Atlanta Hawks
The 2024-25 Atlanta Hawks can be defined by not making it out of the annual Atlanta Hawks Invitational.
What did we learn?
The Hawks did not make it out of the Play-In this time.
The annual Atlanta Hawks Invitational.
They got throttled by the Magic in the first Play-In Game, losing by 25 and shooting 4-of-21 from 3. (You know it’s bad when you’re outshot by the Magic.)
Then the Hawks lost at home in OT to the Heat, who wanted to get demolished by the Cavs in the first round more.
Honestly, for the Hawks to even win 40 games and be the No. 8 seed in the JV Eastern Conference in spite of their injuries was rather impressive.
Trae Young was the usual do-everything engine and conductor of the show in ATL.
His assist numbers were actually bonkers. Free from the chains of a shared and failed backcourt with Dejounte Murray, Trae led the league in assists (and turnovers) and had three 20-20 games. Even more encouraging was Young moving more off the ball, setting more screens this season than in all his previous season combined.
Dyson Daniels, who the Hawks fleeced the Pelicans for in the Dejounte trade, was incredible all season. The Great Barrier Thief! He led the league in steals and was named the Most Improved Player. His game-sealing steal and the locked up cele was soo classic.
Jalen Johnson was humming along as a power dunking highlight reel averaging nearly 20 points a night before a torn labrum abruptly ended his season in January. Here’s a nugget for you: through the first 30 games of a season, Jalen Johnson was the first Atlanta Hawk in franchise history to average 20 points, 10 rebounds and 5 assists.
Johnson’s season-ending injury put a major damper on things for Atlanta, but these Hawks still fought and clawed their way along.
The No. 1 overall pick in last year’s draft, Zaccharie Risacher started to really come alive at the end of the season with some big-time games. Risacher dropped a career-high 38 points in the final week (albeit against the Nets). It was his fourth 30-point game of the season. Not bad for the 19-year-old Frenchman.
Onyeka Okongwu finally took over the full-time starting center role from Capela. Okongwu started taking more 3’s this season and actually made some. Four games of 3+ 3’s isn’t bad considering his first three years in the league, he attempted a grand total of 13.
The Hawks traded De’Andre Hunter at the deadline, and while we believe they didn’t get back the proper return, they did bring in unselfish vets in LeVert and Niang.
Except with the Hawks season on the line in the Play-In, somehow that’s when Niang decided that it was his time to shine. But he did not.
Maybe Niang just wanted to save them from getting crushed in the first round.
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Additional Notes
The starting lineup going forward of Trae-Dyson-Risacher-Johnson-Okongwu only played 16 minutes together this season.
We have always loved Terance Mann, but we still need him to do more on offense than set 3’s in the corner. Just having him here as a strong defender with energy is helpful, though.
Next time you’re playing NBA trivia with the homies, try to somehow get Mo Gueye involved.
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Did our preseason Over/Under prediction hit?
With tanking off the table, let the Hawks fly! Over 36.5 wins.
Hawks 2024-25 record: (39-43)
Yes indeed! The Hawks might not have soared, but they clawed their way to the finish line to cash this.
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What’s Next?
The No. 13 overall pick in the draft (from the Kings) and the No. 22 overall pick in the draft (from the Lakers).
Obtain a true center with some size.
A backup point guard would also be a good idea.
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Favorite Hawks Highlight of the 2024-25 Season:
The Great Barrier Thief.
