3 Atlanta Hawks Who Could Take a Step Back in 2026-27

Nobody likes negativity, but these three Atlanta Hawks players could take a major step back in 2026-27.

Alternatively, they may not. Fans should hope for the best-case scenario. They should keep their fingers crossed that each member of the Hawks will stagnate at worst, and ideally improve.

Yet, it's highly likely that at least one member of the team will regress. That's life in the National Basketball Association. The Hawks are poised for a big season, but that doesn't mean everything will go perfectly.

Keep an eye on these three for a potential step in the wrong direction.

When it comes to Okongwu, it's a simple numbers game. He shot 37.6% from three-point range in 2025-26, which is 4.3% higher than he's hit in any other NBA season.

The volume discrepancy is perhaps more concerning. Okongwu launched 5.2 attempts per game. The season prior, he shot 2.0 threes per game, which had been his career high up to that point.

Is Okongwu a real floor spacer, or was 2025-26 a mirage? Hopefully, the former proves itself to be the case, but if his shooting regresses, his entire offensive utility will come into question:

Although at least he's got a season of good shooting under his belt.

Daniels has never been a good shooter.

Last year, he hit 18.8% of his threes. That was the worst mark of his career. The year prior, he hit a respectable (ish) 34.0% on 3.1 attempts per game. For his career, Daniels has connected on 29.8% of his 2.1 attempts per contest.

The Hawks won't be relying on Daniels for their floor spacing. The concern here has more to do with the team's incoming players. Luguentz Dort and Aaron Wiggins are both far more reliable shooters, and they're also both solid (Wiggins) to outstanding (Dort) defenders in their own right.

If that added floor spacing bolsters the Hawks' offense, it's possible that Daniels' minutes and role will both decline.

This is perhaps the least likely player on this list to regress. Alexander-Walker has always been a reliable shooter and defender. In 2025-26, he found a bigger role than he's had in his career with the Hawks. He rewarded their trust with a Most Improved Player Award-winning season:

Now, it's about doing it again.

Often, the Most Improved Player award looks like a blip on an NBA player's radar in hindsight. It ends up merely recognizing their best season. Alexander-Walker needs to prove to the NBA world that 2025-26 was no fluke:

He can only do that by avoiding a major step back.