The Atlanta Hawks have moved on from Nathan Knight as he signed on with the Milwaukee Bucks. Knight, who was the victim of a COVID shortened season in the G-League, meaning that he did not get to develop in a way that he otherwise could have.
What Knight bought to the franchise was a level of energy that was infectious. He was willing to do anything that was asked of him by the coach. He was never given a regular amount of court time so it was difficult for Knight to develop.
Despite this he played in 33 games, averaging 3.8 points and 2.2 rebounds in 8.5 minutes per game. He was inefficient with his shooting, going at 37.0 from the field and a very poor 18.2 from beyond the arc. Again, it is very hard to get a rhythm when you do not get regular playing time.
The Nathan Knight era with the Atlanta Hawks was fun.
More from Soaring Down South
- Start, Bench, Cut: Sorting through the Hawks’ power forward options
- Hawks’ Bogdan Bogdanovic reacts to earning FIBA World Cup championship bid
- When does training camp start for the Atlanta Hawks?
- Grade the trade: Hawks deal Trae Young to Clippers in shocking proposal
- Dejounte Murray rips NBA 2K after Atlanta Hawks ratings reveal
While the numbers do not suggest it, Knight was a breath of fresh air for the Hawks. In just his second game, Knight scored 14 points on 4-of-5 shooting from the field, including 2-of-3 from deep. He also collected three rebounds, all in just 18 minutes.
You would think that Knight would have earned more court time with this showing. However, coach Pierce gave him less than a minute in the next five games. This certainly was not a masterclass in how to develop a player.
Knight would have two more strong games in the regular season. He had 16 points, nine rebounds, two assists, two blocks, and a steal in 22 minutes in a big win against the Cleveland Cavaliers. He made 9-of-10 from the line in a really good effort.
Then, in an example of how to develop talent, Nate McMillan played him for big minutes in the next game against the Houston Rockets. Knight did not let his coach down, scoring 15 points in the win. He also played the last game of the season collecting a double-double.
Unfortunately for fans of Nathan Knight, they made the right decision when they kept Skylar Mays. They are probably going to offer the newly drafted Sharife Cooper the other two-way spot, such is the upside of the draft steal.