Seth Lundy gets honest about role with Atlanta Hawks in 2024-25

Seth Lundy is carrying himself with a different level of confidence this season. After an injury-riddled rookie year that saw him go through highs and lows with his jump shot, Lundy is entering his sophomore campaign with something to prove.

Two summers ago, the Atlanta Hawks drafted Lundy for additional shooting to surround Trae Young. The No. 46 pick only made nine appearances for the Hawks last season, and he shot just 23.1% from three in those outings. Sparse playing time didn’t allow Lundy to build much rhythm before he was sidelined with a back injury.

However, Lundy was a different beast in the G League. For the College Park Skyhawks, he averaged 23.1 points, 6.6 rebounds, 3.0 assists, and 1.1 blocks across 12 regular-season contests. More importantly, Lundy’s consistent minutes allowed him to shoot 41.9% from three on 8.8 attempts per game. 

Seth Lundy exuded confidence at Skyhawks Media Day

Lundy ended the 2023-24 G League season on a heater, and he hasn’t looked back since. At Skyhawks Media Day, he made that quite apparent.

“I’ve talked to the coaches, they know what I’m capable of doing and I know what I’m capable of doing as well,” Lundy told Soaring Down South. “They already said that if I stay healthy, there’s no reason why I shouldn’t be in the rotation. These are conversations that I’ve had with some of the coaches and even the front office.”

This past offseason, the Hawks front office made its new vision clear. With Hawks general manager Landry Fields building a roster full of length and defensive versatility to support Trae Young’s offensive genius, guys like Lundy need to bring more than just shooting to the table. 

And Lundy knows that as much as anyone.

In his media day presser, Lundy addressed his need to improve most as a defender. He shouted out his new teammate and Hawks starter Dyson Daniels as a big inspiration.

“I feel like if I just become like a great perimeter defender, there’s no reason why I shouldn’t be playing,” Lundy said. “Obviously everybody knows about my offensive abilities, but honestly, just being around Dyson for an example, like, man, I’ll just be studying his defense.”  

If Lundy wants to earn a standard contract and become a mainstay in Atlanta’s rotation, he must become the 3-and-D wing Fields has coveted in his construction of the new-look Hawks. At 6-foot-6 (with a 6-foot-10 wingspan) and 220 pounds, Lundy has the physical build to become a problem on defense.

According to Lundy, his teammates and coaches believe in his ability to seriously impact the Hawks sooner rather than later. 

“I feel like there’s no doubt that I fit in on this team,” Lundy told Soaring Down South. “The players know as well. They always talk to me about the improvement that I have, the abilities that I have … They’re excited for me to get back healthy. A lot of people were actually very upset when I got hurt again, so it’s just good to have that support from your teammates and your coaches.”

Lundy is currently dealing with an ankle injury he sustained after his epic game-winner in the preseason, but he didn’t seem too worried about it on Media Day. Fans should expect Lundy back on the court relatively soon.

2-way forward Dominick Barlow will also look to make an impact

Another two-way player also seems more than ready to begin his time in Atlanta. Dominick Barlow signed with the Hawks over the summer, joining Lundy and Keaton Wallace as one of three Hawks on two-way deals.

The 6-foot-9 forward will only help Atlanta’s quest for more size and versatility. Unlike Clint Capela and Onyeka Okongwu, Barlow has spent much of his young NBA career thriving in the short roll. He has marvelous touch outside of the restricted area and in the midrange area, often torching drop coverages with a reliable deep floater.

While Barlow will need to improve his ability to roll hard to the rim and finish against opposing bigs, he is only 21 years old with serious potential that should develop further in College Park. He was also the first player from Atlanta’s Overtime Elite Academy to make the NBA, which should earn him some extra support from a city that already felt like a second home to him.

Having played for the great Gregg Popovich in San Antonio, Barlow seems wise beyond his years. At media day, he talked to Soaring Down South about his time with Popovich and reflected on the key lessons he learned from his experience.

“He teaches you a lot,” Barlow said. “Humility … you’ve got to be able to accept criticism and understand that it’s coming from a place where he truly cares about you and wants to see you succeed. Kinda tells you just listen to what he’s saying, not how he’s saying it. He was great, not just as a coach but as a person.”

With Lundy and Barlow leading College Park’s two-way charge, the Skyhawks are in good hands. As Atlanta’s young gems work on their games in the G League, fans shouldn’t be surprised if at least one of them is playing for the Hawks on a standard contract by the end of the season.