Hawks rookie draft pick makes G League debut with Skyhawks after injury

Nikola Djurisic took a huge step in his unique journey with the Atlanta Hawks when he made his G League debut in College Park’s most recent outing. After suffering an unlucky foot injury at Summer League, the 2024 second-round draft pick did not stay with the Hawks through training camp and instead signed a contract with the Skyhawks – Atlanta’s G League affiliate.

Sidelined since July, Djurisic was finally cleared for action ahead of College Park’s Nov. 27 matchup with the Long Island Nets. In his first-ever G League appearance, the Serbian rookie scored five points and added two rebounds, an assist, and a block in just 11 minutes.

The Skyhawks came into the contest on a three-game losing streak but snapped it with a 122-105 win at home. Now 5-3 on the season, College Park has earned a Thanksgiving break until early December. 

Nikola Djurisic’s versatile skill set will help the Skyhawks' offense

Djurisic may be a rookie in the NBA, but he already has four years of professional experience in the EuroLeague. Adding Djurisic’s mature skill set to an already talented squad should give the G League Hawks an offensive boost for the rest of the season.

Djurisic is as versatile as it gets for a 20-year-old, bringing point-forward potential to the table with serious playmaking upside as a 6-foot-8 wing. His 3-point shot was inconsistent during his time overseas (30.5% for his career), but he went 1-for-2 from distance in his Skyhawks debut. Armed with pure shooting form and sneaky athleticism, Djurisic could develop into a legitimate threat from all areas of the court.

College Park could serve as the perfect spot for Djurisic to transform his game and eventually become an NBA-level player. The Skyhawks win basketball games with suffocating defense, but their offense has been inconsistent for a while now. As he ramps up his playing time, Djurisic should have plenty of opportunities to handle the ball and settle down College Park’s erratic offense.

Meanwhile, the draft-and-stash talent will get to train and compete in one of professional basketball’s best defensive environments. In recent years, College Park’s defensive-minded culture has helped prepare players like Keaton Wallace and Vit Krejci for significant moments in the NBA.

Krejci has started multiple games for Atlanta over the last two seasons, and Wallace recently helped the Hawks earn a historic NBA Cup upset against the Boston Celtics in his first-ever NBA start.

Given his upside and potential, Djurisic could become another Skyhawks success story if things go well for the rookie in his first College Park campaign.

Djurisic should use Jalen Johnson as an inspiring blueprint for success

If Djurisic wants to aim high, he should look to Jalen Johnson for inspiration. Some Hawks fans may have forgotten that Johnson, who has taken an All-Star caliber leap this season, spent plenty of time in the G League during his rookie year. He played 12 games for College Park, developing his all-around game as a focal point on offense.

Johnson only averaged 2.4 points with the Hawks that year, but he grew his point-forward abilities with the Skyhawks the same way Djurisic should look to moving forward. Johnson posted G League averages of 20.1 points, 11.8 boards, and 4.1 assists.

While it might be far-fetched to expect a Johnson-like trajectory for Djurisic, the Serbian youngster is one inch shorter than Johnson and is just scratching the surface of his point-forward playstyle. Djurisic would be wise to use Johnson as a blueprint for how to make the most of opportunities in the G League.

At Skyhawks Media Day in October, Djurisic told Soaring Down South that he hadn’t become too familiar with his College Park teammates yet. That will surely change as the now-healthy rookie continues his journey with the Skyhawks.

In College Park’s next game on Dec. 2, Djurisic will look to stay undefeated as a Skyhawk.