Luke Kornet was a vocal opponent of the Atlanta Hawks' planned game-night collaboration with local strip club Magic City celebrating the "iconic cultural institution."

The NBA is in agreement. The league announced on Monday that the Hawks, in fact, will not move forward with the "Magic City Monday" promotion scheduled for their March 16 home game against the Orlando Magic. 

The NBA announced the decision by the league to cancel the promotion in a news release from the league office Monday with a statement from commissioner Adam Silver.

"When we became aware of the Atlanta Hawks' scheduled promotion, we reached out to Hawks leadership to better understand their plans and rationale," Silver's statement reads. "While we appreciate the team's perspective and their desire to move forward, we have heard significant concern from a broad array of league stakeholders, including fans, partners and employees. 

"I believe canceling this promotion is the right decision for the broader NBA community."

Hawks 'disappointed' in NBA's decision

The Hawks released a statement expressing their "disappointment" in the decision.

"While we are very disappointed in the NBA's decision to cancel our Magic City Night promotion, we fully respect its decision.

"As a franchise, we remain committed to celebrating the best of Atlanta — with authenticity — in ways that continue to unite and bring us all together."

The team announcement promoting "Magic City Monday" that's hosted on NBA.com remained live as of the time of the NBA's statement canceling it. 

Magic City is, indeed, a cultural institution in Atlanta. Former Hawk Lou Williams was openly and proudly a frequent patron of the club, which is known as much for its wings as its entertainment offerings. Magic City's menu now features "LouWill' lemon pepper wings named after the former Hawks guard. 

Variations of those wings were also on the menu for the Hawks' planned "Magic City Monday" promotion. Also planned for the now-canceled promotion were a halftime performance from Atlanta rapper T.I. and a "a limited-edition Peachtree-themed hoodie" emblazoned with "‘MAGIC CITY’" available for purchase at the team store on game night.

Nude entertainment was not on the menu.

Wings, T.I. still on; podcast and hoodie are not

In a statement confirming the cancelation to fans who'd purchased tickets to the game, the Hawks announced a revised plan for Monday's promotion. T.I. will still perform, and wings will be available. 

The Peachtree-themed hoodie will no longer be for sale. And a pregame podcast that planned to feature a conversation about a documentary on Magic City "and the impact of the club on Atlanta music, sports, and culture" featuring feature Magic City founder Michael “Mr. Magic” Barney will no longer take place.

Legendary rapper and ‘King of the South’ T.I. will perform at halftime as scheduled.

The limited-edition Peachtree themed hoodie will no longer be available for purchase at the game on March 16th. All pre-ordered merchandise will be honored and delivered as previously scheduled.

The live recording of the Hawks AF Podcast including Hawks’ Principal Owner, filmmaker, and actor Jami Gertz, T.I. and Magic City founder Michael “Mr. Magic” Barney has been cancelled. Fans who purchased tickets to the recording will be contacted directly.

The full array of award-winning culinary options available at State Farm Arena for Hawks games will be available, including wings.

Backlash that preceded NBA's decision

The NBA did not identify the "stakeholders" who approached the league with concerns about the promotion. Kornet, a center for the San Antonio Spurs, was certainly one of them. 

Kornet felt strongly enough last week to voice his concerns about the promotion planned for a game between the Hawks and Orlando Magic 1,000 miles away from San Antonio. Kornet wrote a blog post on the subject he headlined "Concerning the Atlanta Hawks." In it, he requested that "the Atlanta Hawks cancel this promotional night with Magic City."

"Allowing this night to go forward without protest would reflect poorly on us as an NBA community, specifically in being complicit in the potential objectification and mistreatment of women in our society," Kornet wrote.

At the time, Kornet was the only public NBA voice raising concern about the promotion. Warriors forward Al Horford, who played nine seasons for the Hawks reposted Kornet's blog post on social media.

"Well said, Luke," Horford wrote.

This story will be updated.

ASSOCIATED PRESS

The Los Angeles Lakers have ruled out LeBron James for Sunday's game against the New York Knicks with an elbow contusion. 

James will miss a second consecutive game with the injury that he sustained on Thursday against the Denver Nuggets. James was initially listed as questionable for Sunday's game. 

James suffered the injury in the final minutes of Thursday's 120-113 loss to the Nuggets. He briefly returned to the game, but left again with 22.3 seconds remaining as the Lakers trailed by five points. 

James told reporters after the game that was "pretty sore" and considered himself as day-to-day. He then missed Friday's 128-117 win over the Indiana Pacers. And now he'll miss Sunday's national TV showdown against the Knicks (3:30 ET, ABC). 

The Lakers enter Sunday's game at 38-25, a half game behind the fifth-place Nuggets in the Western Conference. They hold a two game lead over 36-27 Phoenix Suns for sixth place and the final guaranteed playoff berth in the West.

ASSOCIATED PRESS

The New England Patriots are releasing four-time Pro Bowl wide receiver Stefon Diggs, NFL Network reports. 

The team has informed Diggs of the decision and intends to release him at the start of the new NFL year that starts on March 11, per the report. Diggs appeared to confirm the decision with a post on Instagram declaring "We family forever."

Instagram/stefondiggs

The decision will leave the Patriots without their No. 1 receiver from their 2025 season that produced a trip to the Super Bowl. Diggs led the Patriots in receptions and receiving yards with 85 catches for 1,013 and 4 touchdowns. 

Barring a significant offseason addition, Diggs' absence will leave a significant hole in New England's lineup and third-year quarterback Drake Maye without a true No. 1 receiving option.

This story will be updated.