The preseason is nearly wrapped up for the Atlanta Hawks, and the big picture is pretty clear: they’re 3-1, they’ve strung together three straight wins since dropping their opener to the Memphis Grizzlies, and Friday’s game against Dallas is the last tune-up before the season starts next Wednesday in Orlando.
That also means it’s stock-taking time. Preseason numbers always come with a warning label, especially when teams are juggling rest and availability the way Atlanta has.
The Hawks have sat at least one starter in every game, top offseason addition Lu Dort missed the first two, and last night against the Thunder they held out six of their top seven rotation players. Another heavy load-management night wouldn’t be surprising on Friday.
Still, some guys have helped themselves, and others have done the opposite.
Flemings has looked like a player ready to carve out a real NBA role. He’s not suddenly in the Rookie of the Year race, but he has absolutely played like the No. 8 overall pick and looks prepared to back up the point guard spot.
He’s been in every preseason game and started twice, putting up 10.3 PPG and 3.8 APG in just under 23 minutes a night. He’s shooting 46% from the field and 33% from three, and the eye test matches the box score: active on defense, steady with the ball, and under control when he’s running the offense.
He won’t open the year as a starter, but he’s shown enough to keep getting better and to matter for this team.
Kobe Johnson belongs in the “buy” category too, even if he’s not going to see the floor for the Hawks this season. That’s what makes his preseason run so notable.
He’s probably headed for the G League, but he’s clearly taken a big step from Summer League through now. He played fewer than 10 minutes in every game and still found ways to make his presence felt.
Against the Thunder, he finished with 10 points, three rebounds and two steals, and he made clutch plays last night as well. He should have a big year in College Park.
Jalen Wilson and RayJ Dennis are in a similar lane: not expected to be major rotation pieces, but valuable as two-way guys. Wilson, who has logged real NBA minutes with the Brooklyn Nets over the past few seasons, might even be a little overqualified for that type of deal.
In limited action, he averaged 8.5 PPG on 40% shooting and 50% from three while grabbing three rebounds per game. Dennis gave Atlanta 9.0 PPG, hit 47% from the field, shot poorly from deep, and added 4.5 APG.
That kind of production from two-way contracts gives a team real depth.
On the other side of the ledger, Kispert has not helped his case. He was already facing a tough climb for minutes because of Atlanta’s emphasis on defense this offseason, and the assignment was simple: defend better and knock down threes at a high clip.
He hasn’t done either. Kispert is shooting 38% from the field and 33% from three, which is rough for a player whose calling card is shooting.
Even worse, Atlanta has a 119.1 defensive rating with him on the court, second worst on the team this preseason.
Finney-Smith is another player whose stock has dipped. He was the newest addition to the roster, and after a down year with the Rockets last season, there was at least some hope he could bounce back and help Atlanta.
That hasn’t shown up yet. He’s averaged only 11 minutes per game and hasn’t made much of an impact in any of the preseason games.
As for Dort, the Hawks still believe he can matter this season. The problem is simple: there just hasn’t been enough to evaluate.
He’s played only one game, scored seven points, and shot 1-4 from three in that appearance. With so little film and so few minutes alongside the rest of the roster, it’s hard to say exactly how he fits or how he looks.
The expectation is that he’ll find a role and help. The preseason just hasn’t given much evidence yet.
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 May Be Fixing The Weakness That Hurt Them Most
One of the clearest signs of progress for the Hawks this preseason has come on the glass. Atlanta has been active on the offensive boards in each exhibition, a welcome development for a team that knows second-chance opportunities can change the shape of an offense. Asa Newell stood out early with five offensive rebounds in the opener against Memphis, and the collective approach has been just as notable as any single performance.
Against Indiana, the Hawks showed how many different players are getting involved in the effort, with multiple contributors crashing the offensive glass and keeping possessions alive. Whether it is a point of emphasis from the coaching staff or simply a sharper edge from the roster, the early returns suggest Atlanta may be addressing one of the issues that has hurt it before, even if the real test still waits when the games start to count. [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 🡒]