Earlier today, we graded the Atlanta Hawks' start to the season on a team level. The squad earned a B- overall after vaulting to fifth in the East despite some shaky play. Let's jump into the individual player grades.
Nickeil Alexander-Walker - A
NAW has started with Trae Young sidelined, but he'll be on the bench come playoff time. The Hawks got the steal of free agency with Alexander-Walker, as he has exceeded expectations on both ends of the floor. He looks like a true creator when running the offense without Young, and should be an elite supporting piece to put alongside Young. He has arguably outpaced Dyson Daniels on the defensive end too, drawing fouls and using his length to make his impact felt across the floor.
Onyeka Okongwu: A-
Atlanta's most consistent player has been their sixth man. Okongwu, who has put together a solid early-season case for Sixth Man of the Year, has shown significant offensive improvement to start out the 2025 season. His defensive effort has been consistent as ever, allowing him to develop into one of the more well-rounded bigs in the league. After 13 games, it is time to consider the possibility that Okongwu could be better than Kristaps Porzingis.
Mouhamed Gueye: A
Mo Gueye has been balling, and the lack of consistent playing time he receives is an insult to his performance. He has had his best offensive season by a longshot as he's finally looked like a player who belongs on the floor. He's shooting 68.4% inside the arc, a 12% increase from his career high while maintaining a solid three point stroke. His defense, of course, continues to be his strong suit as he solved many of Atlanta's defensive weaknesses simply by entering the rotation. We will continue to lobby for Mo minutes.
Luke Kennard: C+
The addition of Kennard was a perfect fit on paper, but the on-court product has been shakier than you would like. Kennard is still shooting 45% from deep on 3.6 attempts a night, but he is passing up on open looks as Quin Snyder has tasked him with being a playmaker. He has done well in this role, but the reason you sign Kennard is for his shooting, not his playmaking. Perhaps Vit Krejci could relieve Cool Hand Luke of his playmaking duties and allow him to specialize as a shooter.
Asa Newell - B+ (curved to rookie expectations)
Newell has only played significant minutes when Atlanta was missing multiple players to injury, but his production has been a pleasant surprise regardless. He had an ultra-impactful four-minute stint in his debut against the Magic, cashing in 7 fourth quarter points and a game-tying lob. Newell looks to be an absolute steal at 23 and could enter the healthy rotation sooner than expected.
While you can nitpick individual players' performances, there is no denying the Hawks' bench is light-years ahead of its middling past. With arguably the best bench in the league, Atlanta is primed to make a deep playoff run IF Atlanta's starters can improve upon their performance. These players have overperformed in their roles, but as Young and Porzingis's injuries have shown us, the team needs each and every one of its starters to reach its full potential.