When Atlanta native Asa Newell suited up for his hometown team on October 24th, Fans knew he was talented coming out of UGA, but the former Bulldog has exceeded expectations. General Manager Onsi Saleh rolled the dice on draft night by trading down to select Newell. Fast forward seven months later, and he’s a consistent piece of the Hawks rotation.
His versatility has been a massive component of the underhanded Hawks' frontcourt. The 20-year-old has been forced to learn on the fly, and it’s helped the rookie acclimate to the league. Although the Hawks suffered seven consecutive losses, Newell was a bright spot in the darkness.
A major reason for the losing streak throughout the holiday season was a lack of interior defense, mainly due to Kristaps Porzingis's absence. KP’s illness took him out of the rotation on December 5th, and Newell was given a consistent increase in minutes for the remainder of the month.
Over his last 11 games, Asa averaged 7.7 points, 3.0 rebounds, and 1.0 assists, while shooting 62.5% from the field. It might not seem like much, but his decision-making at the right moments has led to some great flashes. In the Hawks' recent 126-102 win over the Minnesota Timberwolves, he absorbed contact and boxed out men almost twice his age, finishing the game with nine rebounds.
To any experienced ball watcher, they’ll see that Newell has mountains of potential given what he’s shown so far. He has an excellent motor, and his weaknesses from college are turning into his strengths.
The benefit of the Bulldog
The most notable development for Newell is his significantly improved three point shot. He finished his time in Athens shooting 29.2% from deep – a high enough clip to show promise, but too low to expect instant production.
He finished the month of December shooting 51.7% after playing 12 games, and he leads all rookies for the season (minimum 10 3PA). Given that Quin Snyder will be his head coach for the foreseeable future, Newell will receive more minutes moving forward. The offensive tactician has found a place for Asa in the offense, and it’s allowed the Hawks to run a five-out lineup with Porzingis playing the five.
Whenever he’s alongside Kristaps, the Hawks have better rim protection, and the pairing has the longest combined wingspan when they’re on the floor together. They both possess an incredible 7’6 wingspan, which is more impressive for Asa, considering his four-inch height disadvantage.
Even during their series of unfortunate events, Newell remained aggressive, which is truly the best part of his game. He’s taken a fearless approach to the game, and his observations suggest it's already slowing down for him.
After witnessing his potential, Asa’s development is crucial for the Hawks’ future. If he’s not playing for the main roster, he needs to be in College Park, where he’s thrived. He averaged 20.0 points, five rebounds, and three assists after playing three games for SkyHawks head coach Steve Klei.
Klei increased his usage, and Newell obliged, letting it fly from three. He shot at least four three-pointers a game and made 2.3, resulting in a 58% clip. His best performance came on December 2nd, where he dominated the game with 27 points & 11 rebounds in a 135-103 win over the Westchester Knicks. After the game, I asked him what he wanted to improve on the most by the end of his rookie season, and he replied:
“I just wanna be able to play off the dribble [more], getting downhill and also play in the short pick and roll,” Newell said. “ I have to get better at my decision-making and also just staying consistent with my three-point shot.”
One month later, he’s already showing improvement in these areas, so only Asa knows what he can truly achieve in this league. Drafting him was a massive win for the Hawks as they wait for the New Orleans Pelicans' pick to materialize next summer, so the package deal certainly makes Newell one of the biggest steals of the 2025 NBA draft.