All Access

Atlanta

Atlanta Alerts

A daily look at the most significant and interesting stories affecting Atlanta. Written by Emma Hurt, Kristal Dixon and Thomas Wheatley.

Axios Atlanta Thought Bubble

Axios Atlanta

👋🏾 Hiya, local associate editor Ross here!

I don't edit the Atlanta newsletter, but as a native of the city, I had to take a look back at one of my favorite shows.

Driving the news: The third season of "Atlanta" wrapped up last week following a four-year wait after Season Two ended. (You can blame the pandemic, right?)

Spoiler alert: If you haven't watched it yet, you should probably stop reading here.

 The intrigue: For the first time, the show was not set in its titular city and, instead, was based in Europe. 

Van went to Europe to find herself but ended up bloodying a man in a museum before having a breakdown in a restaurant's kitchen. 

And who could forget the start of the season's gripping horror story about Lake Lanier's history?

Yes, but: While Season Three flipped between a storyline and real-world commentary, there were plenty of moments to be remembered. Here are my top three episodes:

What happened: A man sues a Tesla investor because his family enslaved the man's ancestors, influencing other Black people to find the descendants of the white people who once owned their relatives. 

Marshall, who is shown above, soon becomes the focal point of a Black woman searching for reparations. 

Why I liked it: Yes, it was a stretch but it took an interesting approach to the idea of reparations. What if Black Americans took it upon themselves to hold individuals accountable for the long-lasting legacy of slavery?

Alfred from Atlanta looking straight ahead

What happened: Alfred (aka Paper Boi) tries a drug called "space cakes." What follows is a winding adventure in which he wanders around Amsterdam, as shown above, (probably hallucinating) before ending up where the episode began. 

Why I liked it: This isn't the first time we have seen Paper Boi go on a journey alone where he encounters shady figures. (Season Two, "Woods.")

But this time his guide is named after his mother who tells him that a friend would ensure he owns the master copies of his music. And by the end of the episode, this prediction comes true. 

There is also an encounter with Liam Neeson at a so-called Canceled Club that brings some much-needed levity to the episode. 

Overall, the circular path of the storyline is quite the mind-bender. 

What happened: Aaron, a biracial high school student pictured above, wants to go to college. But his dad, who is Black, tells him he will have to save up because he isn't going to take out loans. 

However, a philanthropist comes to his high school and says he's giving every Black senior student a scholarship.

Why I liked it: This is the season's only episode shot in black and white, which helps highlight Aaron's racial ambiguity and the experiences of biracial people. 

The viewer watches Aaron struggle to "prove" his Blackness, something that plenty of Black Americans can relate to. 

Also, the cultural jokes in this episode are comedy gold. If there is an indictment on our society in how we view race, this episode breaks it down in an entertaining manner.  

What I'm watching: Season Four of Atlanta is expected this fall. After these past 10 episodes, it's anyone's guess about where that journey will take us. 

Share your thoughts: What were your favorite episodes from Season Three, and what are you excited to see in Season Four? Send me your thoughts at ross.terrell@axios.com.

The top moments of "Atlanta's" third season

Season three of Atlanta left viewers with some head scratching moments. We ranked the top three episodes.

A picture of the title screen of Atlanta 

Screenshot from FX's "Atlanta" title scene. 

👋🏾 Hiya, local associate editor Ross here!I don&#x27;t edit the Atlanta newsletter, but as a native of the city, I had to take a look back at one of my favorite shows.Driving the news: The third season of &quot;Atlanta&quot; wrapped up last week following a four-year wait after Season Two ended. (You can blame the pandemic, right?)<ul><li>Spoiler alert: If you haven&#x27;t watched it yet, you should probably stop reading here.</li></ul>

News

With the 16th pick in the 2022 NBA Draft, the Atlanta Hawks selected Duke's AJ Griffin. 

This could be a great value pick as Axios' mock draft had Griffin being selected a few spots higher at 13. 

Details: During his lone season at Duke, Griffin averaged 10 points per game while shooting 45% from three-point range. 

He’s a 6'6" forward who should give the Hawks — namely Trae Young — even more space to operate when on offense. He will also be a prime target for Young as teams continue to run double teams at the Hawks' scoring leader. 

Defensively, Griffin is still a work in progress but he has a lot of potential. With the right coaching, his frame and length should be a nightmare for opponents.

Yes, but: The Hawks went offense first in this draft. This is surprising given they were one of the worst defensive teams in the NBA last year (even though they were an offensive juggernaut).

The intrigue: The Hawks picked a player that plays the same position as John Collins. They also selected Jalen Johnson last year, who plays power forward. So, expect there to be competition for playing time.

But the Hawks will likely release Danilo Gallinari at some point during this offseason and his offensive skills — specifically his three-point shooting — will need to be replaced. 

Our thought bubble: The Hawks still need defensive help. It's harder to find an immediate impact player in the draft, so expect the team to address that need in free agency which kicks off around June 30. 

As for Collins, aka John the Baptist, his time in a Hawks uniform may soon be coming to an end (unfortunately). 

