The Atlanta Hawks may not be invited to Orlando to compete for a spot in the NBA postseason, but they still have a bright future. With Trae Young and John Collins leading the way, the Hawks could soon one of the best dynamic duos in the league. Just how good are Young and Collins exactly? Well, let’s take a look and see why the Hawks could be a team to look out for in the future with their All-Star point guard and promising power forward.
Why Trae Young and John Collins are Key for the Atlanta Hawks
Trae Young: His Potential
Despite losing out on Rookie of the Year to Luka Doncic, Trae Young still demonstrated immense skill in his rookie campaign. He tallied 19.1 points, 8.1 assists per game while averaging an effective field goal percentage of 48.0 percent. Young has already drawn many comparisons to Stephen Curry due to his ability to shoot from anywhere on the floor. His deep-ball threat has allowed him to draw the full attention of opposing defenses which have caused him to become an adept play-maker as well.
In his sophomore season, Young has upped his totals to 29.6 points, 9.3 assists, and an effective field goal percentage of 51.9 percent which notched him an All-Star appearance. As long as Young continues to play his game and keep up these types of insane numbers, then John Collins and the Hawks team as a whole will benefit long-term.
John Collins: His Potential
Collins may not be a household name like Trae Young is, but any avid NBA fan knows how effective of a weapon he is for Atlanta. He is one of the most efficient young players in the league and has the numbers to back it up. In his rookie year, Collins averaged an effective field goal percentage of 59.1 percent to go with 10.5 points, 7.3 total rebounds, and a player efficiency rating of 18.3 which resulted in a spot on the 2017-18 All-Rookie Team.
It was his second season where Collins’ totals would take a giant leap. He averaged 19.5 points, 9.8 rebounds, and a player efficiency rating of 21.8. Collins also took steps forward this season. He tallied 21.6 points, 10.1 rebounds, and a player efficiency rating of 23.5. One does not even need to look at the numbers.
When watching Collins play, one can see he is one of the most refined and polished young big men in the game today. He has a silky smooth jump-shot and can crash the glass with the best of them. If the Hawks were not a rebuilding team, Collins would have had a case for being an All-Star last season and this season. As a matter of fact, it would not be surprising to see Trae Young and John Collins in the All-Star Game next year.
The Atlanta Hawks’ Future Playoff Chances
With the dynamic duo of Young and Collins being the building blocks, the Hawks are going to be one of the most exciting young teams in the near future. Next season may be a bit premature, but two years from now, Atlanta could see themselves back in the heart of the Eastern Conference playoff picture. Young and Collins have improved in each of their seasons and are going to continue to develop. Not to mention, the Hawks are going to continue to add young talent which will make them even more dangerous in the future. With all of this in mind, Trae Young and John Collins are the next up and coming star duo in the NBA.
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