We are officially 12% of the way through the 2026-27 NBA season, and the Atlanta Hawks are finally hitting their stride. Even with Jalen Johnson resting his ankle after a recent sprain, the Hawks have won three games in a row.
They have the longest win streak in the Eastern Conference while sitting at the fourth seed with a 6-4 record. Although they’ve played only ten games, that’s a healthy sample size to analyze the good and bad in their performance.
The Good: some of the Hawks are hitting their strides
One thing that stood out most across these first ten games was Atlanta’s shooting. It all starts with Nickeil Alexander-Walker, and there’s no doubt the 28-year-old worked hard last summer.
The Toronto native is shooting 39.8% from three. He’s even more aggressive than last season, increasing his points average to 22.3 from 20.8. His ability to create his own shot has improved as well, and it’s led to impressive highlights.
He broke the Hawks' single-game three-point record with nine against the Indiana Pacers on Nov. 2. His consistency has been contagious, spreading throughout the roster. Hawks center Onyeka Okongwu is also scoring the ball well.
He’s produced 16.8 points, 11.6 rebounds, and 2.2 assists over his last five games. Okongwu has been much more assertive lately, and it’s clear he’s trying to nullify his height disadvantage with improved technique.
His turnaround layup at the rim is a reliable tool that's helped him shoot 48.6% from the field. If he can sustain this improvement in his physicality all year, he’ll earn a new contract extension.
He hasn’t talked about his contract with the media, but it’s certainly an underlying motivation after seeing Hawks guard Dyson Daniels sign a $100 million extension in October 2025.
Both Okongwu and Alexander-Walker are big reasons why the Hawks have found recent success, but point guard Kingston Flemings has also played a major role despite his rookie status.
On Wednesday night, the 19-year-old took the starting spot after CJ McCollum relinquished it to his young teammate. Kingston is averaging 12.5 points, 5.0 assists, and 2.0 rebounds over the last two games.
It was unexpected to see him start in the first ten games, but he’s maintained excellent composure for his age. His burst of speed has made the Hawks even faster in transition, so it’ll be interesting to see the difference with a larger sample size.
The Bad: The Hawks are still battling team health issues
On Wednesday night against the Washington Wizards, Hawks forward Asa Newell hyperextended his big toe. The Hawks left D.C. with a victory, but their soldier sustained an injury that will keep him out for at least two weeks.
This loss is devastating for Atlanta. Not only is Newell on the bench, but Jalen Johnson is still resting his ankle, and Mouhamed Gueye is recovering from a left-foot fracture that required surgery.
Considering the fact that Hawks rookie center Henri Veesaar is also out for the season. Atlanta’s frontcourt is barely holding on, so it’s safe to say the Hawks are still struggling with health issues.
They couldn’t play ten games without losing rotation pieces, and there’s no clear solution to prevent injuries, especially at the professional level. All the Hawks can do is build more muscle, but it’ll take time to fortify their young bodies.
Once their health is under control, we’ll know this roster's true potential.
This Hawks team is hitting its stride with all of the new pieces. It took time for everyone to find their roles, like with Kingston Flemings and CJ McCollum.
Switching these two has made a huge difference in their pace, and McCollum has shined in the second unit. Pairing him with Sixth Man Of The Year candidate Aaron Wiggins has given the Hawks a lethal backcourt off the bench, and Lu Dort is finally in an offensive rhythm.
They just have to maintain their consistency on defense, and their full identity will reveal itself once their injured players return.
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