National Basketball Association

Hawks Season Countdown: Day 34, featuring Isaiah Rider

Published Jun. 30, 2017 6:28 p.m. ET

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In this 2016-17 Hawks Season Countdown, we will be counting down the days leading up to the Hawks’ first regular season game. Each day, we will dissect some of the players that have worn the corresponding number during the team’s history.

Here at Soaring Down South, we are counting down the days until the season begins. We’ll continue at 34 days until the regular season starts for the Hawks, with one of the most popular numbers in Hawks history.

Who Has Worn #34 for the Hawks?

Clyde Lovellette (1959-1962)

Gene Tormohlen (1963-1970)

Ed Burton (1965)

Dwight Waller (1969)

Herb White (1971)

Randy Denton (1977)

Mike Glenn (1982-1985)

John Long (1990)

Gary Leonard (1991-1992)

Jeff Sanders (1992-1993)

Doug Edwards (1994-1995)

Willie Burton (1997)

Isaiah Rider (2000)

Anthony Miller (2001)

Mamadou N’Diaye (2004)

Jelani McCoy (2005)

Jason Collins (2010-2012)

Devin Harris (2013)

Best Season By A Hawk Wearing #34

Isaiah Rider (1999-00)

19.3 PPG, 4.2 RPG, 3.7 APG in 37.4 MPG

One of the best scorers of his era, Isaiah Rider’s career would likely be regarded higher if his numbers came for more winning teams. The ’99-00 Hawks won only 28 games, but Rider surely wasn’t to blame. He scored 30 or more points in 10 of his 60 games, or every six games.

Though the team sported many memorable names like Jim Jackson, Dikembe Mutombo and a rookie Jason Terry, this was one of the worst Hawks teams of the 2000’s. This fulfilled the archetype of Riders career; an immensely talented player whose teams seemingly couldn’t win. Most of his team’s struggles came from the constant worry that his detrimental conduct would keep him off the court. While on the Hawks, he was fined at least $400,000, stemming from a refusal to attend drug counseling. He also began arriving to games and practices late, which forced Lenny Wilkens to bench Rider, the best scorer on the team. His Hawk career sadly ended when he asked to be released after the season was over, a request the Hawks gladly obliged to.

Who wore #34 most recently?

Devin Harris (2012-13)

Harris was sent to the Hawks in the deal that sent Marvin Williams to the Jazz during the 2012 off-season. In his one season as a Hawk, he averaged just under ten points and three assists in 58 games. He started 36 games at shooting guard, pairing with Jeff Teague to create one of the faster back-courts in the league. The 5th pick in the 2004 Draft, Harris made the All-Star team in 2009, averaging 21 points and 7 assists a game for the New Jersey Nets. After his stint in Atlanta, he signed with the Mavericks, which was his second term in Dallas.

Who’s your favorite #34 in Hawks history? Come back tomorrow for the next edition of the 2016-17 Hawks Season Countdown!