Quin Snyder says the Atlanta Hawks' four-day training camp in Nashville helped a revamped roster build chemistry before the preseason.
The Atlanta Hawks wrapped training camp Friday at Vanderbilt University in Nashville, Tennessee, after four days of practice away from home. Media day was Monday at PC&E Atlanta, and the first Nashville practice was Tuesday. Hawks coach Quin Snyder discussed the trip with Lauren Williams of The Atlanta Journal-Constitution after that first practice and again Friday.
Snyder thanked Vanderbilt coach Mark Byington and his staff for hosting.
Being around each other was the biggest benefit of leaving town for Snyder, whose players had already spent a few weeks in Atlanta for optional team activities.
"It was a fantastic few days for our team," Snyder said.
"With a new group, it was good to get away, come together, focus on basketball but also some team bonding, and Vanderbilt created a tremendous first-class environment for us," Snyder continued.
Hawks Brought Several New Faces to Nashville
Several of the players in Nashville were new. Atlanta agreed June 21 to acquire Aaron Wiggins from the Oklahoma City Thunder for two second-round picks. Luguentz Dort came from Oklahoma City in a three-team trade that sent Zaccharie Risacher to the Dallas Mavericks and brought back Ryan Nembhard. Wiggins and Dort won a championship together with the Thunder in 2025.
Nembhard was gone before camp opened. On Sept. 22, the Hawks agreed to send him, Buddy Hield, and cash to the Charlotte Hornets for Dorian Finney-Smith, who has three years and $40 million left on his contract, including a player option for 2028-29. Finney-Smith, 33, averaged 3.3 points in 37 games with the Houston Rockets last season. Hield had joined Atlanta in the midseason trade that sent Kristaps Porzingis to the Golden State Warriors and played seven games for the Hawks.
Atlanta also drafted Kingston Flemings eighth overall and Zuby Ejiofor 23rd in June.
Players met up with the rookies at Summer League in Las Vegas in July. In August, they shared post-workout photos from Los Angeles. The group reported to Atlanta in September for optional team activities.
Because the group is new, there are a few things Atlanta wants to do differently tactically, Snyder said.
"We had a number of a core group of players returning from last year, and some of the guys we added, I think, have been in situations where they've competed at a high level, whether it be in college or other teams in the league," Snyder explained Tuesday.
"So, I think their approach is really a lot of focus," Snyder added. "Our guys got here to Atlanta a few weeks ago, so they've been playing, and we seem more connected, I think, than you would anticipate with a newer group."
Chemistry Is the Priority for Snyder
That returning core went 46-36 and reached the playoffs as the East's No. 6 seed. The New York Knicks eliminated the Hawks in six games, finishing the series with a 140-89 win at State Farm Arena on April 30.
Jalen Johnson led Atlanta with 22.5 points, 10.3 rebounds, and 7.9 assists per game last season. He made his first All-Star team and the All-NBA Third Team.
Nothing about the bonding can be manufactured, as Snyder sees it.
"I think you pay attention to those things, and it has to be natural," Snyder said. "You don't want to manufacture things that don't feel right. But at the same time, to the extent that we can facilitate some of the things as coaches, like, that's part of building chemistry.
"And, frankly, that fundamentally, that's going to be the most important thing for this year, because we have a deep team, we have lots of guys that are capable of contributing," Snyder noted. "So that connectivity within the team is everything."
Atlanta plays five preseason games before opening the regular season at the Orlando Magic. The first is Monday at 7 p.m. ET against the Memphis Grizzlies at State Farm Arena.
