As the Atlanta Hawks gear up for their first regular season action since April, their front-court rotation has continually been gaining more and more notoriety. With Kristaps Porzingis and Onyeka Okongwu anchoring the rotation, Atlanta's younger bigs have flourished in their limited opportunities, showing just how deep this team really is in the paint.
Some of the most notable names that have emerged out of this front-court have been Zaccharie Risacher and rookie Asa Newell, who've averaged 15 and 10.5 points per game between their preseason and summer league performances, respectively. These numbers came in limited playing time as well, with both of them only averaging around 20 minutes a game in the preseason and 23 minutes a game in the summer league.
In addition to Atlanta's young core of wings, its offseason additions have meshed well with Atlanta's offensive identity. Kristaps Porzingis and Nickeil Alexander-Walker had solid preseason campaigns, with both averaging around 14 points a game, and Luke Kennard had efficient shooting numbers in his limited action.
While Atlanta made a splash in free agency this offseason, it's been the development of their young prospects that has really elevated this team from a middle-of-the-pack team to a legit contender out of the East. With Risacher and Newell already showing promise in their early years, other young guys have excelled in the opportunities they've been given.
Guys like Jacob Toppin and Dyson Daniels have proven their worth over the last calendar year, with Toppin over-performing his preseason expectations, and Daniels recently signing a 4-year, $100 million extension with the Hawks.
But the big man who has splashed onto the scene the hardest has undoubtedly been Asa Newell. He was able to stand out even on a crowded summer league team full of bigs. In his four preseason games, Newell filled up the stat sheet and impacted the game in a number of ways that aren't typically in the archetype for a 6'10 power forward.
Newell averaged 8 points and 4 rebounds in 19 minutes a game, which also included a 19 point, 8 rebound game against the Heat. While the numbers aren't eye-popping, it's what he's shown that separates him from the other young bigs on this roster. Newell classifies himself as a two-way forward, and his preseason action proved this. With steals, blocks, and assists all prevalent in the stat books, Newell projects better than the typical offensive-minded big man.
Why the Hawks' big man excellence matters
The most promising aspect of how Atlanta's big men have performed this offseason has to be how it's shown how deep the position truly is.
The Hawks aren't just relying on one or two big men to anchor the paint, they have a unique group of big men with varying skillsets that allow Atlanta to control the tempo. Versatility like this is rare in the modern NBA, and for a team trying to make a push, this tempo control could really help this team avoid fatigue and sustain a run.
The Atlanta Hawks kick off their 2025-26 season at home on October 22nd against the Toronto Raptors, and it's been a long time since we've gotten to see Atlanta fully healthy. Combine this with all of the promise these young big men have shown over the summer, and the Hawks have the opportunity to make a big splash in the East if their team chemistry continues to progress in the right direction.