American. He grew up in Washington, Indiana and was the state’s Mr. Basketball in 2008. Zeller’s brother, Cody, plays for the Charlotte Hornets, while his brother, Luke, played for the Phoenix Suns in 2012-13.

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Hawks Sign Tyler Zeller To 10-Day Contract

The Atlanta Hawks have a long and unmatched history in the NBA's Slam Dunk Contest. John Collins hopes to add to that legend when he competes in the 2019 AT&amp;T Slam Dunk on Saturday, Feb. 16 in Charlotte.

Dominique Wilkins, Spud Webb and Josh Smith combined to win four dunk contests while representing the Hawks. Wilkins won twice: in 1985 and 1990. 

"It's in the Hawks' DNA to win one," Collins said, "so I want to be a part of the Hawks' DNA and the Hawks' lineage of guys who have won a Slam Dunk Championship."

Collins will compete against Charlotte Hornets forward Miles Bridges, Oklahoma City Thunder guard Hamidou Diallo and New York Knicks guard Dennis Smith Jr. In the two-round event, each player gets two dunks in the first round, scored on a scale from 30 to 50. The two players with the highest two-dunk combined score advance to the final round. In the finals, both players get the chance to complete two more dunks, and the player with the higher combined scored from the last two dunks wins the event. 

Head coach Lloyd Pierce is happy that Collins is about to get recognized on a national stage at All-Star Weekend.

"I think it's great," Pierce said. "John is a guy who was the 19th pick. He is in that middle ground. There's no hype for the 19th pick. If there's one guy that deserves a little hype and a little recognition, it's John Collins."

Though the Hawks have had a rich history in the event, Collins is the first Hawk to compete in it since Smith did in 2006. In addition to the former Hawks winners, Collins also has a teammate to lean on for experience: Vince Carter. Carter topped Tracy McGrady and Steve Francis in 2000 in one of the event's most competitive fields. 

"There are so many (former Hawks) and then we've got Vince, so there a lot of guys who I could potentially do odes or tributes to," Collins said. "It's a little bit of a ways out, but not too far, so I'll make a decision very soon." 

Pierce hinted that Carter has already been helping Collins prep for the event. 

"My only concern is that he jumps too high," Pierce said with a laugh. "Vince has been educating and been helping him already. John is doing stuff that is so basic to him but bizarre to us, and there's no adrenaline right now. When you know when millions of people are watching and it's a packed house, that's going to be the interesting part. How high is this kid going to jump when he has got adrenaline and he's amped up for it?"

"I honestly felt like I had more of a resume to get in last year than I did this year," Collins said. "I definitely accepted the invitation and I'm excited about the competition."

At the same time, Collins wants to live up the Hawks' long history in the event.

"I don't want to come back to Nique empty-handed," he quipped.

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John Collins Hoping To Continue Hawks Legacy In Dunk Contest

ATLANTA – The Atlanta Hawks and Prostate Cancer Foundation (PCF) have joined together to launch a first-of-its-kind multi-pronged program with the goal of slamming prostate cancer. Led by Hawks Vice Chair of the Board and Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Famer Grant Hill and his father, NFL Legend Calvin Hill, the Hawks are the first team in the NBA to partner with PCF to educate and bring awareness to the disease that affects more than four million men in the U.S., with one in nine men being diagnosed with prostate cancer in his lifetime. Those numbers skyrocket when factoring men of African descent. African-American men are 76 percent more likely to be diagnosed with the disease and more than twice as likely to die than men of other ethnicities.

In recognition of Black History Month and to bring greater awareness to the African-American community of the disease, the team and Foundation have kicked off the Black History Month Assist Challenge in February. For every assist registered by the Hawks throughout the month, $250 will be donated by the Hawks Foundation to the Prostate Cancer Foundation. The Hills filmed a special public service announcement announcing the partnership and its importance.  Census Bureau data from 2018 cites the Black or African-American population in the city of Atlanta at 52.3 percent.

