Vegas in July is usually just a place where people lose money and get sunburned. But for basketball junkies, the desert heat is secondary to the chaos of the Thomas & Mack Center. If you've been following the Atlanta Hawks summer league roster, you know the drill. It’s a weird cocktail of high-stakes rookies, desperate G-Leaguers, and "wait, he's still in the league?" veterans.
Most people just look at the box scores. They see a 1st-round pick go 2-for-11 from deep and start screaming "bust" on Twitter. That’s a mistake. Summer League isn't about the final score. It’s about specific flashes. It’s about whether a guy can handle a trap or if his lateral quickness is actually NBA-level. Honestly, the 2025 Hawks squad brought a level of intrigue we haven't seen since the Zaccharie Risacher debut a year prior.
The Headliners: Why the Atlanta Hawks Summer League Roster Mattered
The big name everyone circled was Asa Newell. Coming out of Georgia, Newell brought that "hometown hero" vibe, but he also brought a legitimate 6'10 frame with explosive mobility. Scouts were basically drooling over his potential to be a Jalen Johnson-lite. When you look at how the Hawks are building, they want length. They want guys who can switch 1 through 5.
Then there was Kobe Bufkin. Look, it’s kinda rare to see a former 15th overall pick playing in his third Summer League. Usually, by year three, you've graduated. But Bufkin’s path has been bumpy. Between injuries and a crowded backcourt, he needed these Vegas reps. He wasn't just there to play; he was there to prove he could run an offense without turning the ball over like a panicked high schooler.
The roster also featured:
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- Nikola Đurišić: The Serbian wing who was the 43rd pick in 2024. He missed a lot of time with an elbow injury, so this was basically his "hello, I'm still here" tour.
- Eli Ndiaye: A 6'11 force from Real Madrid who the Hawks snagged on a two-way deal.
- Kobe Johnson: Jalen Johnson’s brother. No pressure, right? He’s a defensive menace who just needs to find a jump shot.
The Nikola Đurišić Situation: More Than Just a Draft Stash
There’s a lot of confusion about Đurišić. People kept asking why he wasn't on the main roster last season. Basically, that right elbow sprain he suffered in the 2024 Summer League messed up the timeline. He spent time with the College Park Skyhawks, but 2025 was supposed to be his breakout.
In Vegas, he looked... interesting. He’s 6'7 with legitimate playmaking chops. You don't see many guys that size who can whip a one-handed pass across the court to a corner shooter. The Hawks need that. With Trae Young’s future always being a topic of conversation (and the trades that finally shook the roster up), having a secondary creator like Nikola is huge. He’s not a finished product. Not even close. His shot is still a bit slow, and he gets caught ball-watching on defense. But the upside? It’s real.
Sleepers and G-League Grinders
Every Atlanta Hawks summer league roster has those guys you've never heard of who suddenly look like All-Stars for forty minutes. Lamont Butler was that guy in 2025. He’s a winner. You saw it at San Diego State and Kentucky. He doesn't care about scoring 20 points. He wants to pick up the opposing point guard at 94 feet and make their life miserable.
Then you have Adam Flagler. He’s 25. In basketball years, that’s practically a senior citizen for Summer League. But the dude can flat-out shoot. He’s spent time with the OKC Blue, and he’s "overqualified" for Vegas in the best way possible. He knows where to be. He doesn't force shots. If the Hawks need a 15th man who can hit three triples in a pinch, Flagler is the guy.
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The Strategy Behind the Roster Construction
Landry Fields and the Hawks front office aren't just picking names out of a hat. They have a type. They want versatile wings. Look at the names: Jack McVeigh, Jacob Toppin, Javan Johnson. These are all guys who can play multiple positions.
The Hawks are moving away from the "one star and a bunch of specialists" model. They want a "positionless" mess that's hard to guard. It’s why they were so high on Asa Newell. He can grab a rebound and start the break himself. That’s the dream.
Why People Get Summer League Wrong
Users search for "Summer League stats" like they’re gospel. They aren't.
A guy might go 0-for-8 but have a "great" game because he executed the defensive scheme perfectly. Coach Ronald Nored wasn't looking for scoring titles. He was looking for guys who could survive Quin Snyder’s system.
If you can’t navigate a pindown screen or remember your rotation, you aren't playing in Atlanta. Period. The Summer League is an audition for the "Skyhawks-to-Hawks" pipeline.
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What to Watch Moving Forward
So, what does this all mean for the regular season?
First, keep an eye on the two-way spots. Eli Ndiaye and Adam Flagler are the frontrunners to actually see floor time in the NBA this year. Ndiaye is particularly fascinating because of his experience in Europe. He’s played in high-pressure games for Real Madrid. A random Tuesday night in Vegas against the Pistons isn't going to rattle him.
Second, the "Kobe" duo. Bufkin and Johnson are the project players. If Bufkin can’t solidify himself as the backup point guard, the Hawks might have to look elsewhere. The clock is ticking on first-rounders these days. You don't get four years to "find yourself" anymore.
Actionable Insights for Hawks Fans
If you're trying to track how these guys are doing, don't just check the ESPN box score.
- Watch the off-ball movement: Does the player know where to stand when the ball isn't in their hands? This is the biggest jump from college to the pros.
- Check the defensive versatility: Can the big man stay in front of a guard for more than two seconds? If the answer is no, they probably won't make the final cut.
- Monitor the College Park Skyhawks: Most of this roster will end up in College Park. The G-League is where the real development happens.
The Atlanta Hawks summer league roster is a glimpse into the future, even if that future is a bit blurry right now. It's about finding that one diamond in the rough—the next Jalen Johnson who starts slow but ends up being indispensable. Whether it's Newell, Đurišić, or a sleeper like Butler, the foundation is being laid in the July heat.
The next step is simple: monitor the injury reports for Nikola Đurišić as training camp approaches. His health determines if the Hawks have a secret weapon or another "what if" story. Keep a close eye on the final roster cuts in October, as that's when the Summer League standouts finally get their jersey numbers for real.