Kyle Korver, the sharpshooting former NBA All-Star, is reportedly OUT as the assistant general manager of the Atlanta Hawks. NBA insider Marc Stein dropped the news Monday, confirming Korver’s departure from the organization after four years in the front office. This is a tough pill to swallow for a team that felt like it was finally building something, especially after last season’s playoff appearance. Stein reported that Korver remains “on good terms” with the franchise and “has expressed excitement about his next post-playing chapter,” which is good to hear, but it still leaves us wondering what’s next for Atlanta.
From All-Star Shooter to Front Office Leader
Remember Korver on the court? That dude was absolutely lights-out from beyond the arc. He came into the league as a second-round pick in the 2003 draft, but he carved out a fantastic career that lasted all the way through the 2019-20 campaign. He played for a bunch of teams, including the Philadelphia 76ers, Utah Jazz, Chicago Bulls, our very own Hawks, the Cleveland Cavaliers, and the Milwaukee Bucks. This guy was a specialist, connecting on a ridiculous 42.9 percent of his three-pointers over his entire career. His proficiency beyond the arc was legendary. His only All-Star selection came during the 2014-15 season right here with the Hawks, a team that made a serious run, reaching the Eastern Conference Finals before ultimately losing to LeBron James and the Cavaliers.
The Hawks brought him back into the fold after his playing days, first hiring him in 2022 as their new director of player affairs and development. It felt like a smart move, bringing that kind of player knowledge and experience into the organization. They clearly liked what they saw, promoting him to assistant GM in January 2023. You’d think with that kind of basketball IQ in the front office, things would just start clicking, right?
A Rocky Road and a Glimmer of Hope
But let’s be honest, Korver’s tenure in the front office didn’t exactly bring immediate glory. The Hawks failed to make the playoffs in both the 2024 and 2025 seasons. That’s a rough stretch, man. We were all sitting there, wondering if the front office could actually get things together. Thankfully, they finally broke through in the 2025-26 season, reaching the postseason! It wasn’t a deep run, as they lost in the first round, but it truly felt like a genuine step in the right direction. It was something to build on, proof that maybe, just maybe, the vision was starting to come together.
Now, as we head into the 2026-27 campaign, there’s been some real optimism brewing. Guys like CJ McCollum, Jalen Johnson, and Nickeil Alexander-Walker are leading the way, and there’s a belief that this team can genuinely build on that playoff appearance from last season. But with Korver gone from the front office, it throws a wrench into those plans. He won’t be there to see if the team truly takes that next leap. What does this mean for the Hawks now? Will they maintain that “step in the right direction,” or does this departure make the climb a whole lot steeper? We’ll be watching to find out.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Bleacher Report.
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