Lamar Patterson Becoming an Impact Player for Hawks
Lamar Patterson‘s journey to the NBA is best described as bumpy, as the former second round pick took over a year to finally secure a roster spot on the Atlanta Hawks.
With stops in Turkey and the Las Vegas Summer League, the former Pittsburgh standout has had to endure the trials and tribulations that many players face in trying to achieve their dream of making it to the NBA. An integral part of the Atlanta Hawks’ Summer League squad, Lamar Patterson received an invitation from the Atlanta Hawks to participate in their Training Camp in September, and compete for the 15th and final roster spot.
-= Related: Atlanta Hawks Season Preview =-
One of 6 non-roster invitees including Arsalan Kazemi, Earl Barron, DeQuan Jones, Edgar Sosa and Terran Petteway, Lamar Patterson quickly placed himself in front of the competition, earning extensive playing time during the Atlanta Hawks preseason slate of games. Showcasing his new-found speed after losing 20 pounds in the offseason, as well as a skill-set that fit the Hawks’ system, Patterson secured the final roster spot on the Hawks — but was never more than an afterthought when project Mike Budenholzer’s 10-man rotation during the regular season.
More from ATL All Day
- Atlanta Braves: Felix Has Already Shown Enough to Win a Rotation Spot
- Atlanta Braves Implode Late To Phillies, Cole Hamels Remains Sidelined
- Kyle Wright Shines As Folty Struggles In Atlanta Braves Loss To Red Sox
- Atlanta Hawks Sweep Back-to-Back Games Over Weekend
- Atlanta Braves: Grapefruit League Play Check Up
Many speculated that Lamar Patterson would not dress for most games, spending time at the end of the bench in street clothes behind players like Tim Hardaway Jr. or Justin Holiday, recent acquisitions by the team thought as regular reserves to spell Kent Bazemore and Thabo Sefolosha. I personally thought Lamar Patterson would spend time in the D-League this season, getting important minutes while continuing to refine his game.
Two games into the 2015-2016 season, Lamar Patterson does not find himself in street clothes during games or playing in the D-League, but rather, an important member of the Atlanta Hawks rotation and seemingly in front of Tim Hardaway Jr. and Justin Holiday on the Hawks’ depth chart. For a player who only last week was named as the final player on the team’s roster, this is exciting and also unexpected.
In the Atlanta Hawks’ season opener on Tuesday against the Detroit Pistons, Lamar Patterson was one of the first players off the bench for Mike Budenholzer. He scored 5 points, 2 assists and 1 rebound in 18 minutes, while posting a team high +10. During Thursday’s game against the New York Knicks, in a game in which Tim Hardaway Jr. was active and Thabo Sefolosha sat to rest, Lamar Patterson once again played a vital role for the Atlanta Hawks, scoring 9 points on 3-5 shooting (including 2-3 from three-point range) in 21 minutes. Tim Hardaway Jr. received a DNP-CD and Justin Holiday only played for 13 minutes.
So how does a player at the bottom of the depth chart at the beginning of the season achieve such a meteoric rise? Perhaps Lamar Patterson’s ascendance into the Atlanta Hawks rotation is a result of hard work and fully buying into the system. Patterson has qualities very similar to players that Mike Budenholzer coached while in San Antonio. He plays a fundamentally sound game, is unselfish but not out of control.
More from Atlanta Hawks
- Atlanta Hawks Sweep Back-to-Back Games Over Weekend
- Atlanta Hawks Look to Continue Momentum Tonight Against Portland
- Joel Embiid Leads Sixers Over Hawks On Monday Night
- Atlanta Hawks: John Collins Playing His Best Basketball Of Season
- Atlanta Hawks Win Second Straight Against the Dallas Mavericks
It’s still a mystery as to why Tim Hardaway Jr. has not yet played during the regular season — but Lamar Patterson is definitely the beneficiary of this unfortunate situation. Even on Thursday against the Knicks, there was one point during the fourth quarter where Budenholzer employed Lamar Patterson with 4 other starters on the court, affording the rookie important minutes with the first team.
It’s still uncertain if Lamar Patterson will stick as a permanent member of the Atlanta Hawks rotation during the regular season, but this much is certain: his effort and sound play have afforded him an opportunity that not many thought was possible this early into the season. If he keeps it up, Lamar Patterson could become an important part of the Hawks’ roster all year long in their attempt to replicate last season’s success.