The College Park Skyhawks Soar in the ATL Airport District By Alice Feigel The Atlanta Hawks are training the next generation of NBA stars, and it’s all happening west of Hartsfi eld-Jackson International Airport in College Park. The Hawks’ offi cial G League team, the College Park Skyhawks, just kicked off their second season at Gateway Center Arena. The cozy venue that seats 3,500 fans at each home game allows hardcore basketball fans and just-herefor-the-beer fans a chance to see budding basketball greats up close and personal. No ticket-holder is ever more than 14 rows back from the action, and with tickets starting at just $10, it’s one of the most engaging and affordable nights out in Atlanta right now. The Skyhawks started their inaugural season in 2019, during which they were able to play 18 of 24 home games before the pandemic shut them down. But this past November, they returned to the court, excited The G League up close and personal The G League, founded in 2001 and named for their sponsor Gatorade, is the NBA’s minor league affiliation that allows them to bring up and train players, coaches, and managers. In addition, the G League is a great way to follow up-and-coming players as they start their professional careers. Some locals even attend Skyhawks games to spot their favorite former college basketball players who have been recruited to the opposing teams.
At a recent game against the Maine Celtics, a few local fans who also happened to be West Virginia University alumni cheered on Celtics’ point guard Jaysean Paige, a former player for the West Virginia Mountaineers. A few of the NBA’s top players, including Hawks center Clint Capela, came up through the G League. In the 2020–21 NBA season, a whopping 45% of NBA players had some form of G League experience. In fact, some players play for both NBA teams and minor league teams in the same season. Each NBA team has two spots on their team roster for “Two-Way Contracts,” allowing G League players to gain experience on the NBA court. For example, Skyhawks guards Sharife Cooper and Skylar Mays currently fill the two “Two-Way Contract” spots on the Atlanta Hawks roster. They can play up to 45 days per season with the Hawks, spending the rest of the year with the Skyhawks. Similarly, Hawks forward Jalen Johnson is signed to a standard NBA contract, but also plays for the Skyhawks when assigned. These unique agreements allow fans to catch Mays, Cooper, or Johnson at a Hawks game from 100 rows back, and then head to a Skyhawks game and see them just a few rows away the following week. New rules are also tested out in the G League before being implemented in NBA games. The Coach’s Challenge and the 14 Second Shot Clock Reset on offensive rebounds first appeared in the G League before the NBA incorporated them.
10 ATL - Your Guide to Atlanta and the Airport Area
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