Patrick Beverley is putting the NBA on notice after the Atlanta Hawks' 11-game win streak, calling out Jonathan Kuminga's impact as a key reason for their surge.
When the Atlanta Hawks dropped nine of their 15 games during a rough stretch after the turn of the year and fell well below the .500 mark, no one expected them to be a competitive force in the second half of the season.
But after pulling off some highly impressive moves during the midseason trade window, including 23-year-old Jonathan Kuminga, the new-look Hawks have completely changed the vibe around them, even winning 11 straight games at one point.
There's fresh energy, optimism, and flair about them, so much so that Patrick Beverley was forced to send out a warning to the rest of the league about them. They have a legitimate chance to earn a playoff spot.
In his first six appearances for Atlanta, Kuminga has put up 14.8 points, 7.5 rebounds and 2.7 assists per game. Not only has he been making a stellar impact on both ends of the court, but particularly, he has been shooting an efficient 56.6 percent from the field and 58.3 percent from beyond the arc. For a team that desperately needed a reliable scoring option capable of creating his own shot, Kuminga has answered the call in convincing fashion.
But it's not only him stepping up; other players like Corey Kispert also recently dropped a new career-high of 33 points against the Wizards. Recently, Onyeka Okongwu also put up a strong 25-point performance against the Portland Trail Blazers. The contributions are coming from all over the roster, and that kind of depth is exactly what a playoff-bound team needs.
With the whole team seemingly feeding off new momentum, Beverley's enthusiasm extends beyond Kuminga's resurgence. The former Clippers guard made his feelings known on social media, subtly warning the rest of the league to keep an eye on this Hawks team in the coming weeks.
"Didn't even knew Kuminga smiled that much. Damn, He got his joy back," Beverley wrote. "I like this new ATL."
With additions such as Kuminga, Gabe Vincent, and C.J. McCollum, the Hawks now possess a well-rounded roster. They feature a versatile young forward capable of defending multiple positions and scoring efficiently, a seasoned veteran in McCollum who will be prepared to assume responsibility in clutch moments, and a reliable perimeter presence in Vincent who can serve as an X-factor in postseason scenarios.
While Atlanta may not boast the most star-studded roster on paper, truth be told, they have all the assets to upset any team in the playoffs and make a much-needed deep run into the conference finals and maybe, even beyond.