The Atlanta Hawks sent a lot of talent to Vegas this summer, including three recent draft picks. While each of the Hawks’ top picks was productive, the overall performance of the Hawks’ key youngsters was mixed.
Atlanta Hawks’ Key Youngsters Have Uneven Summer League Performance: What Does It Mean Going Forward?
Atlanta improved to 4-0 in the Las Vegas Summer League with a 92-88 victory over Memphis on Thursday night. The Hawks roster is loaded with either NBA draft picks or players currently on or have previously been on two-way deals. However, most of the Hawks’ key summer league players lack extensive experience, including Kobe Bufkin, Asa Newell, Nikola Djurisic, Jacob Toppin, and Eli Ndiaye.
Bufkin has appeared in just 27 games for Atlanta since being selected with the 15th pick in the 2023 draft. Djurisic played 40 contests for the G-League College Park Skyhawks despite not signing a contract with the Hawks. Meanwhile, Newell is the Hawks’ first-round selection this season while Toppin and Ndiaye are on two-way deals.
Free agent Jack McVeigh, on a two-way deal with Houston last season, tossed in 20 points on 7 of 11 shooting, including 3 of 7 from deep, in 25 minutes against the Grizzlies. Kobe Johnson, who has an Exhibit 10 deal with the Hawks, added 14 points while former Oklahoma City Thunder two-way guard Adam Flagler totaled 10 points. Bufkin, Newell, and Toppin also scored in double figures.
Atlanta is in 13th place in the Vegas Summer League standings with 8.5 points. The Hawks are the highest-scoring team in Vegas and one of two teams to reach the century mark, averaging 101.5 points per game. But their eight-point scoring differential tied Boston for the eighth-best mark. Three of the Hawks’ four victories were by eight points or fewer.
Atlanta will close out the summer league with a game versus the Celtics on Sunday.
Kobe Bufkin
Bufkin was a surprise mid-first-round selection in 2023. However, the 21-year-old guard hasn’t been able to stay healthy, having only 27 games of NBA experience. Coming out of college, the 6-4 was seen as a scorer with some defensive and playmaking ability. He has struggled with shooting during his short NBA tenure, posting shooting splits of 37.4/22.0/65.4.
Bufkin has demonstrated scoring and playmaking ability during the first four summer league games. Bufkin has scored in double figures in all four games, topping the 20-point mark twice. He has rebounded the ball decently and doled out nine assists against Phoenix on July 13.
Bufkin has reached the free-throw line frequently, attempting seven free throws per game, and his 1.3 points per shot is league average. However, efficiency and ball handling have been issues during the summer, as he took more shots than scored points twice. If it weren’t for his propensity to get to the free-throw line, he would have totaled 51 points on 62 shots.
Bufkin averaged 19.5 points, 5.2 rebounds, 4.2 assists, and 3.2 turnovers. He also has drained 1.8 threes and 1.0 steals with a slash line of 35.5/25.9/96.4
Atlanta recently added Caleb Houstan and signed Luke Kennard to a free-agent deal this summer. Zaccharie Risacher and Vit Krejci could serve as Trae Young and Dyson Daniels’ primary backups. However, there is still a path for Bufkin if he can consistently hit more shots.
Asa Newell
Newell, considered one of the top big men in the 2025 draft, has had an excellent summer. The athletic 19-year-old has excelled on both ends of the floor, particularly on the backboards. He has also been extremely efficient around the room and has shown the ability to space the floor, knocking down 6 of 14 shots from deep (42.9%). Ball handling and free-throw shooting have been issues for Newell.
Newell has produced one double-double and averages 13.5 points, 8.2 rebounds (2.2 offensive), and 1.1 assists during four summer league appearances. He has also compiled one steal and 1.5 threes, with shooting splits of 51.3%, 42.9%, and 44.4%.
Newell should get some regular minutes with the Hawks this season. How much is a question with Kristaps Porzingis, Jalen Johnson, Onyeka Okongwu, and perhaps 2024’s top draft selection ahead of him.
Nikola Djurisic
Djurisic struggled during his stint with College Park on both ends of the court. While the 21-year-old wing showed he could be an elite playmaker, shooting and ball-handling were an issue. The trend has continued during the summer and needs to improve his shooting from beyond the arc.
Djurisic has done a good job finishing around the rim in Vegas and as a distributor. But he has struggled with efficiency, consistency, and turnovers. He has scored in double figures and averages 11.8 points, 3.5 assists, 3.0 rebounds, and 2.2 turnovers. Additionally, Djurisic has posted shooting splits of 47.2/25/87.
Djurisic has a lot to improve between now and opening night. While Djurisic does show some promise and is on a standard deal, he will likely spend a lot of time with College Park.
Jacob Toppin
Toppin has spent parts of the last two seasons with the New York Knicks on a two-way deal, while also appearing in one game with the Hawks last year. The 25-year-old is a versatile 3-and-D forward with 27 games of NBA experience, demonstrating that he is at least a borderline NBA player.
Toppin has been highly efficient and excellent on the offensive glass in his three appearances in Vegas. Toppin posted a double-double in his summer league debut and has scored at least 12 points and grabbed four rebounds in each contest. He averages 15.3 points, 7.3 rebounds, and 1.3 assists with a 56.7/40/66.7.
Of the three Hawks players currently on a three-way deal, Toppin is most likely to see action this year. Toppin is capable of playing all three frontcourt positions. So, he figures in the mix frontcourt minutes when injuries occur.
Eli N’Diaye
N’Diaye went undrafted in 2025 after spending the last three seasons with Real Madrid. An undersized center, the 6-8 has only appeared in one game with the Hawks thus far this summer. However, he was very efficient in that contest against the Heat, scoring 12 points, grabbing six rebounds, stealing the ball once, and blocking one shot in 21 minutes of play.
N’Diaye is a project and will likely spend most, if not all, of the year with College Park in the G-League. The Hawks have plenty of depth up front, though an injury or two could force the Hawks to use the Senegal native in a game.
Photo Credit: © Brett Davis, Imagn Images
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