Luke Kornet of the San Antonio Spurs is calling on the Atlanta Hawks to rethink their upcoming “Magic City Monday” promotion.
The March 16th game against the Orlando Magic features a collaboration with Atlanta’s well-known strip club, Magic City, intended to celebrate its ties to the city’s hip-hop culture. According to the team’s Instagram page, the themed night will include a halftime performance by T.I., a pregame set by DJ Esco, Magic City Kitchen’s “World Famous” wings, co-branded hoodies, and a live recording of the Hawks AF podcast.
In a letter posted on Medium, Kornet pushed back on the promotion, writing that the team “failed to acknowledge” the nature of the club. The father of two emphasized that the NBA should promote environments that “protect and esteem women,” adding, “We should promote an atmosphere that is protective and respectful of the daughters, wives, sisters, mothers, and partners that we know and love.”
His letter comes during Women’s History Month, a time dedicated to recognizing and celebrating the contributions of women, further amplifying his argument about how public platforms and league promotions reflect broader cultural values. The timing adds context to the ongoing conversation about respect and representation for women in professional sports spaces.
Kornet, the son of former Vanderbilt and NBA player Frank Kornet and Nashville news anchor Tracy Kornet, writes blogs on Medium and says he hopes league officials and team leadership will reconsider. He added that celebrating a strip club “is not conduct aligned” with the family-friendly environment the NBA should promote.
