Dyson Daniels has already shown why the Hawks value him so much, but one familiar issue is still following him into October of 2026: the jumper.
In Atlanta’s 123-116 win over the San Antonio Spurs, Daniels finished with 13 points and 11 rebounds, again showing how useful he can be when he’s attacking the rim and crashing the glass. He also brought the aggression, taking a game-high 16 shots in the victory.
The problem, though, is the same one that keeps hanging over his offensive ceiling. Through two preseason games, Daniels is just 1-for-7 from three-point range in the Hawks’ 1-1 start. His lone make came on a 27-footer, not a corner look, and every other field goal he converted was inside the paint.
That doesn’t mean the confidence is gone. If anything, Daniels is still willing to fire, and preseason is the right time to keep testing the shot. There’s no real downside now beyond a bad clip and a bad highlight.
The schedule ahead will ask for even more. Atlanta’s next game comes Saturday night against Tyrese Haliburton and the Pacers.
Haliburton shot 3-for-8 in his return, but he remains the same dangerous playmaker who helped push Indiana to the 2025 NBA Finals. Aaron Nesmith also turned in a big night with 19 points, going 4-for-6 from deep and 7-for-9 overall.
Jay Huff added 16 points, and Jarace Walker piled up 10 assists off the bench in Indiana’s 123-112 win over Anthony Edwards and the Minnesota Timberwolves.
After that, the Hawks run into the Oklahoma City Thunder next Monday, and that matchup figures to be a serious offensive challenge for Daniels. He does his best work getting downhill, but against Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and that defense, he may have to lean more heavily on jumpers.
Then comes a four-day break before Atlanta faces Cooper Flagg and the Dallas Mavericks. That game brings an early reunion with Zaccharie Risacher, and multiple reports say Kyrie Irving could also return for the preseason. Irving hasn’t played an NBA game since March 3rd, 2025.
For Daniels, the point is simple: the minutes are there, the responsibility is growing, and the threes have to start falling. After signing his lucrative $100 million deal, his offensive load is only going up. If the shot still isn’t there by the time the games start counting, that could become a real problem.
In Other News...
Hawks Preseason Opener Vs Pacers Could Reveal A Lot Fast
The Hawks preseason opener against the Pacers arrives with more intrigue than your typical October tune-up, especially with both teams still looking to sort out where they stand in the East. Atlanta has added a new defensive piece in Lu Dort, and this game may offer the first look at how he fits into the mix, while the broader backdrop is a matchup between clubs that expect the regular season to matter.
Kingston Flemings is another reason to watch closely after flashing in San Antonio, where the rookie posted a strong all-around preseason line. Player availability on both sides is still unsettled, so the actual rotation could look different by tipoff, but that uncertainty is part of what makes this opener worth keeping an eye on - it may tell us more than the final score does. [Read more 🡒]
Hawks Stuck With Their New Identity Even When It Looked Rough Early
The Hawks got a useful early look at what this new version of the roster is supposed to be in a preseason win over the Spurs, and it was not always pretty. Atlanta came out flat from the perimeter, but the group kept its poise long enough to steady itself and turn the game around before the night was over.
CJ McCollum was part of the mix as the Hawks found better rhythm, and the energy shifted once the second quarter opened things up. Asa Newell, Corey Kispert and Kingston Flemings all had a hand in the swing, giving Atlanta the kind of balanced push it will be looking for when shots are not falling cleanly at the start. [Read more 🡒]
Dream Just Raised The Standard For What Hawks Fans Expect
Atlanta sports has a new benchmark now, and it came from across the womens side of the city. The Dreams run to the 2026 WNBA Finals has put a spotlight on how far a defense-first blueprint can go when it is built with purpose, especially after the roster addition of Angel Reese, the leagues 2026 Defensive Player of the Year. For Hawks fans, it is hard not to notice the parallel: the Dream have shown what a clear identity can look like when it is supported by the right personnel.
That matters because the Hawks have spent the offseason pushing in a similar direction, trying to become tougher and more disruptive on that end of the floor. The comparison does not mean the outcomes will match, but it does raise the bar for what a successful reset can look like in Atlanta. If the Hawks are serious about joining the citys teams in that conversation, the next step is not just adding defense-minded pieces, but proving they can turn the plan into something just as unmistakable as the Dreams. [Read more 🡒]