Interesting rookie last season, 12 points, 4 rebounds and 2 assists on average for the Hawks, De’Andre Hunter has already shifted a gear for his second professional campaign. The young Atlanta winger is actually 18 points, 6 rebounds and 2 assists, with winning percentages on the rise, including 51% on shots and 38% behind the arc.
If we expected perhaps more Cam Reddish in the Hawks this season, it is De’Andre Hunter who answered the call, after the injuries of Bogdan Bogdanovic and Danilo Gallinari (returned to the game recently).
More confidence, more fun
“It can be seen that he takes pleasure in the field”, likes Olin Simplis in The Athletic. “It comes from all the work he has done and which is paying off now. Most gamers you have to give them confidence in the video and then they start to see the game differently and they start to blossom. He’s a very confident player at the moment. I wouldn’t say he wasn’t last season, but this season he’s more confident in his other qualities. This is the biggest difference. When he steps onto the pitch now, he believes he is one of the best young players in the league. “
NBA full-back specialist Olin Simplis took charge of De’Andre Hunter during the offseason, as he had done before with Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (and his cousin Nickeil Alexander-Walker) or Spencer Dinwiddie. He’s been at the forefront of witnessing the Hawks’ progress, whether it’s his sideways moves on defense, or his dribbling and shooting on offense.
Thus pumped up, De’Andre Hunter made a very good start to the season, with his career record at 33 points against Giannis Antetokounmpo and his Bucks (one loss), a few days after his previous season record at 25 points against in Minnesota (one victory).
“He has extra confidence but he also gives it to all of us because we know we can rely on him. He now deserves to have systems in place for him and to inherit the ball in his hands, whether on the low post or on the pick & roll ”, estime Lloyd Pierce. “I think the guys are going to start looking for him more too. He shoots with full confidence, in the rhythm. He has proven that he can be a serious option on offense. It’s good to see guys raising their level of play, especially when you have other guys missing. “
A very versatile defender
With his wingspan of more than 2m13, De’Andre Hunter (2m03, 103kg) has the physical characteristics of a modern winger, able to diversify in several positions and to be able to change on the backs as well as on the interiors in defense. It was actually one of those offseason projects.
“I just wanted to take the next step in my development as a player. It’s something we discussed with the coaches. I just want to play and run the systems, that’s all. I watched a lot of videos during my forties ”, De’Andre Hunter explained for Peach Tree Hoops. “I just tried to watch the players I was going to defend on. To know their trends. I think I can still improve in defense. I focused more than anything on defense. I want to play hard on defense no matter who I’m placed on. Leaders, backs or wingers… I want to go out on the field and try to win my duel every night. “
Used to all sorts of sauces, the former 2019 NCAA champion with Virginia has suddenly shown that he has fulfilled his promises from the end of last season. Whether it’s against the scoring wingers swarming the league, or the easy-relaxing backs, he has lifted his sleeves, and the defensive challenge, every time.
“It’s hard to assess him just by looking at the stats. He must have played Kevin Durant, D’Angelo Russell, he also debuted on CJ McCollum. It is he who inherits these duels ”, recalls Lloyd Pierce. “The challenge for him is to see if he can disrupt his opponent in defense? He is more of a defender who contains his opponent, a solid defender but a positional defender. How can he become more disruptive in defense? This is his room for improvement as a defender. “
Un futur All-Star ?
According to his trainer, De’Andre Hunter has in any case everything it takes in store to become a major member of the Hawks. Why not even All-Star if he continues on this path …
“A lot of guys want to be All-Stars, they want to reach that level, that’s a fact. De’Andre really has the opportunity ”, asserts Olin Simplis. “A lot of guys have to go through adversity, and they’re not necessarily in situations where they can optimize their qualities. But he has gone from 12 points per game to 18 this year. In Atlanta, where there is a core of young players, they are going to be in the playoff race for years to come. There will be exposure. And he can be part of their “Big Three”. In this case, if the team wins, he has a real chance of becoming an All-Star. He is in a good position. “
All lights seem green for someone who refused at all costs to play at post 4 at the university. Now versatile winger in the NBA, De’Andre Hunter has accepted his fate. It suits him so well.
“On top of that, he has the size, the stature, the athleticism, the right professional approach and the work ethic. His job now is to progress and evolve ”, concludes Olin Simplis. “As he gets comfortable, you’ll see more of his game. His room for improvement is enormous. He still has a lot of untapped qualities. For me, there is no doubt that he has the talent to be an All-Star. “
His career record
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PEp_MCLwZzY
| De’Andre Hunter | Percentage | Rebounds | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Season | Team | MJ | Min | Tirs | 3pts | LF | Off | Def | Until | Pd | Fte | Int | Bp | Ct | Pts |
| 2019-20 | ATL | 63 | 32 | 41.0 | 35.5 | 76.4 | 0.7 | 3.8 | 4.5 | 1.8 | 2.9 | 0.7 | 1.6 | 0.3 | 12.4 |
| 2020-21 | ATL | 15 | 32 | 52.0 | 39.1 | 86.7 | 0.9 | 4.9 | 5.8 | 2.1 | 3.1 | 0.9 | 1.5 | 0.4 | 17.4 |
| Total | 78 | 32 | 43.2 | 36.2 | 79.4 | 0.7 | 4.0 | 4.8 | 1.8 | 2.9 | 0.7 | 1.6 | 0.3 | 13.3 | |
