What we learned from the rise, fall and recent redemption of the Atlanta Hawks

Newly minted NBA All-Star Jalen Johnson and the Atlanta Hawks stole the show around the league after winning 11 consecutive games. It pushed the Hawks up to the 6th seed, coming back from the brink of the troublesome Play-In tournament.

That was the ultimate goal of the 2025-26 Atlanta Hawks: to ultimately make progress in their development as a franchise, and we learned a lot about them during their recent run. Although most of the wins came against struggling franchises, including the Washington Wizards and the Brooklyn Nets, their improvement is undeniable.

Johnson and the Hawks were playing to the level of their competition, but now it’s clear they’ve established their new identity with their new roster. Most of their wins during the streak were highlighted by improved perimeter defense and the ability to penetrate the paint, averaging 52 points down low.

The momentum culminated in the final victory of their 11-game bonanza, scoring 72 points in the paint against Cooper Flagg and the Dallas Mavericks. The sudden development stems from their increased athleticism, which can be attributed in part to the recent acquisition of Jonathan Kuminga.

In seven games with the Hawks, he’s averaged 13.0 PPG, 7.0 RPG, and 2.5 APG. The most impressive part about his arrival in Atlanta has been his aggressiveness. His presence provides Atlanta with a ferocious athletic rebounder on the wing, who can slash like a guard and crash the glass like a big man. 

Kuminga shined during the win versus the Mavericks, scoring 16 points and grabbing five rebounds, while shooting 50% from the field. It was a great performance, but it took a lot out of the 23-year-old, forcing him to rest his left knee for the next game against the Houston Rockets.

Heading into battle without their new Congolese Warrior put the Hawks at a massive disadvantage on defense and on the backboard. Kevin Durant and the Rockets abused the Hawks on the glass, grabbing 51 rebounds compared to Atlanta’s 37. The Hawks’ 11-game winning streak wouldn't reach 12, as they lost to the Rockets 117-95.

Trying to find moral victories is only a superficial solution in the face of defeat, but in this circumstance, the Hawks accomplished the first part of their playoff push, saving their season in the process. 

Hawks Have A Chance For Late-Season Redemption

It’s safe to say the Hawks learned from their experience in the Toyota Center. They returned to Atlanta the following night to defend home court against Draymond Green and the Golden State Warriors. 

The five-time champions gave the Hawks a fair amount of adversity, but the Hawks would completely take over in the second half. By the middle of the third quarter, the Hawks' lead had ballooned to 26 points. It was clear they would return to the win column, and they defeated the Warriors 126-110.

As soon as the clock hit 00:00, fans would exit the State Farm Arena with smiles all around. The Basketball lovers of Atlanta, Georgia, have finally gotten a taste of sweet victory this season, and the Hawks will continue to cook other teams for the remainder of the season. 

Looking over the horizon, Jalen Johnson and his flock of Red & White only have six games left against true Eastern Conference contenders. They have one game against the Detroit Pistons, two games against the Boston Celtics, two games against the Cleveland Cavaliers, and one against the New York Knicks. 

Outside of these four teams, the Hawks have wins over three of them, with the Pistons being the sole survivors. They have a chance to put a stamp on their midseason comeback by defeating the other Eastern Conference contenders and capitalizing on their easy matchups. 

The last two weeks of the schedule are an inadvertent blessing for the Atlanta Hawks, with matchups against the Memphis Grizzlies, Sacramento Kings, Brooklyn Nets, and Orlando Magic: teams that all lost to the Hawks earlier this season. 

It’s the perfect opportunity to put a stamp on their late-season surge and ultimately redeem the franchise in the eyes of the masses, after disappointing many fans with their ugly start to this highly anticipated season.