The Atlanta Hawks’ 2024-25 NBA season has been a mix of challenges and notable achievements. As of recently, the team holds a 28-34 record, placing them third in the Southeast Division and ninth in the Eastern Conference.
One of the main reasons behind the Hawks’ successes has been due to star players on the team, for example, Trae Young, Jaylen Johnson and De’Andre Daniels.
Point guard Trae Young has shown exceptional playmaking and scoring abilities. In the season opener on Oct. 23, 2024, he recorded 30 points, 12 assists and five rebounds in a win against the Brooklyn Nets.
Young immediately followed with 38 points, 10 assists, eight rebounds and four steals in the next game versus the Charlotte Hornets, becoming one of the only players to have back-to-back games of at least 30 points and 10 assists to start a season.
GCSU Hawks fans have differing opinions about Young, with some noting both his flaws and his triumphs.
“Trae Young is a huge ball hog,” said Cade Steel, a junior history and philosophy major. “He’s a net positive for the team, one of the best passers, and best offensive players. His defense is so bad. He’s a great distributor, but until he figures out how to guard a traffic cone, he will probably never have the value that we pay him for. I just think he’s pretty overrated.”
Young continues to be the team’s offensive centerpiece. His playmaking skills and scoring ability remain elite, and his leadership is crucial to the team’s success.
Young has been a standout performer in the 2024-25 NBA season. He currently leads the league in assists with an average of 11.4 per game.
Despite his impressive stats, Young was initially overlooked for the 2025 NBA All-Star Game. He humorously addressed the snub on social media, referring to it as being “Traed.” However, following Giannis Antetokounmpo’s injury, Young was named as his replacement, marking his fourth All-Star appearance.
With the regular season ongoing, Young’s leadership and playmaking abilities continue to be pivotal for the Hawks as they strive for a strong playoff position.
Additionally, the Hawks have benefitted from the addition of Dyson Daniels, who has brought a much-needed defensive presence to the team.
“Daniels is like what you wish Trae Young would be but on a smaller scale,” Steel said. “He’s a young player, gets you like six rebounds off the bench and he doesn’t need to have the ball in his hand as much to be considered a good player. This year he’s shooting at his career high, his steals are incredible, with three steals a game he’s having a lot of great impact.”
Acquired from the New Orleans Pelicans, Daniels made an immediate defensive impact. He led the league in total steals (64) and steals per game (3), earning the Eastern Conference Defensive Player of the Month award for October/November. His performance drew praise from teammates and analysts, with some suggesting he could be a future Defensive Player of the Year.
While Young and Daniels are a major driving force in the success of the team, the Hawks are still grappling with some team inconsistency and defensive challenges. The team’s performance largely hinges on their ability to build around their primary point scorer (Trae Young) and improve their overall defense and cohesion as the season progresses.
Whilst the star players on the Hawks have generally been successful this year, the team has faced many challenges throughout the season, with injuries, inconsistent team play, and roster changes having vastly affected the team’s performance.
On Feb. 6, 2025, the Atlanta Hawks traded center De’Andre Hunter to the Cleveland Cavaliers. In exchange, the Hawks received Caris LeVert, Georges Niang, three second-round picks and two pick swaps.
“I really don’t know what the Hawks are doing,” said Cooper Treadaway, a junior business administration major. “We are a middle-of-the-road 50% win rate team, and trading De’Andre Hunter was horrible. We’re really not doing that well. We don’t have our draft pick for the year, and we gave him to the Cavs, De’Andre Hunter is at the top of his game and we traded them for 2 second-round picks. We traded him at peak value for nothing and it makes no sense.”
From the Hawks’ Perspective, the acquisition of LeVert and Niang provides the team with additional scoring options and depth. The multiple draft picks and pick swaps offer future flexibility, aligning with the Hawks’ strategy to balance immediate competitiveness with long-term planning.
Overall, the Hawks’ probability in entering the playoffs remains uncertain, as the team will need to heavily balance their scoring options with the holes in their defensive network. The season is seeming unpredictable, and the administration seems to prioritize looking towards next season instead of focusing on the strength of the team presently.