Atlanta Hawks select Duke's AJ Griffin 2022 NBA draft

During his lone season at Duke, Griffin averaged 10 points per game while shooting 45% from three-point range.

AJ Griffin celebrating for Duke basketball.

Duke forward (and new Atlanta Hawks player) AJ Griffin celebrates after shooting a three-point basket. Photo: AP Photo/Marcio Jose Sanchez

With the 16th pick in the 2022 NBA Draft, the <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="Atlanta Hawks selected" data-vars-click-url="https://twitter.com/ATLHawks/status/1540148785082503169?s=20&amp;t=nGp-MaBvKe4BLUwwTnSNpw" data-vars-content-id="757a26cc-81a2-46b7-b721-e683f4b81933" data-vars-headline="Atlanta Hawks select Duke&#x27;s AJ Griffin 2022 NBA draft" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://twitter.com/ATLHawks/status/1540148785082503169?s=20&amp;t=nGp-MaBvKe4BLUwwTnSNpw" target="_blank">Atlanta Hawks selected</a> Duke&#x27;s AJ Griffin. <ul><li>This could be a great value pick as <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="Axios&#x27; mock draft" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/phoenix/2022/06/23/arizona-wildcats-radar-nba-draft" data-vars-content-id="757a26cc-81a2-46b7-b721-e683f4b81933" data-vars-headline="Atlanta Hawks select Duke&#x27;s AJ Griffin 2022 NBA draft" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/phoenix/2022/06/23/arizona-wildcats-radar-nba-draft" target="_self">Axios&#x27; mock draft</a> had Griffin being selected a few spots higher at 13. </li></ul>

Sports

The Atlanta Braves are about a quarter through their World Series title defense season.

Catch up quick: Last year, the Braves won it all for the first time since 1995. 

This season is also the first time since 2010 that first baseman Freddie Freeman is not on the roster. 

Reality check: It is notoriously hard to repeat as champions in professional sports, especially in the MLB. 

There haven’t been back-to-back World Series winners since the New York Yankees won three in a row from 1998 to 2000. So, odds are not in the Braves' favor. 

Yes, but: Through 42 games this season, Atlanta had an identical record to last year — 19 wins and 23 losses. Maybe history will repeat itself?

Details: While the Braves lost some players key to last year's title run (Freeman, World Series MVP Jorge Soler and Joc Pederson) they did hang on to others (NLCS MVP Eddie Rosario).

Marcell Ozuna is back after being placed on administrative leave following his arrest on domestic violence charges. 

The team's arguably best player, Ronald Acuna Jr., has also returned from a torn ACL. Both players were absent for the majority of the 2021 season and all of the playoffs.

The Braves signed Matt Olson to replace Freeman. So far, he has played decently but expectations remain high.

💭 Ross' thought bubble: We’ll give this Braves team a C+ for their first quarter of the season. 

They don’t seem to be experiencing a title hangover, but coming off a championship win, I would have liked to see some early season momentum propel them to a better record. 

What’s next: The Braves wrap up their four-game series with the Phillies on Thursday before welcoming Miami to town for a three-game set. That will conclude their seven-game homestand.

Grading the first quarter of the Atlanta Braves season

The Atlanta Braves have the same record through 42 games this season as they did during their 2021 World Series title run.

Atlanta Braves player Ronald Acuna, Jr. running

Outfielder Ronald Acuna Jr.  snags a base hit against the  Marlins this month in Miami. Photo by Eric Espada/Getty Images

The Atlanta Braves are about a quarter through their World Series title defense season.Catch up quick: Last year, the Braves won it all for the <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="first time since 1995" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/2021/11/03/atlanta-braves-win-first-world-series-since-1995" data-vars-content-id="b6dbe7b7-2584-44fe-821b-9408467b1137" data-vars-headline="Grading the first quarter of the Atlanta Braves season" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/2021/11/03/atlanta-braves-win-first-world-series-since-1995" target="_self">first time since 1995</a>. <ul><li>This season is also the first time since 2010 that first baseman Freddie Freeman is not on the roster. </li></ul>Reality check: It is notoriously hard to repeat as champions in professional sports, especially in the MLB.

Coldplay performed in front of a sold-out crowd Saturday night at Mercedes-Benz Stadium. It was an electric, soul-filled performance, and it felt like a return to normal for concerts. 

State of play: Very little would signal we are still dealing with COVID-19. Although new cases in Georgia have been slowly ticking up since early April. 

Only a few people, out of tens of thousands, were wearing masks. But there were plenty of hand sanitizing stations around the arena. 

However, social distancing is not nearly a thing anymore. 

About the concert: In my opinion, Mercedes-Benz put on one of its best performances since it opened in 2017. 

The roof opened just shortly before Coldplay took the stage to reveal a near-full moon. The weather cooperated, and the vicious Georgia humidity had little impact.

Coldplay opened with their hit "Higher Power", which sent a pulse of energy through the stadium. The performance featured an appearance from Atlanta's own Kelly Rowland. 

Going green: Before the performance, cyclists could be seen pedaling away. They were generating energy to power certain parts of the show and some of the lights on stage. 

