Atlanta Hawks: Kevin Huerter reminded “daily” of his Game 7 performance
Atlanta Hawks swingman Kevin Huerter is heading into a pivotal season. He’s going into his fourth year, the player affectionately known as ‘Red Velvet’ will be looking to cash in, and with good reason. He was a key part of the Hawks turnaround last season and, somehow, improved that value in the postseason.
Huerter averaged 11.9 points and shot a career-low 36.3 percent from deep. But he also set career-highs in field goal percentage, effective field goal percentage, steal, and win-shares. He also set a career-low with 1.1 turnovers despite increased usage.
It’s a performance in the postseason, though, that has gotten K’Von the most attention this summer.
Atlanta Hawks wing Kevin Huerter is getting a lot more attention these days
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Speaking with The Daily Gazette, a local area paper in New York, about his charity event (518 Hoopfest) set for Saturday, September 4, Huerter says things are certainly different this offseason.
“Definitely getting recognized a bit more in Atlanta. Can’t imagine what it’ll be like when I’m home.”
That recognition is thanks to the Hawks run during which the 6-foot-7 former Maryland Terrapin averaged 11.1 points per game and, more importantly, continued expanding his game by being another ball-handler and a good defender.
Nate McMillan spoke of Huerter often having to guard the other team’s best player with their best perimeter defenders in De’Andre Hunter and Cam Reddish out for most of the playoffs.
Huerter says fans often have one thing on their minds when they see him: his 27-point explosion in Game 7 against the Philadelphia 76ers.
The most impressive parts of that game were that he did it on just 18 shots. Only four of those shots were threes.
“That’s not a bad thing to be remembered by.”
He’s right, especially when it comes time to negotiate. Schlenk has already made it known an extension is a priority and, armed with information like this, the player has to like his chances.
Of Atlanta’s “improbable” run, Huerter let it be known they never felt that way, saying, “In our locker room, it was: Why not this year?”
That mindset will have to carry over into this season. For all of the good they’ve done in the offseason, they won’t be sneaking up on anyone and the history of teams that lose the Eastern Conference Finals hasn’t been great in at least 20 years.
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They’ll have to be even better this coming season. But if there was a group to bank on doing so, it’s the one dubbed the best young core in the NBA.