The Atlanta Hawks quietly signed one of the best kept secrets in the NBA during the 2025 offseason. It wasn't as high-profile of a move as acquiring Nickeil Alexander-Walker or Kristaps Porzingis, but the addition of N'Faly Dante could prove significant nevertheless.
A captivating talent with mountains of untapped potential at 23 years of age, Dante is knocking on the door of a breakout season.
Dante played the 2024-25 campaign with the Houston Rockets after going undrafted in 2024. He was thrilling when active, but the logjam at forward and center inevitably caused the rookie to be on the outside looking in of the average rotation.
With Steven Adams and All-Star Alperen Sengun at center, and a steady rotation of Tari Eason, Jabari Smith Jr., Amen Thompson, and Cam Whitmore at forward, minutes were simply tough to come by.
Atlanta projects to be just as crowded in the frontcourt with the likes of Jalen Johnson, Onyeka Okongwu, Porzingis, and Zaccharie Risacher. Opportunities for playing time could exist, however, as Porzingis has missed at least 25 games in four of the past five seasons.
As a committed defender with the potential to be a disruptive force on the offensive glass, Dante could quickly win Hawks fans over in 2025-26.
N'Faly Dante has untapped potential as a disruptive force down low
Dante stands at 6'11" and 230 pounds with an absurd 7'6" wingspan and an equally as intriguing 9'3" standing reach. That gives him instant value on the defensive end of the floor as a player who can simply extend their arms and create a measure of disruption.
What makes Dante even more intriguing is that he's already shown an understanding of how to put those physical gifts to use as a defender.
Dante finished his final season with the Oregon Ducks with averages of 17.0 points, 9.2 rebounds, 2.8 offensive boards, 1.6 assists, 1.9 blocks, and 1.7 steals per game. Unfortunately, he went undrafted due to the fact that he was a 22-year-old incoming rookie with a history of knee injuries.
Dante dominated the G League in 2024-25, however, averaging 16.5 points, 10.5 rebounds, 4.1 offensive boards, 1.2 assists, 2.1 blocks, and 1.0 steal on 74.8 percent shooting from the field.
What the film shows is that Dante is an aggressive shot blocker who isn't afraid to meet an opponent at the rim. He's equally as energetic on the offensive glass, creating second chances and throwing down powerful dunks at virtually every turn.
Refinement will be crucial, particularly at the free throw line and in avoiding foul trouble, but the talent level is undeniable.
Thankfully for the Hawks, they have Dante on the payroll through the 2026-27 season at just two years and $4,459,584. He should have every opportunity to develop alongside the current core and potentially seucre consistent playing time as a rim protector who can help stabilize Atlanta's defense.
It may not be the most high-profile signing of the summer, but the Hawks landing Dante could prove to be a significant addition moving forward.