Five Biggest Takeaways From Atlanta Hawks Media Day

The Atlanta Hawks held media day today and here are the top takeaways from what was said

Mar 23, 2025; Atlanta, Georgia, USA; Atlanta Hawks head coach Quin Snyder on the sideline against the Philadelphia 76ers in the fourth quarter at State Farm Arena. Mandatory Credit: Brett Davis-Imagn Images | Brett Davis-Imagn Images

NBA basketball is inching closer and closer to returning.

The Atlanta Hawks are going to open training camp this week and one of the most intriguing teams in the league. Atlanta had an active offseason and is seen by some as a contender to win the Eastern Conference. They have a long way to go before that becomes a reality, but the work begins this week.

Before practice starts for the Hawks, they held media day today. Here are the big takeaways from what was said.

1. Quin Snyder believes Kristaps Porzingis and Onyeka Okongwu Can Play Together

Apr 18, 2025; Atlanta, Georgia, USA; Atlanta Hawks forward Onyeka Okongwu (17) shoots at the basket behind Miami Heat guard Davion Mitchell (45) during the first half at State Farm Arena. Mandatory Credit: Dale Zanine-Imagn Images | Dale Zanine-Imagn Images

The Hawks have two quality options to start at center for them and that is why they are going to be one of the East's best teams.

Porzingis and Okongwu are two different players, but both are very good. Porzingis gives the Hawks an elite threat from three while also giving them strong interior defense. Okongwu is a really strong defender, just not a shot blocker, and a terrific pick-and-roll partner with Young. The defense for the Hawks was really strong when Okongwu and Johnson played together last season.

Porzingis is not just stricly a center though and has played power forward before. In his availability, Hawks head coach Quin Snyder said that he thinks both players can play well together:

Snyder said Onyeka Okongwu and Kristaps Porzingis "can be really good together."

— Brad Rowland (@BTRowland) September 29, 2025

How often do we see that? I don't know, but the Hawks have three quality bigs in Johnson, Porzingis, and Okongwu that they can use in a variety of lineups.

2. Dyson Daniels wants to continue to improve on defense

If Dyson Daniels gets any better on defense, the rest of the NBA is going to be in serious trouble.

When talking about what he is working on improving this summer, Daniels did not immediately go to his offense, but to his biggest strength:

Dyson Daniels said he watched a lot of film this summer to help improve his defense. "We need to have each other's back and rotate for each other. And for me, I'm trying to see points where I can be better at help defense. Where should I rotate from? Should I not rotate?

— Lauren L. Williams (@WilliamsLaurenL) September 29, 2025

Daniels is going to be surrounded by Nickeil Alexander-Walker and Kristaps Porzingis now and the defense has a chance to be one of the better ones in the league.

3. Kristaps Porzingis is ready to go

May 7, 2025; Boston, Massachusetts, USA; Boston Celtics center Kristaps Porzingis (8) shoots a free throw against the New York Knicks in the second half during game two of the second round for the 2025 NBA Playoffs at TD Garden. Mandatory Credit: David Butler II-Imagn Images | David Butler II-Imagn Images

Kristaps Porzingis got to Atlanta this morning and is going to be one of the biggest additions across the NBA this season. Porzingis struggled late last season with an illness, but he told the media today that he is ready to go for the season and that playing in EuroBasket, he helped himself:

Kristaps Porzingis said that illness he felt is gone. But he said he still doesn’t have an explanation really for what it was but said it lingered. He said he goes into this season fully healthy.

— Ohm Youngmisuk (@NotoriousOHM) September 29, 2025

4. Trae Young talks Contract Extension

One of the big questions surrounding the Hawks this offseason has been about whether or not Trae Young was going to sign an extension to keep in Atlanta, but that has not happened so far. Young got a chance to talk about that today:

"I don't know if the word disappointment, I don't know maybe, I am just so focused on and I am more happy about the team that we got this year, I am blessed bro. I was not stressing, if something happened, it happened, but it didn't and I still got time and obviously everyone knows what my situation is going into the future so for me, I am focused on this team, I am focused on right now, I am blessed. I got a great team going into this season and one that you can't really say that I have had so I am even more excited on that so who knows what the future holds but right now I am here and I am present."

Trae Young responds to @ATLjohnson18’s question about not getting a contract extension done to this point: pic.twitter.com/H2lpUsJPxn

— Brad Rowland (@BTRowland) September 29, 2025

5. Jalen Johnson is ready to be back on the court

Jalen Johnson is healthy for the Hawks and he is ready to hit the court for the Hawks. Johnson was a borderline All-Star player before his injury a year ago, but he has been working hard this offseason, including working out with LeBron James.

I asked Jalen Johnson about working out with LeBron this offseason and what he took away from that:

“It’s crazy how humble he is.”

He mentioned that it’s surreal being able to share the floor with him and that he’s worked out with him on several different occasions this…

— Zach Langley (@langleyatl) September 29, 2025