“We couldn’t be prouder or more excited to be partnering with the Atlanta Hawks organization as they make history as the first National Basketball Association (NBA) team in the league to take on prostate cancer as an issue,” said Jonathan W. Simons, MD, PCF’s president and CEO. “It is befitting that during Black History Month, we all work to change the outcomes of the men who are most severely impacted by this disease.  Raising awareness of the risks, leading conversations that shift attitudes and making the facts about prostate cancer easily accessible will literally save lives. The Hawks are changing history by altering the course of this disease and its impact on African-American men.”

Prostate cancer is the most common non-skin cancer in America and the fourth most common tumor diagnosed worldwide. Despite its frequency, if the cancer is caught at its earliest stages, most men will not experience any symptoms and 99 percent of patients live five years or longer after diagnosis, which makes education so critically important.

On Saturday, Feb. 23rd when the Hawks play the Phoenix Suns at State Farm Arena, the Hawks and PCF partnership will be celebrated throughout the game with special videos, stories and educational pieces. The night will also serve as the team’s HBCU Night, recognizing historically black colleges and universities alumni and current students.

“As a member of the Atlanta Hawks ownership team and a black male, I am extremely proud of our partnership with PCF as I believe our work can truly make a difference in the city of Atlanta,” said Grant Hill. “With the platform we are afforded, we have a responsibility to be a community leader, and this is a great opportunity to educate in a way that could potentially save lives.”

For more information, please visit Hawks.com/PCF, a custom website where life-saving information and resources can be found along with instructions on how to join the Hawks and PCF in their mission.

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Atlanta Hawks, Prostate Cancer Foundation Team Up To Fight Prostate Cancer

NEW YORK, Feb. 5, 2019 – First-time NBA All-Stars Nikola Jokić of the Denver Nuggets and Nikola Vučević of the Orlando Magic and reigning Kia NBA Rookies of the Month Luka Dončić of the Dallas Mavericks and Trae Young of the Atlanta Hawks will display their vast array of talents in the 2019 Taco Bell® Skills Challenge on Saturday, Feb. 16 at Spectrum Center in Charlotte, North Carolina.

The 17th Taco Bell® Skills Challenge is part of State Farm® All-Star Saturday Night, which also features the MTN DEW 3-Point Contest and AT&amp;T Slam Dunk.  All-Star Saturday Night will air on TNT and ESPN Radio in the United States at 8 p.m. ET.  NBA All-Star 2019 will reach fans in more than 200 countries and territories in more than 40 languages on their televisions, computers, mobile phones and tablets.

The eight-player field for the Taco Bell® Skills Challenge also features Mike Conley of the Memphis Grizzlies, De’Aaron Fox of the Sacramento Kings, Kyle Kuzma of the Los Angeles Lakers and Jayson Tatum of the Boston Celtics.  Spencer Dinwiddie of the Brooklyn Nets is unable to defend his 2018 title due to injury.  

Jokić and Vučević will play in the 2019 NBA All-Star Game on Sunday, Feb. 17 at 8 p.m. ET.  Dončić, Fox, Kuzma, Tatum and Young will play in the 2019 MTN DEW ICE Rising Stars on Friday, Feb. 15 at 9 p.m. ET.  Both games will be held at Spectrum Center and broadcast by TNT and ESPN Radio.  

The Taco Bell® Skills Challenge is a three-round, obstacle-course competition that tests dribbling, passing, agility and three-point-shooting skills.  The event showcases a head-to-head, bracket-style tournament format.  First-round matchups will be determined at a later date.

Here is a closer look at the 2019 Taco Bell® Skills Challenge participants:

• Mike Conley, Grizzlies: Conley (20.3 ppg, 6.3 apg) is averaging at least 20.0 points and 6.0 assists for the second time in the last three seasons.  He is a two-time winner of the NBA Sportsmanship Award.

