One NBA Player Just Took Down the League's Strip Club Party and Won

NBA Shuts Down Atlanta Hawks Strip Club Promotion After Christian NBA Player Speaks Out

The NBA has officially canceled the Atlanta Hawks' planned "Magic City Night" promotion after San Antonio Spurs center Luke Kornet publicly condemned the event in a viral Medium post.

The Hawks had announced the promotion for their March 16 home game against the Orlando Magic, billing it as a tribute to an "iconic cultural institution." The event was set to feature special edition merchandise, a halftime performance by rapper T.I., and the strip club's signature Lemon Pepper wings.

Kornet, 30, published his criticism on March 2, writing plainly about the dangers of glorifying the adult entertainment industry.

"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."

The Spurs center went further, highlighting the real human cost behind the glamour.

"Workers experience abuse, harassment, and violence to which they should never be subjected."

Kornet's stance quickly drew support from across the basketball world and beyond. Former Hawks player Al Horford publicly backed his position. Focus on the Family praised Kornet's "courage and integrity," while Liberty Christian School, his alma mater, expressed pride in their alumnus for "taking a stand for his beliefs."

NBA Commissioner Adam Silver announced the cancellation on March 9, stating the league had "heard significant concerns from a broad array of league stakeholders, including fans, partners and employees."

Luke Kornet's Bold Christian Stand Forces NBA to Cancel Strip Club Celebration

The Hawks responded that they were "very disappointed" but respected the decision, committing to celebrate Atlanta "with authenticity." Some elements of the evening remained, including T.I.'s halftime performance and the sale of Lemon Pepper wings.

Silver added that canceling the promotion was "the right decision for the broader NBA community."

The Crusader's Opinion

One man stood up and an entire league had to listen. Luke Kornet did what every Christian man should do when evil is normalized: he called it what it is. The NBA was about to throw a party celebrating a strip club where women are exploited, degraded, and treated as commodities, and they dressed it up as "culture." Imagine the outrage if a team hosted "Bible Night" with a halftime sermon. They would have burned the arena down. But a strip club? That gets a press release and branded merchandise. Thank God for men like Kornet who refuse to stay silent while a billion dollar league markets human exploitation as entertainment.

Take Action

• Write to NBA Commissioner Adam Silver and thank the league for making the right call. Contact the NBA at contact.nba.com
• Send a message of encouragement to Luke Kornet via the San Antonio Spurs' official social media accounts for his courageous stand
• Support Focus on the Family as they continue to champion faith and family values in public life
• Talk to your children about what real respect for women looks like, using Kornet's example as a conversation starter
• Support organizations fighting human trafficking and exploitation, such as www.TheShepherdsShield.org and Exodus Cry