Despite an calm outward demeanor, Tony Ressler is more impatient and competitive than he lets on publicly.

And he wants to bring a championship to Atlanta.

So if the Hawks principle owner can buy the team and then break ground on a sorely needed, state-of-the-art practice facility in just one year, who is to argue with his ultimate goal for the NBA franchise?

“Yes, we have an objective to be a great franchise,” Ressler told The Atlanta Journal-Constitution is an exclusive interview. “A great franchise has to win a championship. When I use the term, I think it’s healthier to say we want to be a great franchise than say I want a championship. You can’t be a great franchise without being a champ. So, we have to be a champ at some point.

Read the complete story on myajc.com.

About the Author

Keep Reading

Atlanta Hawks forward Zaccharie Risacher reacts after scoring during the first half in a preseason NBA basketball game at State Farm Arena, Thursday, October 16, 2025, in Atlanta.  (Hyosub Shin/AJC)

Credit: HYOSUB SHIN / AJC

Featured

A MARTA operator is seen inside the control room of one of the new MARTA trains during the unveiling of these trains on Thursday, Jan. 30, 2025. (Miguel Martinez/AJC)

Credit: Miguel Martinez-Jimenez