In the first four seasons of his career, Atlanta Hawks forward De’Andre Hunter started in 200 of 206 possible games. Then, midway through the 2023-24 season, he and the Hawks opted to try a new strategy. Desiring to be a more aggressive scorer, Hunter asked to come off the bench, where he could be a focal point.
For a player who had been a peripheral part of the offense for multiple seasons, his mentality was somewhat unexpected. It’s not that he was incapable of shouldering more of the scoring load, but it didn’t seem to be overly important to him. Maybe the incessant trade rumors had gotten to him. Maybe the constant criticism people who believed Trae Young didn’t have any help did.
Speaking of Young, when considering he and Dejounte Murray’s roles, it didn’t leave much room for Hunter to be great. Jalen Johnson elevating his play makes the Hawks more dynamic, but it also put the squeeze on Hunter. So, while his request to man the second unit wasn’t expected, there was a logic to it.
Perhaps even an inevitability.
Hawks’ De’Andre Hunter Belongs in Sixth Man of the Year Award Conversation
In the 20 games that Hunter came off the bench last season, he averaged a hyper-efficient 16.0 points per game. Up to that point of the season, he had tallied 14.9 points per game. The slight uptick in production was nice, but that’s not the story. When Hunter came off the bench, he just looked and felt more assertive.
After Atlanta traded Murray in the offseason, Hunter seemed like he would take an even bigger slice of the pie.
Bogdan Bogdanovic might have been in line for a promotion due to his experience and effectiveness as a scorer. Dyson Daniels was getting to spread his wings with the Hawks in a way he couldn’t do with the New Orleans Pelicans. Yet, Hunter was in prime position to become part of the Four Hawksmen, a group presumed to include Young, Johnson, and Bogdanovic.
For the most part, that appears to be true.
The Five Hawksmen
Young is having a career season as a facilitator, averaging 21.7 points and 12.4 assists per game. Johnson is now undoubtedly his second-in-command, averaging 20.1 points, 10.3 rebounds, 5.3 assists, 1.4 steals, and 1.1 blocks per game. Just returning from a hamstring injury, Bogdanovic is averaging 15.3 points per game in his last four games, but has come off the bench in favor of Daniels, who has emerged as a key two-way playmaker.
As for Hunter? He’s averaging a career-high 18.2 points per game. However, like Bogdanovic, he’s done so while coming off the bench (sans two games). He’s been playing so well that he actually leads the league in average points off the bench (18.3).
At this rate, Hunter isn’t just part of The Five Hawksmen. He’s a legitimate candidate for the Sixth Man of the Year award.
Will He Climb The Leaderboard?
Hunter has serious competition for Sixth Man of the Year.
Cleveland Cavaliers guard Ty Jerome and Boston Celtics are likely the consensus frontrunners. Sacramento Kings guard Malik Monk, a finalist for last season’s award, is starting to heat up. Golden State Warriors guard Buddy Hield has arguably been the steadiest volume scorer among second units.
However, Hunter has the advantage of not just being an offensive weapon but a defensive one. If he was more of an event creator, racking up blocks and/or steals, it would be easier to recognize. Regardless of that though, Hunter’s a multi-positional defender with the ability to guard upper echelon wings and forwards.
This already separates him from players like Monk and Hield. Jerome and Pritchard are feisty on-ball defenders, but even their prowess pales in comparison to Hunter’s. With that being said, the fixation on scoring might lead to Hunter becoming a favorite for the award. Nonetheless, leaning into his other strengths —from rebounding to hounding top-tier defensive assignments —could go a long way as well.
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