Last season, Atlanta’s biggest issue was easy to spot: the Hawks just weren’t generating enough second chances. They finished in the bottom ten in offensive rebounding, a sharp drop after landing in the top ten the year before.
This preseason, that problem has looked a lot cleaner. Through four exhibition games, the Hawks have beaten every opponent on the offensive glass.
The most eye-catching example came in the preseason opener against Memphis, when Asa Newell grabbed five offensive rebounds and set the tone in a narrow loss to the Grizzlies. That kind of work is familiar for Newell, who brought the same effort on the boards during his one-and-done run at Georgia. If he earns the rotation role Atlanta expects from him this season, his rebounding will be a big reason why.
But Newell hasn’t been the only Hawk making life harder for opponents. Against both the Spurs and the Pacers, the production on the glass came from across the roster rather than one standout performance.
That was especially true on Saturday against Indiana, when Atlanta won the offensive-rebounding battle 10-0. Eight different Hawks recorded at least one offensive board in that game.
That kind of number points to one of two things: either the coaching staff has made offensive rebounding a clear team emphasis, or the Hawks are simply playing with more force and urgency. Either way, the early signs are encouraging for a group facing preseason expectations of yet another play-in berth.
In Other News...
Jock Landale Sees One Early Hawks Trend That Could Really Matter
Through four preseason games, the Hawks have already started to show one of the quieter benefits of October basketball: time for the younger players to get real run. Atlanta used its recent win over Oklahoma City to lean into that approach, giving those pieces extended minutes while the roster continues sorting out how it wants to play together on both ends of the floor. For a team trying to build habits early, those reps can matter just as much as the final score.
Jock Landale has been watching that process closely, and his message has centered on the same thing Atlanta keeps emphasizing internally, communication and chemistry. He said he is committed to the Hawks and pointed to the work still ahead on offensive and defensive communication, a reminder that preseason is as much about forming connections as it is about results. The trend is encouraging, but the real test will be whether it carries over once the games start to count. [Read more 🡒]
Hawks Preseason Is Already Raising Questions About Two Rotation Battles
The Hawks preseason has given the coaching staff a useful early look at the back end of the rotation, even with key players getting rest in recent games. Atlanta is 3-1, and the focus has shifted to which reserves can turn short audition minutes into a real role once the games start counting.
Jalen Fleming has made a case for steady backup point guard duty, while Joe Kispert has been working through a rough stretch on both offense and defense. Kobe Johnson, Jalen Wilson and RayJ Dennis have each flashed something in limited chances, and Lu Dort has only gotten into one game so far, leaving the final roster picture and the pecking order still very much in flux. [Read more 🡒]
Zuby Ejiofor Just Faced A Defensive Test Hawks Fans Should Notice
Zuby Ejiofor is starting to carve out a little more trust with Atlantas coaching staff as the preseason rolls on, and his latest assignment offered a useful snapshot of why. The Hawks 2026 first-round pick had to spend part of the night matching up with Aday Mara, another 2026 first-round selection now being leaned on differently by Oklahoma City, and the adjustment demanded more from Ejiofor on the defensive end.
Ejiofor handled the challenge well enough to keep his preseason momentum moving in the right direction, while also giving Atlanta useful production on the other side of the ball. His all-around contribution helped the Hawks notch their third straight preseason win, another sign that the rookie is beginning to look more comfortable in a role that could keep growing as the month goes on. [Read more 🡒]