Hawks, NBA lose Childress to Greek team

Atlanta Hawks

Hawks, NBA lose Childress to Greek team

Longtime Hawks swingman Josh Childress leaves Atlanta, NBA for Greek basketball team.

Josh Childress (with ball) is leaving the Hawks for Olympiakos of Greece, a Euroleague team, just months after Atlanta took future NBA champion Boston to seven games in first-round NBA playoff action.

"It's official, I just signed," Childress told the AJC's Sekou Smith July 23. The swingman agreed to terms on a three-year contract with Olympiakos.

Childress' move is a blow to the Hawks and the Atlanta Spirit Group ownership team (shown here: ASG partner Michael Gearon Jr. with Childress), who have no recourse to match an offer made to a restricted free agent by a non-NBA team. The Hawks retain Childress's NBA rights for at least two years.

Chosen by the Hawks with the sixth pick of the 2004 NBA draft, Childress (holding jersey No. 22) was one of the cornerstone's of a rebuilding effort that also included Atlanta-area native Josh Smith (42), picked 17th in that same draft.

While playing college ball for Stanford from 2001-04, Childress (1) averaged 12.3 PPG in 86 games.

But Childress's playing time in Atlanta dipped in '07-'08 by seven minutes, from 36.9 to 29.9 a night, from the previous season under coach Mike Woodson (right). He averaged 11.8 points on 57 percent shooting.

While in Atlanta, Childress became a familiar face of the Hawks franchise, showing off his massive sneaker collection...

... or hanging out with some young Hawks fans, such as Locust Grove's Richard Guyton Jr., winner of the 2007 "Take Chill To School" essay contest.

Childress established a rep among teammates as a techno guy for his love of electronic gadgets and new technology.

Childress will have the option of opting out his contract with Olympiakos at the end of each season, giving him maximum flexibility were he to choose to return to the NBA after this season.

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Josh Childress (with ball) is leaving the Hawks for Olympiakos of Greece, a Euroleague team, just months after Atlanta took future NBA champion Boston to seven games in first-round NBA playoff action.

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