The Hawks are getting a preseason test that looks nothing like their opener.
After handling a home game against the rebuilding Memphis Grizzlies, Atlanta heads to San Antonio to face Victor Wembanyama and the Spurs. It’s a sharp swing in competition, and it comes at a strange moment for both teams: the Hawks already have one preseason game behind them, while San Antonio is just getting started.
The Spurs haven’t played together since their loss to the New York Knicks in the NBA Finals at Madison Square Garden, which makes Atlanta their first post-Finals opponent. That alone gives the Hawks a chance to lean on readiness while San Antonio works through the usual early-exhibition rust.
Of course, preseason is still preseason. Teams are using this time to test combinations and settle on rotations, not chase wins. Atlanta has a real shot anyway, especially if the Spurs are slow out of the gate and if Wembanyama or any of San Antonio’s top players sit out.
The Hawks could also choose to be careful with their own rotation. Jalen Johnson took some hard falls in Monday’s game, so resting him would make sense. Atlanta’s end-of-rotation players already logged useful minutes in the opener, and they may be able to take advantage if San Antonio needs time to shake off the layoff.
If Wembanyama does play, though, the whole thing changes.
That would turn this into a major preseason challenge for Atlanta’s frontcourt. The Hawks might decide to rest Onyeka Okongwu or Jock Landale to avoid any unnecessary injury risk, but there’s also value in letting them go up against the league’s 2026 Defensive Player of the Year.
It’s the kind of matchup that can sharpen a big man fast, and Okongwu in particular could use the chance to build momentum before the season starts. For Atlanta, the hope is simple: don’t let San Antonio’s push for revenge begin on Thursday.
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