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An NBA player objected to an Atlanta Hawks promotional night, which is a nod to a famous strip club in the city.
The Hawks have “Magic City Night” scheduled for March 16 against the Orlando Magic, but one player from neither team isn’t too keen on paying homage to a strip club, which has been famous for its late-night storylines involving athletes, celebrities and more.
While the Hawks call it an ode to a “cultural institution,” San Antonio Spurs center Luke Kornet shared his displeasure in a letter posted on Medium.
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Luke Kornet of the San Antonio Spurs reaches for the ball during the third quarter against the Brooklyn Nets at Barclays Center on February 26, 2026 in the Brooklyn borough of New York City. (Ishika Samant/Getty Images)
Kornet, a nine-year veteran and 2024 NBA champion with the Boston Celtics, called for the Hawks’ promotional night later this month to be canceled, saying it is disrespectful to women to honor the strip club.
“In their press release, the Hawks failed to acknowledge that this venue is, as the business itself boasts, ‘Atlanta’s premier strip club.’ Given this fact, I would like to respectfully request that the Atlanta Hawks cancel this promotional night with Magic City,” Kornet wrote in his post.
“The NBA should want to protect and cherish women, many of whom work diligently every day to make this the best basketball league in the world. We must foster an atmosphere that is protective and respectful of the daughters, wives, sisters, mothers and partners we know and love.”
The Hawks boasted about the theme night in their press release, including a live performance by famed Atlanta rapper TI, a co-branded limited-edition hoodie and even the in-arena establishment’s “world famous” lemon pepper chicken wings.
A general view of State Farm Arena logo signage on November 14, 2025, outside State Farm Arena in Atlanta, GA. (Erica Denhoff/Sportswire Icon)
“This collaboration and theme night is very meaningful to me after all the work we did to put together ‘Magic City: An American Fantasy,'” Hawks principal owner, filmmaker and actor Jami Gertz said in a press release. “Atlanta’s iconic institution has had an incredible impact on our city and its unique culture.”
Kornet wrote that allowing the night to continue “without protests would reflect poorly on us as an NBA community, “specifically by being complicit in the potential objectification and mistreatment of women in our society.”
Kornet wrote that “others around the league” were surprised by the Hawks’ decision to hold this promotional night.
“We wish to provide an environment where fans of all ages can come and safely enjoy the game of basketball and where we can celebrate the history and culture of communities in good conscience. Celebrating a strip club is not conduct aligned with that vision,” he wrote.
Luke Kornet of the San Antonio Spurs defends against the Charlotte Hornets during their game at the Spectrum Center on January 31, 2026 in Charlotte, North Carolina. (Jacob Kupferman/Getty Images)
The Hawks have had a good reception for the promotional night, as Tick Pick reported that the ticket price was initially $10 for the game and has since skyrocketed to $94.
Kornet is in his first season with the Spurs, his sixth NBA team, where he has played primarily off the bench. He averages 7.1 points and 6.5 rebounds per game in 50 games.
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