Quin Snyder and the Hawks agreed to a multi-year contract extension Monday morning, and now all the organization can do is look forward to an eventful summer.
Atlanta's in the quality spot they're in now in large part due to the excellent display of coaching Snyder's showcased in just three full seasons at the helm. While they haven't gone on a signature postseason run during his tenure, they've made significant improvements each year, and are finally on the correct path.
While it's reasonable to believe he's got them all connected and playing the best ball of their careers, some are benefitting from his nightly gameplan more than others.
3. Nickeil Alexander-Walker
This one's a no-brainer. They had limited familiarity with each other before they met once again in Atlanta, and there was clearly an immense level of confidence in Alexander-Walker's ability to contribute at a higher level than he has his entire career in his first with the Hawks.
As soon as Alexander-Walker touched down in the city that's embraced him like no other, Snyder made sure to let him know he envisions a bigger role for him than he was used to moving forward.
Sometimes, all it takes for a player to reach their full potential is for a respected coach to have confidence in them to execute. NAW delivered, and more, in his 2025-26 breakout season, and now he'll enter this new era of Hawks basketball in the same role he earned under Coach Snyder.
2. Dyson Daniels
Snyder went as far as to say Daniels had a "career-year" last season, even with his controversial offensive inconsistencies. His fourth NBA season, and second with the Hawks under Quin Snyder, wasn't perfect, but he has a coach that believes in him.
He wants Daniels to shoot, contrary to what many in the fanbase view as ideal. That belief paid off as the season progressed, as Daniels slowly began to find his outside shot again in the later portion of the year.
Even if he enters the next few seasons shooting as poorly as he did in the first half of this past one, he'll still be an impactful player due to his brilliantly versatile defense. That belief from his coach, though, is what's going to help him grow more than anything in his young career.
1. Onyeka Okongwu
Who would've thought a coach who spent the prime seasons of his career with Rudy Gobert at center would thrive even more with an undersized big?
Onyeka Okongwu's growth has been a remarkable success story, and while he deserves most of the credit for staying disciplined and becoming the best version of himself on the court, he wasn't able to do it alone.
Coach Snyder uses Okongwu as a focal point of the offense, often utilizing his underrated playmaking and relying on his impressive outside shooting. He's another player who had the best season of his career last season, and there's no reason to believe he won't again next year.
Quin Snyder is here to stay, and the players should be thrilled.
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