In the off-season, the Hawks acquired All-Star forward Glenn Robinson from the Milwaukee Bucks.
[2][3][4] However, DerMarr Johnson missed the entire season with a broken neck sustained from an off-season car accident.
[5][6][7] With the addition of Robinson, and Theo Ratliff playing his first full season with the team, the Hawks would get off to a 6–4 start, which included a road win over the 3-time defending champion Los Angeles Lakers, 95–83 at Staples Center on November 12.
[8][9] However, they would proceed to struggle as head coach Lon Kruger was fired after Christmas with the team floundering at 11–16.
[10][11] Under replacement Terry Stotts, the Hawks lost 12 of their next 15 games, including two six-game losing streaks in December and January, and held a 19–30 record at the All-Star break.