Asa Newell is making a strong case for an All-Rookie nod early this season.
Fans certainly remember the rookie's quick impact against the Orlando Magic en route to a thrilling comeback - not only did Newell provide a pair of flashy plays, but they came at just the right time that ignited the Hawks to a beautiful avalanche that ultimately toppled Orlando.
Newell kept on rolling in a big way against OKC, stepping into a larger role with the rapidly depleted frontcourt that Quin Snyder was forced to throw out onto the hardwood.
With all three of Jalen Johnson, Zaccharie Risacher, and Kristaps Porzingis missing time, Coach Snyder felt confident entrusting Newell with an increased role against the defending champs, likely a result of his strong preseason play and his crowd-igniting sparks against the Orlando Magic the game prior.
Newell continued his hot shooting from deep, knocking down an impressive 60% of his five looks from range. This game, his shooting finally infected the rest of the roster (an incredibly welcome sight compared to the opening pair of games), becoming contagious for a net 40% from range for the Hawks.
Newell was a man possessed while crashing the offensive glass.
In addition to his strong distance shooting that continued from the Magic game, perhaps even more impressive was Newell's explosive effort on the offensive glass against the Thunder.
Newell was able to snag seven offensive rebounds - a feat that is even more impressive when you consider the personnel he did it against. The Thunder roster has one of the most intimidating big man duos in the entire NBA (Isaiah Hartenstein and Chet Holmgren), often minimizing a large percentage of offensive rebounding opportunities.
Perhaps Asa just didn't get the memo as the new kid on the block - regardless of the Thunder's big names and big bodies, he was able to wreak havoc against the champs all night long, creating a plethora of second-chance opportunities.
Despite the loss, Hawks fans should be incredibly satisfied with their rookie's performance to begin the new season. To make this even sweeter, remember that the Hawks actually traded down to acquire Asa, snagging the illustrious 2026 pick from New Orleans - unprotected, mind you - in the process.
While it's only been three games, Newell has proved he's an immediate contributor, while Derik Queen of the New Orleans Pelicans (selected through trading up with the Hawks) hasn't shown much pop during his time on the floor.
Thank you, thank you, thank you Onsi Saleh.