• Luka Dončić, Mavericks: The Slovenian guard-forward (20.7 ppg, 7.0 rpg, 5.4 apg) has won all three Kia NBA Western Conference Rookie of the Month awards this season.  The only rookie to reach Dončić’s current averages in points, rebounds and assists for a full season is Oscar Robertson in 1960-61.

• De’Aaron Fox, Kings: One of the NBA’s fastest players, Fox is averaging 17.5 points and a team-high 7.2 assists (ninth in the NBA) – up from 11.6 points and 4.4 assists as a rookie last season.  He has already made more three-pointers this season (56) than he did in his entire first season (47).  

• Nikola Jokić, Nuggets: The 7-foot center from Serbia leads Denver with averages of 20.1 points, 10.4 rebounds and 7.7 assists (sixth in the NBA).  He ranks second in the NBA in triple-doubles with nine. 

• Kyle Kuzma, Lakers: Kuzma (18.8 ppg) is the third-leading scorer among second-year NBA players and paces the Lakers in three-pointers made with 91.  He was a 2017-18 NBA All-Rookie First Team selection.      

• Jayson Tatum, Celtics: Tatum is Boston’s No. 2 scorer (16.1 ppg) and rebounder (6.2 rpg).  The 2017-18 NBA All-Rookie First Team selection has shot 40.4 percent from three-point range over two seasons.   

• Nikola Vučević, Magic: A first-time All-Star in his eighth season, Vučević is averaging career highs of 20.7 points, 12.0 rebounds (10thin the NBA) and 3.8 assists.  The 7-foot Montenegrin center is shooting a career-high 37.8 percent from three-point range.

• Trae Young, Hawks: The Kia NBA Eastern Conference Rookie of the Month for October/November and January leads all first-year NBA players in assists (7.4 apg) and ranks second in scoring (16.8 ppg).  He is averaging 24.0 points and 8.5 assists in his last six games.

Two players compete simultaneously on identical courses and the fastest finisher reaches the next round.  In the first round, the eight players are paired to participate in four head-to-head competitions.  The four winners advance to the second round, where two more head-to-head showdowns determine the two finalists.  Click here for a complete explanation of the rules.

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Atlanta’s Reigning Rookie of the Month Trae Young to Join Nikola Jokic, Nikola Vucevic and Luka Doncic in 2019 Taco Bell Skills Challenge

NEW YORK, Feb. 5, 2019 – Charlotte Hornets forward Miles Bridges, Atlanta Hawks forward-center John Collins, Oklahoma City Thunder guard Hamidou Diallo and New York Knicks guard Dennis Smith Jr. will showcase their aerial artistry and leaping ability in the 2019 AT&amp;T Slam Dunk on Saturday, Feb. 16 at Spectrum Center in Charlotte, North Carolina.

The 34th Slam Dunk is part of State Farm® All-Star Saturday Night, which also features the Taco Bell® Skills Challenge and the MTN DEW 3-Point Contest.  All-Star Saturday Night will air live on TNT and ESPN Radio in the United States at 8 p.m. ET.  NBA All-Star 2019 will reach fans in more than 200 countries and territories in more than 40 languages on their televisions, computers, mobile phones and tablets.

AT&amp;T has become the title partner of Slam Dunk as part of a new multiyear official marketing partnership with the NBA.  This new agreement will tip off next week at NBA All-Star 2019, where AT&amp;T will also be the presenting partner of NBA All-Star Practice and Media Day. 

Two rookies (Bridges and Diallo) and two second-year NBA players (Collins and Smith) comprise the AT&amp;T Slam Dunk field.  Here is a closer look at the participants:

• Miles Bridges, Hornets: Competing in his home arena, the 6-7 forward is the Hornets’ first Slam Dunk participant since 2010 (Gerald Wallace).  Bridges, the 12th overall pick in NBA Draft 2018 presented by State Farm, has 12 double-digit scoring games this season.  He was a consensus 2017-18 Second Team All-American in his sophomore season at Michigan State.

