NEWNow you can listen to Pak Gazette articles!
The NBA has stepped in to cancel the Atlanta Hawks’ “Magic Monday” promotion next week, commissioner Adam Silver said.
The Hawks were scheduled to host “Magic Monday” when the Orlando Magic would come to town on March 16. The franchise would also celebrate the city’s famous Magic City strip club, famous for its lemon pepper wings.
CLICK HERE FOR MORE SPORTS COVERAGE ON PakGazette.Com
NBA Commissioner Adam Silver speaks to the media after the 75th NBA All-Star Game at Intuit Dome on February 15, 2026. (Kirby Lee/Image Images)
But after an apparent backlash over the promotion, the league decided to cancel it.
“When we learned of the Atlanta Hawks’ scheduled promotion, we reached out to Hawks leadership to better understand their plans and rationale,” Silver said, via ESPN. “While we appreciate the team’s perspective and desire to move forward, we have heard significant concerns from a wide range of league stakeholders, including fans, partners and employees.
“I believe canceling this promotion is the right decision for the NBA community as a whole.”
Controversy erupted last week when San Antonio Spurs center Luke Kornet wrote a lengthy blog post urging the Hawks to reconsider the event.
Atlanta Hawks forward Jonathan Kuminga (0) celebrates his basket against the Portland Trail Blazers during the second half of an NBA basketball game, Sunday, March 1, 2026, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/Mike Stewart)
SPORTSCASTER WAKES UP NBA PLAYER FOR BLOG POST OPPOSING PROMOTION OF THE TEAM’S STRIPTIS CLUB
He suggested that NBA players and officials “promote an atmosphere that is protective and respectful of the daughters, wives, sisters, mothers and partners we know and love.”
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.”
He added that “others around the league” were surprised by the Hawks’ decision to hold this promotional night.
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)
CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THE Pak Gazette APP
“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.
