The Atlanta Hawks are long gone from the playoffs after the team failed to qualify, losing back-to-back games in this year's play-in. The Hawks are in for a long offseason that is going to be centered around the future of star point guard Trae Young. Still, there is reason for hope, looking at the team's young talent and the surprise emergence of guard Dyson Daniels. If the Hawks can find a way to add a second star beside Trae, perhaps the team can finally turn the corner.
For now, however, Atlanta fans are stuck watching another round of the NBA playoffs without their Hawks. Still, there are familiar faces that can help Atlanta fans remain invested as they watch the next month play out. Starting with a franchise icon who finally received a deserved ring a season ago.
1. Al Horford
The only thing good about Boston winning the NBA Finals in 2024 was the fact that Horford finally earned a ring. The veteran wasn't just a supporting voice or a leader off the bench. The center breathed life back into his career, playing a key role for one of the best teams of the last decade. Horford remains a beloved former Hawk, playing with the franchise from 2007-2016. The center's leadership and impact on the Hawks are fondly remembered nearly a decade later.
If the Celtics are destined for a repeat, Atlanta fans will find a silver lining in the fact that it means back-to-back rings for Horford. It isn't just Atlanta fans who feel this way with the veteran's win last season, celebrated by seemingly anyone the veteran has come into contact with.
This speaks to how the center has carried himself throughout his career and the respect it has garnered throughout the league. At thirty-eight, Horford is an outlier defying Father Time on a team that is based on their fast pace and ability to spread the floor. Al Horford's late career reinvention makes a fun story all the better, despite it happening with a frustrating rival.