After head coach Quin Snyder benched Zaccharie Risacher for CJ McCollum, the Atlanta Hawks caught fire last season. They finished the season winning 21 of their last 30 games for a 46-36 record to capture the No. 6 seed in the Eastern Conference.
The Hawks' starting five - McCollum, Dyson Daniels, Nickeil Alexander-Walker, Jalen Johnson, and Onyeka Okongwu - was one of the best in the NBA.
Atlanta had a lot of momentum heading into its playoff matchup against the New York Knicks, but certain flaws proved disastrous in the final three games. The Hawks' once formidable starting five looked weak against a stronger Knicks squad.
However, all five Atlanta starters can improve their games to ensure more regular-season and playoff success in 2026-27.
Dyson Daniels
Daniels' three-point shooting woes were certainly a hot topic last season. He shot a career-worst 18.8% from deep on 1.5 attempts per game. However, the 23-year-old shot at least 31.1% from outside in his first three NBA campaigns. This number is not eye-popping, but 18.8% compared to 31.1% makes a big difference in how NBA teams game plan for the Hawks defensively.
Daniels must get back to a below-average three-point percentage rather than one of the worst in NBA history. Teams often guarded him with their centers last season, resulting in spacing issues for the Hawks. If he can return close to 30.0% from beyond the arc and let it fly with confidence, the opposition would be less inclined to put its center on Atlanta's All-NBA defender.
CJ McCollum and Nickeil Alexander-Walker
Alexander-Walker won Most Improved Player last season, and McCollum's move to the starting five lit the Hawks on fire last season. Both players can put the ball in the hoop at a high rate, but their lack of playmaking in the pick-and-roll limits their ceilings.
New York exposed this in the playoffs when they doubled Alexander-Walker and McCollum off screens. The Hawks' guards could not hit the roller or find cutters out of traps, leading to bad turnovers and easy buckets for the Knicks on the other end.
In fact, both players picked up more turnovers than assists in the 2026 playoffs. Alexander-Walker averaged 2.8 turnovers and 2.7 dimes, while McCollum averaged 3.5 miscues and 2.0 assists per game.
The Hawks led the league in assists last season at 30.1 per contest. If these Atlanta guards improve their passing vision and ability to make quicker reads, this number could jump even higher in 2026-27.
Jalen Johnson
Johnson entered unfamiliar territory last season. He cemented himself as the clear franchise player and number one option after Atlanta traded Trae Young to the Washington Wizards. He responded with flying colors, averaging career highs across the board, making his first All-Star appearance, and earning Third Team All-NBA honors.
While his offensive game soared, his defense took a major step back. Johnson had too many defensive miscues, such as letting his matchup beat him on a backdoor cut or being late on a help-side rotation to the rim. These mistakes are more mental than anything else.
Johnson has all the physical tools, with his athleticism, strength, and speed, to make life tough on opposing offensive players. He just has to lock in on that end of the floor. A full summer of training to be the first option should also help him find a balance on both ends of the floor.
Onyeka Okongwu
Okongwu scored a career-high 15.2 points per game last season. However, his rebounding numbers decreased from 8.9 in 2024-25 to 7.6 in 2025-26. Okongwu started 74 games in each of the past two campaigns and even played three more minutes per game last season.
The 25-year-old grabbed over eight boards per game in October, December, and January, but these numbers declined over the final three months, eventually going to 6.4 in five April contests.
Okongwu's defensive rebounding is especially important to give the Hawks more chances to get out on the break. If they spend more time in transition than in the half-court, the team stands a better chance of leaving the building with a victory next season.
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