The Atlanta Hawks may not draw the first glance from the rest of the league as a team loaded with stars, but there’s a real case that they could put three All-Star candidates on the floor next season.
Jalen Johnson is the obvious headliner. He already forced his way into the conversation by averaging 22.5 points, 10.3 rebounds and 7.9 assists per game on 58.1 TS%, then backing it up with an All-NBA Third Team selection. Another leap from him would only strengthen that case, but the Hawks’ appeal doesn’t stop there.
Nickeil Alexander-Walker and Onyeka Okongwu both made major jumps in 2025-26, and if that growth carries over, each could be in the mix when February arrives. Alexander-Walker, in particular, has a strong platform after winning NBA Most Improved Player and settling in as Johnson’s clear second option. He posted 20.8 points, 3.7 assists, 3.4 rebounds and 1.3 steals per game, and there’s nothing far-fetched about him matching or even topping those numbers.
The hurdle for Alexander-Walker is the East’s crowded guard and wing landscape. Jalen Brunson, Cade Cunningham, Donovan Mitchell and Tyrese Maxey are all likely to sit ahead of him, and the same goes on the wing with Jaylen Brown, Scottie Barnes and Kawhi Leonard.
Still, the production is hard to ignore. He created 28.9 points per game, which landed in the 96th percentile, and he did it while shooting 61.1 TS% over a full season.
That kind of efficiency, paired with solid defense, gives him a real case. The comparison that comes to mind is Derrick White’s candidacy, and White might have already earned the nod if his shooting splits were a little better.
If Alexander-Walker can bump up his steal rate and become an elite perimeter defender instead of merely a good one, a reserve spot is well within reach.
Okongwu may be the more surprising name, especially with Dyson Daniels likely viewed as the likelier All-Star candidate by most people. But Okongwu’s mix of shooting and versatility makes him a legitimate sleeper for an Eastern Conference reserve spot.
What separates him is the perimeter shooting for a center. Outside of Karl-Anthony Towns and Myles Turner, there aren’t many bigs in the conference who can match what Okongwu did last season.
He hit 37.6% from three on 5.2 attempts per game, turning himself from a theoretical stretch option into a real threat beyond the arc. He also drew 2.7 free throw attempts per game, which ranked in the 87th percentile among centers, and showed more comfort working from the midrange.
The finishing still needs work. He shot 68.6% at the rim, good for the 63rd percentile, so there’s room to sharpen that part of his game.
But the shooting development is real, and so is his value on defense. Okongwu averaged 1.1 blocks, 2.4 deflections and grabbed 18.4% of available defensive rebounds, all numbers that sat in the 85th percentile or better for his position.
The rim protection can still be shaky, but he helps cover that with his ability to defend in space and handle bigger players who drift away from the basket.
With better defensive help around him and improved rebounding, Okongwu can focus on tightening up his rim protection and expanding the areas where he scores. At this point, the only centers in the East he should clearly trail are Towns, Joel Embiid when healthy, and Bam Adebayo.
Ivica Zubac of the Pacers could emerge as a sleeper for the East’s center spot, though he still has to settle in with Indiana. Jalen Duren is another name in the mix, but Okongwu’s shooting gives him the edge for now.
If Embiid is sidelined as expected, the lane for Okongwu to reach the All-Star Game as a reserve gets a lot cleaner. And even if Atlanta falls short of three All-Stars because the wins don’t come or someone else goes nuclear, the Hawks still have enough talent to keep multiple names in the conversation with Johnson at the center of it.
In Other News...
Lu Dort Gives Hawks A Defensive Edge They Desperately Needed
The recent FIBA World Cup qualifying window offered a reminder of why Lu Dorts arrival matters for Atlanta, even if the Hawks were watching from afar. Canada went 2-0, including a 97-92 win over Argentina, and Dort and Nickeil Alexander-Walker combined for 51 points in that victory, giving Atlanta a glimpse of the kind of two-way edge Dort can bring as he settles in with his new team.
What makes that fit even more intriguing is the built-in comfort level between Dort and Alexander-Walker, two players who have long been tied together on the international stage. For the Hawks, any shortcut to helping a newcomer get up to speed is valuable, especially when the player in question is expected to raise the defensive intensity right away. With that kind of familiarity in place, Atlanta has reason to believe the transition could be smoother than usual. [Read more 🡒]
Nickeil Alexander-Walker Showed Why The Hawks Need His Composure
Nickeil Alexander-Walker got a reminder of how quickly a game can get away from a team during Canadas offseason matchup with Argentina, and it was the kind of stretch that tested the same poise the Hawks are hoping to lean on. He had a slow start while trying to run the offense, with turnovers piling up as Argentina surged, but the situation also showed the value of a guard who can steady himself when things start to tilt the wrong way.
After Argentinas run, Alexander-Walker helped Canada settle back in with key plays and a more vocal presence from the bench as the team regrouped. For Atlanta, that combination of composure and communication is part of the appeal, especially for a roster that can use another player willing to absorb a rough patch and still keep everyone aligned once the game starts to slip. [Read more 🡒]
Lu Dort Just Gave Hawks Fans Another Reason To Be Excited
Lu Dort is already giving Atlanta fans a glimpse of what the Hawks hope they are adding this season. While playing for Canada in FIBA World Cup qualifiers, Dort has been active on both ends and shown why his reputation stretches well beyond the box score. He is heading into his eighth NBA season and, for the Hawks, it will be his first after arriving from Oklahoma City, where he spent seven seasons and became one of the leagues more trusted perimeter defenders.
The appeal in Atlanta goes beyond the production, though that matters too. Dort helped Oklahoma City win the 2025 NBA championship and now brings a blend of toughness, defense and leadership to a Hawks roster that can use all three. If his early international form is any indication, Atlanta may not have to wait long to see the edge he can add to the rotation. [Read more 🡒]