NBA cancels team promotion celebrating famous strip club
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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.
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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.”
The Hawks also issued a statement.
“While we are very disappointed in the NBA’s decision to cancel our Magic City Night promotion, we fully respect their decision,” the Hawks said.
“As a franchise, we remain committed to celebrating the best of Atlanta, authentically, in ways that continue to unite and unite us all.”
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)
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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)
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“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.
Scott Thompson of News and the News contributed to this report.
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Ryan Gaydos is a senior editor at News Digital.