Atlanta Hawks Season Report Cards: Kevin Huerter

Atlanta Hawks second-year report card for Kevin Huerter.

Kevin Huerter played well in his sophomore season. He improved in a lot of areas statistically and measures up to be a key piece for the future of the Atlanta Hawks.

Huerter started in most of the games he played in as Trae Young’s backcourt partner but struggled to find consistency and missed some time due to a rotator cuff injury. Nonetheless, Hawks fans should be pleased with his overall performance this season.

Atlanta Hawks Season Report Card: Kevin Huerter

Offensive Grade: B+

Huerter is mostly known as a spot-up shooter. His main role in the offense is to score and shoot from the perimeter. Huerter boasted a very good three-point percentage at 38.0, but a lackluster overall field goal percentage of 41.3. He is a dangerous shooter if he is unguarded and has the ability to hit stepback threes.

When the Hawks drafted him in 2018, he was expected to come in and be a shooter. He expanded his role a little bit this year. Huerter flashed playmaking ability and the ability to get to the bucket and score inside.

Atlanta’s offense obviously runs through Trae Young, but he can’t do everything by himself. This season, Huerter stepped up and showed everyone that he is more than just a spot-up shooter.

This video contains Huerter’s highlights against the Celtics in February, and in this particular game, he displayed that his offensive game is more complete than people give him credit for.

Playmaking Grade: B

Huerter is not a super flashy player, but his playmaking ability is underrated. He was often trusted to bring the ball up the court and excelled in fastbreak situations.

This grade would be higher, but Huerter is not a player that dominates with the ball in his hands. His handle is not the tightest, and he does not drive to the hoop as often as he should.

His passing goes overlooked. He has a connection with the big men on the roster when they roll to the hoop. This is an aspect of his game that is important because Young will not always be on the floor to handle the ball and control the game. Kevin Huerter improved his playmaking this year, but he still has a long way to go.

Rebounding Grade: C+

Huerter’s frame limits him from being an elite rebounder for his height, but his 5.2 rebounds per 40 minutes is respectable. His rebounding numbers don’t jump out at you, but some of that can be attributed to his tendency to get out in transition.

Defensive Grade: C+

Huerter brings effort and energy on the defensive side of the ball. It is his thin frame that causes a limitation for him on defense. He is not a player that is going to lock down the opposing team’s best wings, and this is something that will factor into the starting lineup for the Hawks moving forward.

Trae young needs a backcourt partner that can help make up for the fact that he is a below-average defender. Huerter’s size and inability to be a lockdown defender will be something the coaching staff will have to consider when forming the rotation next season. If Cam Reddish remains on his path of improvement, he will have a strong argument to replace Huerter in the starting lineup.

Overall Grade: B

What grade would you give Atlanta Hawks guard Kevin Huerter for this season?