**EDIT MADE AT 3/9/2026 4:44 PM

The NBA made the decision to cancel the Atlanta Hawks’ Magic City Monday next week as reported by NBA Insider Shams Charania.

Shames later shared the process the NBA took, quoting NBA Commissioner Adam Silver saying that after significant pushback from stakeholders, players, and fans, the league decided to cancel the promotion.

Oh boy, did Luke Kornet step in it. I had planned on a different topic, but this got sent to me so many times to respond to that I had to push it back. For those not in the know, the Atlanta Hawks will be partnering with a famed and noted business in the Atlanta area, some would say a staple in the community and culture of that city. With that partnership, the Hawks will have a promotional night next Monday, March 16th, for the local establishment called “Magic City Monday”. Check out the promo announcement on the official Hawks/NBA page:

T.I performing? World Famous Wings? Merch? Sounds like a great time. The official page refers to Magic City as an “iconic cultural institution” and a “landmark”. But something is missing. No one is saying what Magic City actually is, and no website is linked to show what it is.

It’s a strip club. I’m not bad mouthing it. That’s what they call themselves.

“Premiere Atlanta Strip Club opened since 1985.”

Spurs big man and Robert Horry look-a-like (shoutout to Jim Boylen), Luke Kornet, made a strong response in light of the announcement and published it on Medium. Kornet, a devout Catholic, calls for the cancellation of the night and says the NBA should “desire to protect and esteem women, many of whom work diligently every day to make this the best basketball league in the world. We should promote an atmosphere that is protective and respectful of the daughters, wives, sisters, mothers, and partners that we know and love.”

Kornet’s letter has since gone viral, sparking responses from NBA players and entertainers alike. NBA Champion and Golden State Warriors forward Draymond Green discussed his thoughts on his podcast “The Draymond Green Show.”

“I object to what Luke Kornet said,” Green said. “I think to point out that they have esteem issues because that’s the line of work [the dancers] chose, I actually think is less protective of women because you’re condemning something that’s actually an art.

“I don’t know if you’ve ever been, but if you see it in action, it’s actually a form of art, that some choose to indulge in and some choose not to indulge in. But to say that because a woman decides that that’s an art they want to partake it and the customer wants to take in…I think it’s reflective on society’s thoughts on how they once viewed things.”

Here is Grammy Award-winning rapper and Atlanta native, Killer Mike, who spoke to TMZ about Kornet’s comments and Magic City:

“So you come to Atlanta … and they say they like the girls and the chicken wings, and the city doesn't have a problem with it, shut the f*** up,”

Mike goes on to say that the club has been a black-owned business for over 30 years, and that it is Atlanta culture, adding that “You are never going to get rid of adult entertainment in Atlanta.”

And to Mike and Draymond’s credit, they are right. According to TMZ, which spoke with the ticket company Seat Geek, tickets for that game spiked amid backlash, and the Hawks have already confirmed they will be going forward. And for good measure to make everyone more comfortable, the manager of Magic City, JuJu Barney, and Dancer Yaya ensured that “there won't be any nudity -- just wings, music, and good vibes!” The people are excited about the collab. But is it right?

I can’t answer that for you. But I can ask questions and make some points to help us think and consider a few things. First, we state the obvious. It’s a strip club, I don’t think we need to discuss the details of what it is, so I grabbed the Webster definition:

a place where people go to watch performers take their clothes off in a sexually exciting way : a nightclub with performances by strippers

If you want, you can go to the Magic City website to see. (I wouldn’t use a work computer or be around children) Are we comfortable explaining on that night what Magic City is? The NBA surely isn’t. Otherwise, the promotional material would be more straightforward and less vague and evasive. So what are the NBA and the Atlanta Hawks promoting? It’s certainly not the wings. I’m actually kind of shocked that thighs and breasts aren’t on the menu, but I digress. For the NBA, it’s relevancy and a cash grab. But what do you think this does for Magic City? Another question is, is it ok to say, “Hey, I think this might be too far”? It doesn’t seem so based on the reactions. It feels as if everything should fall at the feet of entertainment, and if it makes me feel good, do it. What would be the logical conclusion to that mode of thinking? What will be next?

I am not offended by this event. What I am frustrated by is the inability of the NBA, Hawks, and the people in support to acknowledge what this is. There is a reason they won’t say what it is, and if you can’t say what it is openly and with boldness, then why do it? With a great platform comes great responsibility. Spiderman’s uncle said something like that, and it bears some truth. Having a platform is a burden meant to be carried with fear and trembling, knowing that what you say and do can and will impact others. Is this the best way to promote “culture” or the city of Atlanta? I don’t know, you have to answer that for yourself. There is a scripture that speaks to having wisdom and using discernment. It’s taken from the book of 1 Corinthians. In it, the author, the Apostle Paul writes to the church in Corinth correcting behaviours that have been antithetical to what they believe and antithetical to the building up of the community. He uses a common phrase they would say to excuse poor behaviour and decision-making.

" 'All things are lawful,' but not all things are helpful. 'All things are lawful,' but not all things build up." - 1 Corinthians 10:23

The question to the NBA, the Hawks, and to us isn’t, “Can we do this?” The question is, should we? I am not here to be the moral police. The world will go on, and the world will continue to do things the world does. But the Christian perspective is concerned with the building up of others. This is what Luke Kornet is getting at. Those women are image-bearers of God. Made in His likeness and His image. They are not objects to an end. But the choice and decision is yours. Is this what we want as culture? Or can we say, this might be too far?