The Atlanta Hawks continue their commitment to giving back to their community by renovating the Andrew and Walter Young Family YMCA.

Partnering with State Farm, and with help from Praters Flooring, the NBA team unveiled their tenth Good Neighbor Club in the area. The ceremony included mayor Andre Dickens, city council members, and featured Dominique Wilkins – Hawks legend and Naismith Hall of Famer. 

The YMCA’s basketball court was dedicated to Wilkens 15 years ago, and the new floor keeps that legacy alive. In his ten first seasons with the Hawks, Wilkens averaged more than 25 points per game. He was a nine-time NBA All Star, and won the dunk contest twice. He’s one of only 5 Hawks players to have their jersey retired by the franchise. 

Wilkens and the Young brothers spoke about the importance of sports and the YMCA as a community center during the ceremony.

“A lot of times in life, it’s sports that bring people together,” Wilkins said.

“You come to a Y, and you can’t help but be a good man. You can’t help but be a strong man,” Andrew Young said.

The goal of the Good Neighbor Clubs is to serve as dedicated community space for youth academic and athletic programs. And the first event on the new court did just that, with basketball challenges and relay races for the kids in attendance. 

“We love the dedication the Hawks have to enriching their community,” Charles Russell, Praters project manager, said. “We’re proud to be involved in that work.”

Praters worked closely with the Andrew and Walter Young Family YMCA to bring the Dominique Wilkins Court design to life. From the graphic design process to the sanding and painting of the court on site, the Praters team ensured that every detail was perfect.