For most, summer league is all about development and getting an initial feel of NBA-level intensity, but picking up wins in the process is even nicer.
The Atlanta Hawks haven't lacked any sort of competitive spirit in Las Vegas over the last few seasons. Even though the rosters have looked very different each year, their coaching staff and overall cohesion have allowed them to be as competitive as possible.
The only problem, though, is that to win anything significant in the summer, the team has to be really good. A summer league championship has to be acquired as a result of near-perfection.
Even though the young Hawks went 4-0 in last year's group play, they missed out on the playoffs and a chance to obtain a summer league ring.
Hawks are on a similar pace this year, with one key difference
Again, the rosters are very different from one another, but they share some similar players - all with similar mentalities. Among the new additions are three Hawks rookies - Henri Veesaar, Zuby Ejiofor and this year's eighth-overall pick, Kingston Flemings.
The competitive edge possessed by each of the fresh additions are a major reason President of Basketball Operations Onsi Saleh took a chance on them in the first place.
Building a winning environment starts from the ground-up, so while summer league wins aren't anything that carry significant weight, they introduce the young basketball minds to what exactly it takes to succeed.
For those who were on the roster last season - guys like Asa Newell, Jacob Toppin, Kobe Johnson and Eli Ndiaye - this year's stint in Las Vegas means a little bit more, and luckily they have their impressive rookies to back them up in their pursuit.
It's seriously wild that a team can go undefeated in the entire period of group play, and still not have a chance to compete for a title in a semi-final game.
Hawks are among a short group of teams with a 2-0 record
Hawks, Lakers and 76ers currently sit atop this year's summer league standings. The only thing, though, is that the team out of Atlanta isn't getting their first offseason action in Las Vegas.
They've been familiar with each other longer than many other teams, as they were one of the few that competed in pre-Vegas group play in Salt Lake City, Utah.
With the already-established cohesion and dominance that doesn't seem to be going anywhere, the summer Hawks appear to be in good shape to avenge the unexpected exclusion of last year's squad.
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