Lauren L. Williams

The Hardwood Knocks NBA podcast previews the 2025-26 season for the Atlanta Hawks with Lauren Williams of the Atlanta Journal Constitution. Find this in-depth episode and all of Hardwood Knocks' season lookaheads wherever you get your podcasts!

‼️NEW POD‼️

📋 Atlanta Hawks 2025-26 Lookahead w/ @williamslaurenl.bsky.social

—Jalen (3:16)
—Offseason (5:54)
—Trae (14:05)
—Kristaps/Okongwu (21:26)
—Dyson/Risacher (30:40)
—Lineups, pace, prospects, more (45:41)
—PREDICTIONS (1:04:45)

🍎 apple.co/4giy8ms
✳️ bit.ly/4mfDwYS
📺 youtu.be/Gyig0qUHNmMY

Two dates/times to watch for the Hawks:

1) NBA award finalists announced today (Sunday) at 6:30 pm ET

Dyson Daniels (MIP, DPOY), Zaccharie Risacher (ROY), Trae Young (CPOY) could all be finalists.

2) NBA Draft tiebreakers on Monday at 3 pm ET

Both first round picks (SAC, LAL) involved for ATL.

"..I mean, the guy shows up every day, doesn't complain whether, he plays 20 minutes, 29 minutes, he's always defending. He's fearless, and he's 19 years old. And if that guy isn't Rookie of the Year, then I don't know what, *looks directly at camera* NBA what are we doing?"

"... the fact that he's not the Rookie of the Year, right, given the circumstances like he was on a team that had a lot of wings, and what he's been able to do is remarkable..."

Georges Niang may be one of Zaccharie Risacher's biggest advocates for ROTY.

Hawks rookie Zaccharie Risacher received his Rookie of the Month honor ahead of Saturday’s game against the Warriors.

Hawks forward/center Larry Nance Jr. getting shots up post practice. Nance has gotten some walking laps in during the team’s shootaround and yesterday’s practice.

👀

Coach Georges

Hawks forward/center Larry Nance Jr. getting shots up post practice. Nance has gotten some walking laps in during the team’s shootaround and yesterday’s practice.

Scenes from Hawks practice:

Hawks players, coaches find a fun break in routine with one-on-one games The Hawks love to hoop. So, deep into the NBA season, they find ways to stoke their love for the game.

Young: “We don’t always get a lot of practice days, especially in the NBA with, how busy schedules are... So now having three days that we can recover one day and then two get to practice, I think we’re taking advantage of it..."
www.ajc.com/sports/atlan...

Hawks’ Zaccharie Risacher making a statement in competition for NBA’s top rookie While coach Quin Snyder encourages the world to dive deeper than the numbers, Risacher’s stats speak for themselves.

Risacher: “It would mean a lot for me. But right now, I just focus on the moment. And yeah, we’re trying to get a good spot for the playoffs. And I feel like I’m just focused on what we can do as a team right now, than an individual award..."
www.ajc.com/sports/atlan...

Thibs said both OG Anunoby and Miles McBride will both be game-time decisions.

Not a huge update on Larry Nance Jr. and Vit Krejci. But per league source, they’re both undergoing further testing today.

Trae Young (right Achilles tendinitis) is available.

Earlier this afternoon the Hawks announced Terance Mann is also availble.

The Hawks have officially waived Bones Hyland.

For tonight’s game — Hawks at Wizards:
Trae Young (right Achilles tendinitis) is probable.
Kobe Bufkin (right shoulder surgery) is out.
Bones Hyland (trade pending) is out.
Jalen Johnson (left shoulder surgery) is out.
Terance Mann (trade pending) is questionable.

Hello there! Looks like Clint Capela will be back tonight. He was back on the bench last night and the Hawks did not list him on the injury report for tonight’s game against the Wizards.

Asked by @williamslaurenl.bsky.social about playing with Trae Young, Georges Niang said "I'm just glad I don't have to guard him."

Niang said that it seemed like every time he had to defend Young, he ended up fouling him.

The Hawks have officially announced that Jalen Johnson will have surgery on his left shoulder and that he is done for the season.

Johnson will have surgery next week.

Atlanta Hawks’ Jalen Johnson to miss rest of season with torn labrum, report says The Atlanta Hawks are in the midst of a six-game slide, and Johnson’s injury further compounds the tough stretch they have ahead of them.

Hawks’ Jalen Johnson will miss the rest of the season with a torn labrum ajc.com/sports/atlan...

Pool report from @williamslaurenl.bsky.social is out for the double technical call at end of the game.

If he maintains his pace, Dyson Daniels would become the youngest qualified player to ever average 3+ steals per game in a season. 👀

🔗 stathead.com/tiny/QFb5V

Per the Hawks, forward Jalen Johnson left Thursday night’s game vs. Toronto after sustaining a left shoulder injury during the second quarter. He will be listed as out as he undergoes further medical testing and evaluation. His injury and status will be updated as appropriate.

After a question by @williamslaurenl.bsky.social, Quin Snyder all but confirmed that Dom Barlow will be in the mix tonight.

He noted that Wallace and Plowden played in Chicago and had an opportunity, before saying "Now, it is Dom's turn."

Hawks injury report for tonight against the Clippers:
Questionable
Trae Young (right hand contusion)

Jalen Johnson (right shoulder soreness)

Bogdan Bogdanovic (injury management; left lower leg contusion)

Out

Larry Nance Jr. (hand)
Kobe Bufkin (shoulder)
Cody Zeller (NWT)

No worries at all!

The Hawks have said Trae Young, Bogdan Bogdanovic and Jalen Johnson are all good to play today.

The Hawks ruled out Jalen with shoulder soreness