September is here, which means training camp for the 2025-26 NBA season is growing closer. While this summer at times has felt like an eternity, Hawks fans have had no reason to complain. The front office has been active, and so have the players.
EuroBasket began almost a week ago, and while it is good to see some on-court action during the driest part of the offseason, overreactions from opposing fanbases are inevitable.
Kristaps Porzingis is an elite three-point shooter. He has been one his entire career. In Latvia's first three group stage games, however, Porzingis did not record a single make from beyond the arc, missing all 12 of his attempts.
While this seemed out of the ordinary, his struggles may have been a carryover from what Celtics fans saw this past postseason. In the 2025 NBA Playoffs, Porzingis averaged career-low numbers across the board. He put up just 7.7 points per game on a dreadful 15.4% from deep. His slow start from three-point range in EuroBasket could have just been a case of rust.
These unique struggles from KP did not last long.
As fans should have expected, Kristaps Porzingis was able to bounce back for his country in a major way. In Monday's matchup against Portugal, the 7'2" Latvian big man put it all together. He recorded 21 points, 9 rebounds, 3 assists, and a block, knocking down five threes in the process. He shot the ball at an efficient clip and saw a team-high +/- of +25. His leadership and on-ball gravity led Latvia to their second EuroBasket win, placing them at 2-2 and confirming their spot in the Round of 16.
Final: PRT 62, LVA 78
— Zach Langley (@langleyatl) September 1, 2025
K. Porzingis: 21 PTS, 9 REB, 3 AST, 6/14 FG, 5/12 3PT, +25
Latvia advances to 2-2 in EuroBasket group play. pic.twitter.com/wKaGSfLgLm
When he arrives in Atlanta following the conclusion of overseas play, he needs to remain consistent from beyond the arc. The Hawks were among the top teams in shot quality last season due to the shot creation ability of Trae Young, but they were in the bottom half of the league in three-point percentage. This cannot be the case again if the team wants to leap into championship contention.
In acquiring Porzingis, Atlanta parted ways with Georges Niang, one of their better outside shooters. Losing any positive shooter after last season's struggles is a risky move, but he Hawks will have one of the most dynamic starting lineups in the NBA and compete for a title with Porzingis shooting like he did yesterday.