Luke Kornet criticizes Hawks’ ‘Magic City Night’ promotional event
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An NBA player took exception to an Atlanta Hawks promotional night that was a nod to a famous strip club in the city.
The Hawks are scheduled to have “Magic City Night” on March 16 against the Orlando Magic, but players from both teams aren’t too keen on paying homage to a strip club famous for its late-night stories featuring athletes, celebrities and more.
While the Hawks called it a tribute to a “cultural institution,” San Antonio Spurs center Luke Kornet shared his displeasure in a letter published on Medium.
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Luke Kornet of the San Antonio Spurs reaches for the ball in the third quarter against the Brooklyn Nets at Barclays Center in the Brooklyn borough of New York City on February 26, 2026. (Ishika Samant/Getty Images)
Kornet, a nine-year veteran and 2024 NBA champion for the Boston Celtics, called for the Hawks’ showcase night to be canceled later this month, saying honoring the strip club was disrespectful to women.
“In the press release, the Hawks failed to acknowledge that this is “Atlanta’s premier strip club” as the business boasts. Given this fact, I respectfully request that the Atlanta Hawks cancel this promotional night with the Magic City,” Kornet said. He wrote this in his article:.
“The NBA should aspire to protect and value the women, many of whom work diligently every day to make this the best basketball league in the world. We must create a protective and respectful atmosphere for the daughters, wives, sisters, mothers and partners we know and love.”
In the press release, the Hawks boasted about the theme night, including a live performance by famed Atlanta rapper T.I., a co-branded, limited-edition hoodie, and even the resort’s “World Famous” lemon pepper chicken wings at the arena.
General view of signs with the State Farm Arena logo outside the State Farm Arena in Atlanta, GA on November 14, 2025. (Erica Denhoff/Icon Sportswire)
“After all the work we did to bring ‘Magic City: An American Fantasy’ together, this collaboration and theme night means so much to me,” Hawks principal owner, filmmaker and actor Jami Gertz said in a press release. “The iconic Atlanta institution has made an incredible impact on our city and its unique culture.”
Kornet wrote that allowing the night to “continue without protest would reflect negatively on us as an NBA community, particularly our complicity in the potential objectification and mistreatment of women in our society.”
Kornet wrote that “other people around the league” were surprised by the Hawks’ decision to hold this promotional night.
“We desire to provide an environment where fans of all ages can safely come and enjoy playing basketball, where we can celebrate the history and culture of our communities with conscience. Celebrating a strip club is not in line with this vision,” he wrote.
Luke Kornet of the San Antonio Spurs defends against the Charlotte Hornets during a game at the Spectrum Center on January 31, 2026 in Charlotte, North Carolina. (Jacob Kupferman/Getty Images)
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The Hawks received a good reception for the launch night, with Tick Pick reporting that the entry price for the game was initially $10 and has since quickly risen to $94.
Kornet is spending his first season with his sixth NBA team, the Spurs, where he mainly serves on the bench. He averaged 7.1 points and 6.5 rebounds per game in 50 contests.
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