Soaring Down South
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Atlanta Hawks’ 2018-19 Season in Review: Justin Anderson

By Dallin Duffy

ATLANTA, GA - APRIL 3: Justin Anderson #1 of the Atlanta Hawks seen following the game against the Philadelphia 76ers on April 3, 2019 at State Farm Arena in Atlanta, Georgia. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2019 NBAE (Photo by Scott Cunningham/NBAE via Getty Images)
ATLANTA, GA - APRIL 3: Justin Anderson #1 of the Atlanta Hawks seen following the game against the Philadelphia 76ers on April 3, 2019 at State Farm Arena in Atlanta, Georgia. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2019 NBAE (Photo by Scott Cunningham/NBAE via Getty Images) /
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Atlanta Hawks
Justin Anderson #1 of the Atlanta Hawks (Photo by Glenn James/NBAE via Getty Images) /

Initial Expectations

Anderson came into the league as an elite athlete that needed some fine tuning to be a contributing player for a team. The Mavericks drafted him with the 21st overall pick in 2015, but traded him during his sophomore season to the Sixers.

During those three years across both teams, Anderson averaged 14.3 minutes per game, putting up 5.8 points and 2.8 rebounds as well. He got some good postseason experience as a youngster, racking up 12 appearances and 1 start in the playoffs.

Because he was a fairly consistent piece of the 52-win 76ers’ rotation, most assumed the forward would be an even bigger piece for a Hawks team without many proven assets.

He entered the season in a battle with DeAndre’ Bembry and Kevin Huerter for minutes behind Taurean Prince and Kent Bazemore, and Anderson, in effect, lost. It didn’t help that he was held out with a leg injury until mid-November.

Once he made his debut, the expectations were that he would become a role player that can do a little bit of everything.

By that measure, he hit for par, as he could always be counted on for some high-energy minutes whenever his name was called.

At times you can still see why someone spent a first round selection on him, and while he was behind a number of other forwards in Atlanta, Anderson will definitely have a spot on an NBA roster next season (even if it’s not with the Hawks).

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