Aaron Wiggins is making a real case for himself in Atlanta, and the Hawks have to like how fast it’s coming together.
Through six games, the 27-year-old has already left his mark on the Hawks and their fanbase. He just turned in a 20-point outing in Atlanta’s 114-111 win over the Cleveland Cavaliers, and the way he’s been impacting games goes well beyond one hot night. His all-around game has given the Hawks another trusted option, and if this keeps up, he’ll have a legitimate shot at Sixth Man of the Year.
Wiggins arrived in Atlanta with a reputation for being dependable, and that’s carrying over in a bigger role. The rest of the league saw him lift the Larry O’Brien Trophy with the Oklahoma City Thunder in 2025, but he was never just a passenger. He averaged 9.4 points behind Jalen Williams and Cason Wallace, yet he had already shown he could score when called on.
His biggest Thunder performance came on February 1, 2025, when he dropped 41 points against the Sacramento Kings on 16-for-30 shooting and added 14 rebounds.
Now, 20 months later, he’s Atlanta’s third-leading scorer without starting. Wiggins is putting up 15.5 points, 4.0 rebounds and 2.0 assists per game while shooting 51.5% from the field. That’s the kind of production that makes a bench player stand out, and it looks like he’s found the right lane with the Hawks.
He’s also become the second unit’s best shot creator, which matters for a Hawks team that expects rookie Kingston Flemings to keep opening up scoring chances. Those two are shaping up as important pieces for Atlanta’s season, especially with the team projected to reach the playoffs in April.
The award race is already taking shape, and Wiggins is right in the mix. FanDuel Sportsbook lists Boston Celtics point guard Payton Pritchard as the favorite at +230, with Thunder guard Jared McCain next at +650. Portland Trail Blazers guard Jrue Holiday sits third at +1300, while Wiggins is fourth at +1800.
Those numbers can move quickly, and the Hawks’ record will have plenty to do with whether Wiggins stays in the thick of it. Atlanta has already shown it can bounce back from a rough stretch, surprising some by beating Cleveland after back-to-back losses to Kevin Durant and the Houston Rockets.
The schedule now opens up a bit, with the New Orleans Pelicans, Indiana Pacers, Washington Wizards twice and Brooklyn Nets coming next. If the Hawks handle that run and start stacking wins, Wiggins’ case for the award only gets stronger. And if Atlanta keeps winning, he could put himself in position to bring another individual honor back to the city.
In Other News...
Former Hawks Pick Is Already Making That Trade Look Painful
Zaccharie Risachers move from Atlanta to Dallas is starting to look like the kind of trade that lingers in the mind of a front office. The former Hawks pick has found a clearer defensive lane with the Mavericks, where his activity and impact on that end have taken a noticeable jump under coach Dusty May. Even with the shot still not fully cooperating, Risacher has carved out a real role in Dallas rotation plans because of the energy and length he brings every night.
The defensive numbers back up what the eye test has already suggested, and they point to a player whose value is rising fast in a new setting. For Atlanta, that makes the deal harder to ignore, especially with Risacher already showing he can affect games without needing the offense to come around first. The only question now is how far this version of him can go if the shooting ever catches up to the defense. [Read more 🡒]
Donovan Mitchell Is Taking Heat After Costly Late Sequence Vs Hawks
Donovan Mitchells night against Atlanta was already under the microscope after a rough shooting performance in Clevelands 114-111 loss, and the final minutes only sharpened the scrutiny. He finished 7-for-19 from the field and 1-for-9 from deep, a line that left the Cavaliers searching for answers in a game they could not afford to let slip away.
The sequence most fans latched onto came late in the fourth quarter, when Mitchell wound up with a possession that was supposed to go elsewhere and then came up empty on the ensuing three. Social media quickly turned on the moment, but there was at least some pushback from the broadcast and analysis side, with the suggestion that the play may have gone sideways because of a breakdown in the action rather than a selfish decision. [Read more 🡒]
Kingston Flemings Is Making The Hawks Ask A Tough Early Question
Kingston Flemings has given the Hawks something worth monitoring this early in the season: a young guard who already looks comfortable running an offense. His passing has stood out, and his production has been steady enough to put him in the conversation as a possible long-term answer at point guard, especially when measured against what Atlanta has been getting from CJ McCollum.
The bigger question is how quickly the Hawks are willing to trust that growth. Flemings has flashed enough playmaking to make a future starting role feel like more than a remote idea, but Atlanta has not made any lineup changes yet. For now, the organization is left weighing whether his early impact is simply a promising start or the beginning of a real push for a larger role. [Read more 🡒]