The Hawks have already given themselves a little early-season proof of concept. After going to Indiana and beating the Pacers, Atlanta is 2-1 in preseason, and the next stop on the schedule brings another tough test: the Oklahoma City Thunder.
That matchup carries plenty of weight on its own. Oklahoma City won it all in 2025, then followed that up with a run that ended in the Western Conference Finals, so it enters this preseason trying to get back to the same peak it reached just two years ago.
But there’s an added layer here for Hawks fans. This isn’t just another preseason game against a contender. It also puts two rookies on the same floor for the first time in a battle that already has people talking.
Aday Mara, the 7-foot-3 center out of Michigan and recent national champion, ended up with Oklahoma City after Atlanta and several other teams passed on him. The Hawks were reportedly weighing him heavily at No. 8 in the 2026 NBA Draft before the Thunder grabbed him.
Atlanta went a different direction, taking Kingston Flemings out of Houston with its top-10 pick. The Hawks view him as their long-term answer at point guard, especially after moving on from Trae Young in January. He fits the timeline and the style Atlanta wants to build around.
That’s why this head-to-head matters. Mara gives Oklahoma City a massive presence down low, while Flemings is supposed to stabilize Atlanta’s backcourt for the long haul. They bring very different strengths, which should make for a compelling preseason showcase.
And even if this is only preseason, the setup is real enough to give fans something to track. It’s not every day you get a rookie matchup with this much curiosity attached to it.
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 🡒]
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 🡒]