The Atlanta Hawks acquired two veterans with deep playoff experience this summer. They brought in Luguentz Dort and Dorian Finney-Smith, adding defensive depth and veteran leadership to their young core. Both players can lock up opposing perimeter guards and wings and serve as great mentors to guys like Kingston Flemings and Jalen Johnson.
While Dort and Finney-Smith will play similar roles for Atlanta, their leadership styles differ. They talked about how they plan to help the Hawks' young roster soar to new heights in 2026-27.
Finney-Smith stresses the importance of communicating on defense
Finney-Smith knows what it takes to be part of an elite defense on a deep playoff run. He played a key role for the Dallas Mavericks in the 2022 playoffs when they reached the Western Conference Finals before losing to the Golden State Warriors. Dallas finished the 2021-22 campaign with a 109.1 defensive rating, which ranked seventh in the association.
Finney-Smith told the media what he can add to Atlanta's defense to improve on its top-10 defensive rating from last season:
"My voice ... I know a lot of young guys think this is cliché, but the loudest teams always win. They usually [are] the most connected team, and when you got to problem-solve on the court without a coach, that's what you need. You need communication ... I probably talk too much on the court, but I'm a competitor," said Finney-Smith confidently.
The 33-year-old will definitely help organize the Hawks' backline defense and call out screens for lockdown perimeter defenders like Dyson Daniels, Nickeil Alexander-Walker, and Dort. Head Coach Quin Snyder said he wants his team to improve their backline defense this upcoming season.
Johnson had a particularly rough defensive season in 2025-26. He often rotated late to provide help-side rim protection and allowed too many easy back cuts. Finney-Smith and Johnson play the same position, giving Johnson a valuable opportunity to learn from the veteran wing’s communication and experience this upcoming campaign.
Dort leads by example and is just as effective
Dort won an NBA championship with the Oklahoma City Thunder in 2025. He guarded the best player on the opposing team every night for Oklahoma City, serving as a leader on the court and in the locker room.
However, he told Atlanta media that his leadership style differs from Finney-Smith's:
"I'm not the biggest vocal guy, but when I say something, it's because I mean it. I know there's some stuff that I can help in the locker room ... We just got to build the chemistry. The past team I was on is different. If there's I can say that will help the team, I will definitely say it," said Dort.
The 27-year-old brings championship experience and an undying level of aggression on the defensive end. Rookie Kingston Flemings can learn a lot from Dort, who frustrates opposing offensive players night in and night out.
Flemings projects to be a good point-of-attack defender in the NBA, despite his 6-foot-2 frame. Dort measures 6-foot-4, but he has had success guarding bigger players because he takes away their space. Flemings can pick up these tricks and add to Atlanta's already strong perimeter defenders.
Finney-Smith and Dort will help the Hawks' move closer toward contention in their own ways.
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