ATLANTA—National Basketball Association (NBA) players are calling on the Atlanta Hawks to cancel an upcoming tribute night featuring the world-famous Magic City strip club, the Associated Press reports. Magic City is a high-profile adult venue located at the intersection of Brotherton and Forsyth streets in Atlanta, Georgia.
The club, owned by entrepreneur Michael “Magic” Barney, was profiled in the five-part docuseries Magic City: An American Fantasy, released in 2025.
The docuseries explored the role Magic City has played in the decades-long development of modern Black culture, serving as an epicenter for trap music, Atlanta rap, and Southern hip-hop. The Atlanta Hawks announced the collaboration late last month, characterizing the strip club as one of the "city's iconic cultural institutions."
The Hawks are playing the Orlando Magic on Monday, March 16. A statement by the Hawks notes, "As part of this celebration, the Hawks have worked with Magic City to bring the ‘best of’ the phenomena for fans in attendance at the award-winning State Farm Arena."
Some players on other NBA teams oppose the Hawks collaborating with Magic City. San Antonio Spurs center Luke Kornet is one player of note who is concerned that the Hawks are promoting "the potential objectification and mistreatment of women in our society."
Kornet wrote on Medium.com: "The NBA should desire to protect and esteem women, many of whom work diligently every day to make this the best basketball league in the world. We should promote an atmosphere that is protective and respectful of the daughters, wives, sisters, mothers, and partners that we know and love."
Kornet's statement was endorsed on X Tuesday morning by Golden State Warriors player Al Horford.
“We doin’ this one for the city ... Magic City,” said T.I. in the same press statement as Proctor.
