The Atlanta Hawks have officially cleared .500 and put some distance between them and that polarizing number. After years of being known as a team that will never get too high or low, Atlanta secured win No. 42 and win No. 43 in a matter of days.

In the process, the Hawks proved that they’re no longer the average team they used to be. They’ve done so by proving they’re better than the average teams they use to struggle with.

With 43 wins, the Hawks are guaranteed to have their highest win total in a season since 2021-22. In the three seasons between their 43-win campaigns, Atlanta went 41-41, 36-46, and 40-42—all the while becoming an internet sensation for their uncanny ability to be the epitome of bang average.

That trend seemed to be continuing in 2025-26, when the Hawks kept failing to reach or climb above .500—hitting 15-16, 20-21, and 24-25 at various points of the season.

Something changed on Feb. 20, however, when Atlanta fell 128-97 to the rival Miami Heat, thus sending their record to 27-31, Perhaps a sense of embarrassment over a 31-point loss to a fellow playoff hopeful helped this team realize how far below its potential it was playing.

Since then, Atlanta has gone 12-2, securing wins over the likes of the Boston Celtics, Detroit Pistons, Orlando Magic, and Philadelphia 76ers. They’ve also guaranteed a cushion between their record and .500.

Hawks didn’t just clear .500—they finally created distance

Atlanta has reached its current perch as one of the hottest teams in the NBA by simply proving it’s better than the mediocre. That’s the first step for any team hoping to make the leap to the ranks of the true contenders.

Those that win the games they’re supposed to typically have wiggle room when it comes to enduring the ebbs and flows of clashes with top-tier opponents, while those that fail to often underachieve.

The Hawks seem to have checked that essential box, with a dominant record of 22-6 against teams that are below .500. That may not seem like the grandest of feats, but it took them 11 more games to reach that same win total against said opponents in 2024-25, ultimately amassing a record of 22-17.

Having established themselves as a group that will win far more often than they lose against non-playoff teams, Atlanta’s baseline of success has risen dramatically.

If the Hawks can continue to win at a strong rate against below-.500 competition moving forward, then contending should be closer than it seems. Reaching the next level will be no easy feat, as Atlanta must now prove that it can defeat the best teams in the NBA on a consistent basis.

After years of struggling to even defeat the below-average teams on a regular basis, however, the Hawks are finally a true above-.500 team. It all boils down to not playing down to their level of competition.