Atlanta Hawks: 7 Players Set for Breakout Years in 2018-19

2. John Collins

Speaking of John Collins, you pretty much knew his name was going to be found somewhere in the upper echelon of this list.

After an excellent Second Team All-Rookie showing in his first year in the league, John the Baptist completely obliterated Summer League for two games before being shut down in advance of playing a major role for the Atlanta Hawks in 2018-19.

Though it could be debated that JC’s breakout season came last year, when he averaged 10.7 points, 7.3 rebounds, 1.3 assists, 1.1 blocks and 0.6 steals per game in 24 minutes a night, there is still plenty of room for improvement and growth in Collins’s game in his first season as a focal point for the Atlanta Hawks on both offense and defense.

JC showed increased range during Summer League, pulling up for above-the-break threes and even taking defenders off the dribble, which was something that was rarely seen during his rookie year.

Collins has a lot to live up to after his tremendous rookie campaign, but if he can continue to grow and flourish in the modern NBA landscape, he has a chance to be the best breakout player on the Atlanta Hawks in 2018-19.

1. Taurean Prince

John Collins or Trae Young would be the clear-cut victor on almost any other team in the league when it comes to breakout players next season.

For the Hawks, however, Taurean Prince seems destined to have the biggest breakout year in 2018-19 after the torrid end of his 2017-18 campaign.

With both Dennis Schröder and Kent Bazemore out with injuries, much of the scoring load for the Hawks fell to then-second-year player TP.

He excelled in the role down the end of the season, putting up not one, but two 38-point games, and his three-point jumper was falling with undeniable regularity.

It was a tale of two seasons for The Prince That Was Promised, as the early portion of his 2017-18 season was marred by inconsistency and some goose-egg scoring nights.

Something clicked in the latter portion of the year, however, and perhaps it had something to do with Prince’s inclusion in the Rising Stars Game during the All-Star break.

Whatever the case, Prince came back hungry and ready to dominate, which he did for the most part – even leading the team to wins they had no business getting as the tanking was at its peak.

If Prince continues the tear he was on to end last season, then he will hands-down be the best breakout player on the Atlanta Hawks in 2018-19. Just look at him in this recent pickup game against various NBA players:

https://twitter.com/Ballislife/status/1030521642248691712

Not too shabby, TP! Not too shabby.

Keep it locked to Soaring Down South for all your Atlanta Hawks news and future prognostication.