Vít Krejčí might not be a household name across the NBA landscape. The Washington Wizards drafted him with the 37th pick in the 2020 NBA Draft and traded him to the Oklahoma City Thunder. Krejčí played 30 games with the Thunder before the Atlanta Hawks acquired him for Maurice Harkless and draft compensation. In August of 2023, Atlanta released the Czech guard but signed him to a two-way contract four months later. Later that season, Krejčí proved to be a valuable depth piece for the Hawks, so they signed him to a four-year, $10.2 million deal in the 2024 offseason.
Krejčí projects to be an important role player in 2025-26 for an Atlanta team looking to return to championship contention.
Vít Krejčí’s Development and 2025-26 Role With Hawks
Krejči is More than Just an Ordinary Pass-First Playmaker Now
The 6-foot-8-inch Krejčí has an interesting skill set for his size. Oklahoma City officially drafted him as a point guard, but he has played anywhere but center for the Hawks. He sees the floor very well, often completing risky passes or making advanced reads off the dribble. Here, he executes a precise, on-time backdoor lead pass to a cutter in a EuroBasket preparation match against Spain.
Vit’s dime got melted down and sold as scrap metal. pic.twitter.com/lv0nLWZ3pP
— Kevin Chouinard (@KLChouinard) August 7, 2025
Krejčí came into the league with questions surrounding his perimeter shot, willingness to score, and defensive capabilities. Although his length and wingspan give him a versatile defensive skill set, Krejčí struggled to stay in front of primary ball handlers. However, throughout the 2023-24 campaign, he developed these skills with the College Park Skyhawks. Krejčí started 14 games that season on the wing when Jalen Johnson had trouble with ankle sprains and did a much better job of keeping his matchup in front. Hawks head coach Quin Snyder described their G League squad as a “defensive incubator,” and Krejčí certainly proves this.
He struggled from beyond the arc in his first two seasons, shooting 32.7% from deep his rookie year and 23.8% in his sophomore season. However, Krejčí flipped his shooting into a major strength over the last two campaigns. The 25-year-old shot 41.2% and 43.7% on 3.1 and 3.6 threes attempted, respectively. Once the calendar flipped to 2025, Krejčí caught fire, splashing 48.2% of his triples on 4.5 tries. He “lets it fly” from beyond the arc with no hesitation and even added moving triples to his arsenal.
Vit is 6/6 from three but also still attuned to what he needs to do on defense. pic.twitter.com/aaYwYINdji
— Kevin Chouinard (@KLChouinard) April 2, 2024
What Role Does He Play For the Hawks Next Season?
Atlanta added guard depth this summer with Luke Kennard and Nickeil Alexander-Walker behind Trae Young and Dyson Daniels. Kobe Bufkin is also set to return after undergoing season-ending shoulder surgery in January. This leaves little room for Krejčí, but the wing depth is another story.
Zaccharie Risacher will get the start at small forward, and Krejčí might follow right behind the 2024 first overall pick. Despite being drafted as a point guard, Krejčí struggles against heavy, aggressive ball pressure. He can also be too unselfish at times, leading to defenses loading up on Atlanta’s scoring threats. However, when operating as a secondary playmaker alongside Young or even Johnson, he flourishes. His newfound marksmanship is also best utilized when playing off the ball and taking advantage of defenses loading up on others. In the second half of last season, Krejčí also showed more willingness to take what the defense gave him, even if it meant going for a semi-contested three or layup in the paint.
Snyder’s offense relies on ball and player movement, screens, and quick decisions. Krejčí scans the floor well, and the ball rarely stops with him. New shooters like Kristaps Porziņģis, Kennard, Alexander-Walker, and Caleb Houstan will benefit from his vision and creative playmaking, especially when Young heads to the bench. The improved shooting can also give the Czech guard more space to handle the rock in the halfcourt, taking pressure off other ball handlers. Krejčí has cemented a role off the bench with the Hawks as he enters his fifth NBA season.
© Kyle Ross-Imagn Images
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