What just happened with the Atlanta Hawks and Gray Media
The Atlanta Hawks locked in a free, wide-ranging broadcast partnership with Gray Media that will beam 20 Hawks games to millions of viewers across the U.S. for the 2026-27 NBA season. The deal drops the paywall for casual fans who want to watch Trae Young, Dejounte Murray and the crew without a cable login. Atlanta’s last outing-a 140-89 loss at New York on April 30, 2026-ended a three-game skid that capped a rough finish to the campaign.
Why this broadcast deal matters for the Hawks
For a franchise chasing playoff relevance, the Gray Media pact is pure reach. The Hawks’ recent form reads 2-0-3 in their final five games (LLLWW), and their offense sputtered in the paint against the Knicks. By airing games free on Gray stations, Atlanta grabs eyeballs in smaller markets where the Hawks rarely show up on national feeds. That exposure could sway fence-sitters to buy tickets or tune in when the squad visits cities like Milwaukee or Orlando.
Who benefits most from the Atlanta Hawks on Gray Media
Casual fans top the list. The Hawks averaged 112.4 points per game last season, but their three-point shooting dipped to 34.7% in the last five outings. Gray’s stations stretch from the Midwest to the Gulf Coast, places where Hawks highlights rarely pop up outside the playoffs. Young’s deep-range bombs and Murray’s perimeter defense will now get airtime in towns that usually see only the Lakers or Celtics.
What comes next for the Atlanta Hawks
The free slate drops in October 2026, timed for the preseason buzz. Atlanta still needs to lock in road broadcast deals in select markets, but Gray’s footprint covers 24 states. Coach Quin Snyder will lean on Young’s pick-and-roll mastery and Murray’s transition steals to reverse the late-season slide. If the Hawks can string together wins early, the Gray Media exposure could turn casual viewers into season-ticket whispers.
