Kuminga's dazzling debut shines amid injury news, presenting a rare chance for the Hawks to test their future star.
It's been a confusing week for the Atlanta Hawks. There's been good news, and then, there's been bad news.
Which do you want first?
Let's start with the good news. Jonathan Kuminga was sensational in his Hawks debut. The young wing finished with 27 points, seven rebounds, four assists, and two steals. It was the type of well-rounded performance scouts envisioned back when Kuminga was part of the G-League Ignite. He backed it up two days later with 17 points and nine rebounds against Washington. Through two games, Kuminga is averaging 22 points and eight rebounds on 66.7% shooting — early numbers that are difficult to ignore.
Now, for the bad news...
In the very same game, Jalen Johnson suffered an injury. It doesn't seem serious, thankfully, but it's still a cause for concern.
Although, it could also be a blessing in disguise.
Atlanta Hawks Must Maximize Jonathan Kuminga Opportunity
Nobody wants anybody to get injured. Celebrating sports injuries feels wrong. Let's start there.
That said, they are an inevitability. Players will get injured when playing a sport at the highest level. Teams, fans, and coaches alike need to adjust.
Johnson's injury will open up opportunities for Kuminga.
He should be the team's undisputed first option in Johnson's absence. Let the Hawks see how that looks. If they lose some game in the interim, it's not a catastrophe. The Hawks should be thinking about their odds in the upcoming draft lottery anyway.
If Kuminga can keep turning in big scoring opportunities, the Hawks will know they've got another star forward. With that knowledge, they can start thinking about how to incorporate Kuminga into a Johnson-led offense.
How might that look?
Atlanta Hawks Could Have an Elite Forward Duo
There is some natural synergy between Johnson and Kuminga. The former has tremendous passing instincts, while the latter looks to score first. With Johnson as the engine and Kuminga as the release valve, the Hawks could build a dynamic offense between this duo.
Yet, there are undeniable flaws. Neither Johnson nor Kuminga is a particularly reliable floor spacer. If the Hawks commit to them as a long-term foundation, it could spell the end of Dyson Daniels' tenure. Having a non-shooting ball-handler alongside two shaky-shooting primary creators will put the Hawks behind in the math game.
Otherwise, the numbers are in their favor. Onyeka Onkongwu has become a floor spacer. Nickeil Alexander-Walker is precisely the high-volume shooter the Hawks need next to Johnson and Kuminga.
This could work. That said, before the Hawks commit to a vision, they'll need to see more than one star-caliber game from Kuminga. So, for as long as Johnson is out, the offense should run through him.
If all goes well, they'll have some good news by the end of Johnson's absence.