{
  "id": 11408149,
  "title": "‘Didn’t allow it’ – Deion Sanders reveals he was close to playing for the Atlanta Hawks",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/02/didnt-allow-it-deion-sanders-reveals-he-was-close-to-playing-for-the",
  "topic": "culture",
  "section": "Culture",
  "published": "2026-10-02T09:40:47.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Yahoo Sports",
    "slug": "yahoo-sports",
    "url": "https://sports.yahoo.com/articles/didn-t-allow-deion-sanders-094047390.html"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Deion Sanders, the legendary NFL and MLB player, has revealed that he was close to playing for the Atlanta Hawks in the NBA. Known as \"Coach Prime\" for his legendary status in sports, Sanders was a three-sport athlete in high school, excelling in basketball, baseball, and football. He made it to the MLB World Series with the Atlanta Braves and won two Super Bowl rings from different teams in the NFL. However, despite his immense talent and desire to play basketball professionally, Sanders was not allowed to play for the Hawks in the NBA while in college. Sanders spoke to the Hawks' General Manager about his plan to play three sports, including basketball, but his wish was denied. The two-time Super Bowl winner, who was known for his electrifying dunks and nicknamed 'Prime Time,' still holds a legendary status among current NBA players, even though he never had the opportunity to play basketball professionally.",
  "summary": "Deion Sanders has revealed that he could have been a three-sport athlete and played in the NBA if he hadn’t been stopped. Coach Prime, as he is famously known, is the only individual to ever play in the MLB World Series and the NFL Super Bowl.",
  "key_points": [
    "Deion Sanders, former NFL and MLB player, close to playing for Atlanta Hawks.",
    "Sanders, three-sport athlete in high school, excelled in basketball, baseball, football.",
    "Sanders denied playing for Hawks in NBA while in college, despite desire to play basketball."
  ],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}