The NBA has stepped in to stop a controversial promotional event the Atlanta Hawks were planning to hold next week in conjunction with a well-known strip club in the area.
The Hawks’ “Magic City Night” was supposed to be held next Monday to “celebrate Atlanta’s iconic cultural institution” Magic City adult nightclub, which created a wave of criticism and support for the promotion.
In a statement, NBA commissioner Adam Silver said that the NBA pulled the plug on the idea after the league “heard significant concerns from a broad array of league stakeholders, including fans, partners and employees.”
NBA commissioner Adam Silver speaks to the media during a press conference before 2026 NBA All Star Saturday Night. IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect “I believe canceling this promotion is the right decision for the broader NBA Community,” Silver said.
Several players expressed disappointment with the Hawks’ chosen promo night, including Spurs big man Luke Kornet, who wrote a lengthy Medium post to detail to his feelings.
“We desire to provide an environment where fans of all ages can safely come and enjoy the game of basketball and where we can celebrate the history and culture of communities in good conscience,” Kornet wrote. “The celebration of a strip club is not conduct aligned with that vision.”