This was a nice eco-friendly touch that fits MBS' mission. In 2017, it was the first sports venue in the U.S. to receive platinum certification by the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design rating system. 

One cool thing: Coldplay lead singer Chris Martin took time out of the show to acknowledge the cities that have recently dealt with mass shootings like Uvalde, Texas, and Chattanooga, Tennessee. 

Martin asked the crowd to send love to the people of Ukraine. 

Ross' thought bubble: This was one of the top three concerts I've ever been to. (Up there with Bruno Mars and Beyoncé, the queen. herself). The energy in the building was palpable. 

Now, if only that same level of excitement can be replicated for Atlanta Falcons' home games. (Too soon?)

What's next: Luke Combs is slated to play at MBS  on July 30. The Weeknd makes an appearance Aug. 11. 

Coldplay has stellar show in first Atlanta performance since 2012

Coldplay performed in front of a sold-out crowd at Mercedes-Benz Stadium Saturday night.

Coldplay performs in Atlanta. Photo: Ross Terrell/Axios

Music

Coldplay performed in <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="front of a sold-out crowd" data-vars-click-url="https://twitter.com/coldplay/status/1535828748045541378?s=20&amp;t=FXkA7UwMXxGF9Zdm_toRig" data-vars-content-id="b74b6e16-4607-43fa-99d5-685764a9cbc9" data-vars-headline="Coldplay has stellar show in first Atlanta performance since 2012" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://twitter.com/coldplay/status/1535828748045541378?s=20&amp;t=FXkA7UwMXxGF9Zdm_toRig" target="_blank">front of a sold-out crowd</a> Saturday night at Mercedes-Benz Stadium. It was an electric, soul-filled performance, and it felt like a return to normal for concerts. State of play: Very little would signal we are still dealing with COVID-19. Although new cases in Georgia have been <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="slowly ticking up" data-vars-click-url="https://dph.georgia.gov/covid-19-status-report" data-vars-content-id="b74b6e16-4607-43fa-99d5-685764a9cbc9" data-vars-headline="Coldplay has stellar show in first Atlanta performance since 2012" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://dph.georgia.gov/covid-19-status-report" target="_blank">slowly ticking up</a> since early April.

Things to Do

NBA free agency kicked off Thursday night. And if you're rooting for the Hawks to bring a championship to Atlanta, they took a major step toward doing that Wednesday. 

What's happening: The Hawks traded for Dejounte Murray, an all-star guard from the San Antonio Spurs. 

He is by far the best player Trae Young has played alongside. This trade alone should make Atlanta one of the top five teams in the Eastern Conference. It's time to get excited.

They gave up an aging Danilo Gallinari and three future first-round picks. (But if you're planning to be good anyway, those picks have diminishing value.)

Trade grade: A. This one passes the vibe check.

One term to know: "Woj bomb." This defines any news tweeted by ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski that sends the NBA community into a tizzy. 

Say this around your basketball-loving friends, and you will get immediate bonus points. 

Also, The Athletic's Shams Charania. If you want to know what's going on, follow these two. 

What to watch: Atlanta isn't done wheeling and dealing. They were porous defensively last year. They also want to show their Eastern Conference Finals run from two seasons ago wasn't a fluke.

Expect the Hawks to continue to go after players who are stout defensively and can contribute on both sides of the court like Murray. Turn those tweet notifications on for Woj and Charania.

And if they are successful, start practicing your version of Ice Trae's signature celebration.

My thought bubble: This is one of the most exciting parts of the NBA offseason. The Hawks have a chance to show fans they are committed to winning and will do whatever it takes to bring another championship (thanks, United and Braves) to the city. 

We're still holding out hope for the Falcons. 

How to fake it: A guide to Atlanta Hawks' trades and free agency

The Hawks took a major step toward an NBA title this week by trading for Dejounte Murray.

Trae Young of the Atlanta Hawks celebrating

NBA free agency kicked off Thursday night. And if you&#x27;re rooting for the Hawks to bring a championship to Atlanta, they took a major step toward doing that Wednesday. What&#x27;s happening: The Hawks <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="traded for Dejounte Murray" data-vars-click-url="https://www.espn.com/nba/story/_/id/34169244/sources-atlanta-hawks-acquire-guard-dejounte-murray-san-antonio-spurs-three-1st-round-picks-danilo-gallinari" data-vars-content-id="d02284dc-e935-4eff-9679-bee4e21b6510" data-vars-headline="How to fake it: A guide to Atlanta Hawks&#x27; trades and free agency" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.espn.com/nba/story/_/id/34169244/sources-atlanta-hawks-acquire-guard-dejounte-murray-san-antonio-spurs-three-1st-round-picks-danilo-gallinari" target="_blank">traded for Dejounte Murray</a>, an all-star guard from the San Antonio Spurs.

Ross Terrell

Featured stories

How to fake it: A guide to Atlanta Hawks' trades and free agency

Atlanta Hawks select Duke's AJ Griffin 2022 NBA draft

Coldplay has stellar show in first Atlanta performance since 2012

Grading the first quarter of the Atlanta Braves season

The top moments of "Atlanta's" third season