Hawks lose intriguing rookie playmaker for remainder of summer league

The Atlanta Hawks were dealt a blow in the middle of their Las Vegas Summer League.

They are 0-2 in the summer exhibition series. But that is the least of their concerns following news of second-round pick Nikola Đurišić’s injury suffered in their loss to the San Antonio Spurs.

“Nikola Đurišić sustained a left foot injury during Sunday’s Las Vegas Summer League game vs. San Antonio,” the Hawks announced in a post on X on July 15. “An X-ray taken at The Thomas & Mack Center revealed a left foot fracture. Further medical updates will be provided as appropriate.”

The Hawks did not provide any further details on the rookie’s injury. But the Atlanta Journal-Constition’s Lauren L. Williams reported the Serbian export would miss the rest of Summer League.

Recovery times for foot fractures range from several weeks to several months.

Đurišić’s Summer League ends with the guard averaging 4.5 points, 1.5 rebounds, and 1.0 assists to 2.5 turnovers in 32 total minutes over his two appearances.

The most interesting part about Đurišić’s future was whether or not the Hawks would sign him to a two-way contract, which would guarantee him no more than 50 games at the NBA level, or if it would be a draft-and-stash situation. 

Hawks general manager Landry Fields left the door open.

Đurišić averaged 14.4 points, 3.4 assists, 2.7 rebounds, and 1.0 steals in 26 games with KK Mega Soccerbet in 2023-24.

He struggled with efficiency in his two-game Summer League showing, shooting 28.6% from the floor overall, 55.6% at the free throw line, and going 0-for-3 from beyond the arc. Fortunately for Đurišić and the Hawks, Summer League stats do not translate to NBA success.

Hawks enduriing the injury bug in Summer League

In addition to Đurišić now, the Hawks entered Summer League without 2023 first-round pick Kobe Bufkin and his draft classmate, second-round pick Seth Lundy.

Bufkin suffered a shoulder injury in practice on the eve of Summer League while Lundy underwent ankle surgery in May that knocked him out of the Hawks’ plans for the exhibition circuit.

Bufkins’ injury is most concerning in conjunction with Đurišić’s.

The Hawks have three-time All-Star point guard Trae Young at the top of the depth chart. But duties behind him figured to fall on Bufkin’s shoulders, provided he proved himself in Vegas.

With him sidelined, Dyson Daniels and Vit Krejci could take on even greater ball-handling duties than they were already slated for. Both are bigger-bodied guards, with Daniels also proving to be a standout perimeter defender.

They don’t have the playmaking creativity that Young has or Đurišić flashed in his two games.

Despite being a second-round rookie, Đurišić’s professional experience overseas figured to help him transition to the domestic pro game. Instead, that process will have to wait.