This coming season is pivotal for the Atlanta Hawks.
For all of the changes they have already undergone, they still feel ripe for a significant overhaul if they fall short once again. But Hawks star Dejounte Murray doesn’t sound like he plans on letting that happen.
“You Don’t Want To Miss This Year!!!!! TRUST ME,” Murray said in an Instagram story promoting the Hawks season ticket package.
Murray averaged 20.5 points, 6.1 assists, 5.3 rebounds, and 1.5 steals while shooting 34.4% on a career-high 5.2 attempts from beyond the arc last season, his first with the Hawks. He acknowledged the difficulties of adjusting to his new surroundings last season and expressed optimism over the future alongside Trae Young.
Young has also spoken of the impact Murray had and their potential as a duo.
“I think we can be we can be special,” Young said on “Gil’s Arena” on August 4. “For me, I don’t like necessarily talking about it. I like going out and doing it. So like it’s different for me talking about it. But I know we can be special.”
They already made history as the first duo to average 20.0 points and 6.0 assists since Michael Jordan and Scottie Pippen of the Chicago Bulls in the 90s.
Murray has already set out to prove himself right.
“I Promise This The Best Season of Em All!!! Locked In FASHO,” Murray said in a previous Instagram story,
Young has also vowed to be better and both players have spoken optimistically about the impact of having Quin Snyder as head coach for an entire season.
They aren’t the only ones hyping up the upcoming season either.
Hawks’ Clint Capela hypes season, trains with Sixers’ James Harden, P.J. Tucker
Starting center Clint Capela also shared the promotional graphic, captioning his “It’s almost that time now!”
He also shared a video of himself in the gym with P.J. Tucker and James Harden of the Philadelphia 76ers. The three were teammates for three seasons on the Houston Rockets from 2018 through 2020.
— . (@BBallVids1) August 25, 2023
Harden is mired in a contract/trade dispute with the Sixers front office and, namely, team president Daryl Morey.
Capela has seen his name come up in connection to several teams as well.
But this video is far more likely to just be three friends getting a workout in during the offseason than anything else. And the Hawks were already said to be comfortable rolling into the regular season as currently constructed once their long-rumored pursuit of Toronto Raptors forward Pascal Siakam went cold.
Capela did share a video of himself in the gym working on his jump shot earlier in the offseason, though. One significant knock against the former rebounding champ has been a severe lack of range offensively.
If he can consistently hit shots from the midrange while still providing his defense and rebounding, the Hawks’ ceiling could be higher than even the most optimistic of predictions for next season.
And, if not, they can turn to Onyeka Okongwu to provide more of an offensive threat from the middle.