DeMarre Carroll Thanks Atlanta

By John Buhler | Jul 7, 2015

It’s bittersweet to say the least. I’m so happy that SF DeMarre Carroll got the payday he rightfully deserved after two stellar years with the Atlanta Hawks. Unfortunately, the Junkyard Dog is no longer a member of the Atlanta Hawks, signing a 4-year, $60 Million contract with the Toronto Raptors. But before heading to the North, Carroll thanked Atlanta via The Players’ Tribune for his “life-changing” experience while with the Atlanta Hawks.

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Carroll credits the entire Hawks organization for his career turnaround from being a player “struggling to make it in the NBA” to a “priority free agent”. What DeMarre Carroll believes was the biggest reason he was able to play his best basketball during his time with the Atlanta Hawks was due to the staff’s strength in player development. He emphasized how important Assistant Coaches Kenny Atkinson, Darvin Ham, and former Assistant now HC for the Utah Jazz Quin Snyder were for him in becoming the player he is today.

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DeMarre was also appreciative of once again getting to play with Paul Millsap and challenging Kyle Korver to become the team’s top outside shooter. But most importantly, DeMarre Carroll thanked the fans of the Atlanta Hawks. For the first time in his career, Carroll felt that he was a “household name” when he played for the Hawks.

He said, “I will always be thankful for the way this city treated me on and off the court.” DeMarre Carroll further illustrated his love for the Atlanta Hawks faithful by stating, “Without you guys, I really don’t believe I’d be the player I am today.”

To me, DeMarre Carroll best epitomized what it meant to play for the Atlanta Hawks under Head Coach Mike Budenholzer. Carroll was a team-centric, hard-working wing for us that not only forced himself into a starting role but into our hearts as Hawks fans. Players like DeMarre Carroll made the 2014-15 Atlanta Hawks’ exponential rise to prominence possible. I will forever be grateful for his passion to play the game of basketball at its highest level while with the Atlanta Hawks.

I’m not going to lie. It’s still a weird realization that DeMarre Carroll isn’t an Atlanta Hawk anymore. Our vocal leader and best defensive player now plays for the NBA’s lone franchise in Canada. I’m starting to wonder if the 2015-16 Atlanta Hawks will have as much bite without its Junkyard Dog.

“I will always be thankful for the way this city treated me on and off the court.” – Toronto Raptors SF DeMarre Carroll on his time in Atlanta

Letting a high-character, team-oriented guy leave town further illustrates that the NBA is an entertainment business. DeMarre had to make the best choice for his family. The Carroll family now looks set for generations and DeMarre deserves every bit of that contract.

I’m sure that when the Toronto Raptors come to Philips Arena next season that the Atlanta faithful will show their respect to one of the most selfless players to ever play for the Atlanta Hawks. Congratulations on your new deal with the Raptors. But man, am I going to miss the Junkyard Dog playing for us every night down here in Atlanta.

Next: Atlanta Hawks 2015-16 Projected Depth Chart

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