Boston Celtics
“While we appreciate the team’s perspective and their desire to move forward, we have heard significant concerns from a broad array of league stakeholders”
Luke Kornet AP Photo/Darryl Webb
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The Atlanta Hawks had planned to go forward with their Magic City Monday promotion after former Celtics center Luke Kornet wrote an open letter last week urging them to rethink it.
On Monday, however, the NBA stepped in and announced that the promotion, which was scheduled for March 16, had been canceled.
“When we became aware of the Atlanta Hawks’ scheduled promotion, we reached out to Hawks leadership to better understand their plans and rationale,” commissioner Adam Silver said in a statement. “While we appreciate the team’s perspective and their desire to move forward, we have heard significant concerns from a broad array of league stakeholders including fans, partners, and employees. I believe canceling this promotion is the right decision for the NBA community.”
The promotion was set to be a celebration of famed Atlanta strip club Magic city. The team had planned to sell two flavors of the establishment’s chicken wings at the game, along with branded merchandise. Hip-hop artist T.I. was scheduled to perform. The Hawks had billed it as a celebration of one of the city’s “iconic” institutions.
In his letter, Kornet questioned why the Hawks would collaborate with such an establishment for a promotion at what is supposed to be a family friendly atmosphere at NBA games.
Kornet’s letter about the promotion went viral on social media. While some sided with the Hawks, there were also players — including Al Horford — who backed Kornet’s message.
A former Celtics fan favorite known for dropping colorful quotes, Kornet is primarily a backup center in the NBA. He was a member of the Celtics’ championship team in 2024.
Kornet had two stints in Boston, and he recently moved on to his sixth NBA team, the Spurs, this past offseason. San Antonio signed him to a four-year, $40 million deal to back up French superstar Victor Wembanyama. He has appeared in 54 games this season, making 22 starts.
The Celtics will pay Kornet and the Spurs a visit on Tuesday night in San Antonio. The game will be televised on NBC at 8 p.m. Both teams are in second place in their respective conferences. The Celtics have won eight of their last 10 games. San Antonio has won nine of its last 10.
Khari A. Thompson
Khari Thompson covers professional sports for Boston.com. Before joining the team in 2022, Khari covered college football for The Clarion Ledger in Jackson, Miss.
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