• John Collins, Hawks: Collins leads Atlanta in scoring (19.6 ppg) and rebounding (10.0 rpg) and ranks ninth in the NBA in field goal percentage (58.4).  He earned a spot on the U.S. Team for MTN DEW ICE Rising Stars, which will be played on Friday, Feb. 15 during NBA All-Star 2019.  The 6-10 forward-center was named to the 2017-18 NBA All-Rookie Second Team after averaging 10.5 points and 7.3 rebounds last season.  A former Wake Forest star, Collins is Atlanta’s first Slam Dunk competitor since 2006 (Josh Smith).  

• Hamidou Diallo, Thunder: Diallo, a 6-5 guard, recorded a 44.5-inch maximum vertical jump at the 2017 NBA Draft Combine powered by Under Armour, the second-highest mark in event history.  The 45th overall pick in NBA Draft 2018 presented by State Farm has appeared in 43 games as a rookie with Oklahoma City.  In his three starts, Diallo has averaged 8.7 points and shot 76.9 percent from the field.  He is the Thunder’s first Slam Dunk participant since 2011 (Serge Ibaka). 

• Dennis Smith Jr., Knicks: Smith returns to Slam Dunk after finishing third last season.  The 6-3 guard, who was acquired by New York in a trade with the Dallas Mavericks on Jan. 31, is averaging 12.8 points and 4.4 assists per game.  Last season, the Fayetteville, N.C., native averaged 15.2 points and 5.2 assists and joined Collins on the 2017-18 NBA All-Rookie Second Team.  Smith is the Knicks’ first Slam Dunk competitor since 2013 (James White). 

In the two-round event, participants can perform any dunk they choose.  The players have a maximum of three attempts to complete each dunk in both the first round and the final round.  Five judges score every dunk on a scale of 6 to 10, resulting in a high score of 50 and a low score of 30.

All four competitors get two dunks in the first round.  The two players with the highest combined score for their two dunks advance to the head-to-head final round.  The player with the highest combined score for his two dunks in the final round is crowned the champion.  Click here for a complete explanation of the rules.

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John Collins to Join Miles Bridges, Hamidou Diallo and Dennis Smith Jr. in 2019 AT&T Slam Dunk

ATLANTA – Atlanta Hawks guard Trae Young was named the Kia NBA Eastern Conference Rookie of the Month for January, it was announced today. The first-year guard from the University of Oklahoma previously won the award for contests played in November, making him the first Hawks player to receive multiple Rookie of the Month honors since Al Horford during the 2007-08 season (Nov., Feb., March).

Young led all first-year players in the East with 18.7 points and 7.2 assists per game in January, becoming the first rookie to average at least 18.0 points and 7.0 assists in 10-or-more games in any month since John Wall in March 2011. The No. 5 overall pick in the 2018 NBA Draft, Young recorded the four highest single-game assist totals of the month among Eastern Conference rookies and compiled five-of-the-top-10 single-game scoring totals on his way to outscoring his nearest conference classmate by more than five points per game.

On Jan. 15, Young finished a 142-126 victory over Oklahoma City with 24 points and 11 assists, becoming the youngest player (20 years, 118 days) with six 20-point/10-assist games in a single season since LeBron James in 2005 (20 years, 20 days).

From Jan. 26-28, Young became the first NBA rookie to record two consecutive contests with at least 26 points, 10 field goals made and eight assists since Stephen Curry in 2010, per the Elias Sports Bureau. Young’s efforts established him as the youngest NBA player with back-to-back games with those minimums since LeBron James (20 years, 33 days) in 2005.

From Jan. 26-30, Young became the second Atlanta player ever to record three consecutive contests with at least 23 points and eight assists, and the first rookie to compile three straight games with at least 23 points and eight assists since Darren Collison from 2/8/10-2/17/10.

Earlier this week, NBA assistant coaches selected Young and teammate John Collins to participate in the MTN DEW ICE Rising Stars during All-Star Weekend on Friday, Feb. 15 at Spectrum Center in Charlotte.

The Hawks take on the Jazz tonight at 9 p.m. ET on FOX Sports Southeast.