Atlanta Hawks: Kevin Huerter Showing Growth with Extended Minutes
By Chris Guest
Since December 3, only Kevin Knox of the Knicks is playing more minutes per game as a rookie (35.2) than Huerter (33.1). Among rookies that have played more than 24 minutes a game in that time frame, Huerter is third in three-point attempts per game (5.6), behind only Knox (5.7) and Luka Doncic (6.6).
Huerter is also hitting those shots at an excellent clip of 36.1 percent, which is behind only Doncic, Knox, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Collin Sexton and his teammate Trae Young, who has quietly been shooting way better from long range in recent weeks.
Overall, Huerter is shooting 37.7 percent from distance on the season, which is good for 5th among qualified rookies and ahead of runaway Rookie of the Year candidate Doncic. Huerter trails only Sexton, SGA, Allonzo Trier and Landry Shamet.
It must be noted that Huerter has shot nearly 70 more triples on the year than Sexton and more than 100 more total than both Trier and SGA. The only rookie with comparable three-point totals and percentage is Landry Shamet, who is a catch-and-shoot specialist on a top-4 team in the East right now in the 76ers.
Huerter seems to know where his bread will be buttered in the NBA, as his three-point attempt rate proves that his value on the offensive end will almost certainly be tied to his ability to knock down the three-ball.