San Antonio Spurs center Luke Kornet calls on the Atlanta Hawks to end their partnership with Magic City, a well-known Atlanta strip club, ahead of an upcoming promotional event.

Kornet’s Open Letter Sparks Debate

The 30-year-old center published a strongly worded open letter on Medium, demanding the Hawks scrap their ‘Magic City Monday’ promotion scheduled for the March 16 game against the Orlando Magic.

Kornet emphasizes that the NBA must protect and respect women who contribute to making it the top basketball league. He argues the league should foster an environment that honors daughters, wives, sisters, mothers, and partners, warning that the promotion implicates the NBA in the potential objectification and mistreatment of women, an industry plagued by abuse, harassment, and violence.

Hawks’ Promotion Details

The Hawks plan to celebrate Magic City as a cultural institution during the game, featuring appearances by local icons like T.I. and sales of the club’s signature lemon pepper wings. The team’s announcement highlights the venue’s longstanding role in Atlanta’s nightlife, steering clear of labeling it a strip club.

Special edition hoodies blending the Magic City logo with the Hawks’ ‘Pac-Man’ crest form part of the event merchandise.

League and Fan Reactions

Kornet insists the partnership clashes with creating a safe space for fans of all ages and reveals that other league figures feel ‘dumbfounded’ by the decision. He urges all 29 NBA teams to voice opposition.

Social media buzzes with divided opinions since the announcement. Critics question the promotion’s appropriateness, while supporters hail it as a clever nod to Atlanta’s culture. Magic City’s legendary status in the South, including its famous wings—immortalized by Lou Williams’ 2020 ‘NBA Bubble’ escapade earning him ‘Lemon Pepper Lou’—fuels the praise.

ESPN’s Marc Spears describes it as a ‘creative promotion,’ highlighting the wing renaming after Williams.

Magic City’s Legacy

Operating since 1985, Magic City holds sway in the rap world, credited with boosting careers of global stars. Its kitchen, proclaimed ‘the reason you come to Magic City,’ draws culinary acclaim in Atlanta.

The Hawks have not commented on Kornet’s letter or signaled changes to the Orlando Magic matchup plans.