Hawks Soar: Vets Fueling Atlanta’s Elite Run

Hawks Soar: Vets Fueling Atlanta’s Elite Run

The Atlanta Hawks are on fire. Since their big trade, they’ve been one of the best teams in the NBA. They’re 17-3 in that stretch, leading the league in offense, defense, and overall point difference. It’s a stunning turnaround that has everyone talking.

A Culture of Hard Work

What’s behind this amazing run? Players like CJ McCollum and Nickeil Alexander-Walker point to the team’s culture. “JJ works as hard as I’ve seen anybody work,” McCollum said. “Everybody is working towards something.” This dedication is happening every day, whether players are on the court or cheering from the bench. This strong team spirit makes winning much easier.

Coach’s Vision Ignites Confidence

McCollum also shared how Coach Quinn’s approach made a big difference. “When I first met with him, it was the first time in a long time I heard a coach say things to me that made me feel like they seen more out of myself than I did,” McCollum explained. This belief from the coach was a key reason McCollum felt Atlanta was the right place for him.

A Trade That Paid Off

It turns out McCollum and Alexander-Walker were traded for each other years ago in New Orleans. McCollum remembers meeting Alexander-Walker’s mom right after the trade. He told her, “He works hard. He does things the right way… once he figures it out like you’re not even going to remember these days.” McCollum saw the potential, knowing that hard work eventually pays off in this league.

Alexander-Walker saw the trade as a positive sign. “For me it was like okay like it sucked in the moment and it hurt me to get traded but like on the flip side of it being traded for CJ was like oh okay like I still feel like that made me a good enough player in my eyes at that time,” he recalled. It boosted his confidence when he was struggling.

Teamwork Makes the Dream Work

The team’s success since the trade is built on more than just individual talent. McCollum highlighted the coaching. “I would say we’re well coached,” he stated. “Like Quinn does a great job of being detail-oriented.” The film sessions are intense, focusing on execution and areas for improvement. Coach Quinn’s constant message about rebounding, running, and playing with controlled chaos has resonated with the players.

The players have bought into playing fast, defending hard, and sharing the ball. “We actually get along. We like each other,” McCollum said. “When you want to genuinely see somebody be successful, I think that makes a difference.” This genuine connection is a huge part of their success.

Self-Governance and Accountability

Alexander-Walker added that since McCollum and others arrived, the team has learned to self-govern. “We’ve been able to like self-govern ourselves and that was a huge shift,” he noted. Small details that might have been overlooked before are now being addressed. This attention to detail shows a deeper respect for the game.

McCollum believes this self-governance comes from veterans who know what it takes. “I’ve seen what it takes to go deep in the playoffs. I’ve seen what it takes to operate at a high level successfully,” he said. This experience helps the team cut out the distractions early on.

Learning from Experience

McCollum also reflected on his time in Washington D.C. after being traded there. He was honest with the team about the situation, knowing there would be a lot of losses. “I’m thankful and grateful for them. I still have a great relationship with them to this day,” he said. That experience taught him to maximize every opportunity, especially as he gets closer to the end of his career.

Toronto’s Hoops Culture

The conversation also touched on Toronto’s strong basketball culture. Alexander-Walker explained that from a young age, players learned fundamental skills and played against older competition. “It’s the culture and we grew around it and we just molded each other over time,” he explained. This environment, combined with dedicated coaches, built a strong foundation for many NBA players.

The Power of Emotional Control

The players discussed the importance of emotional control in basketball. Alexander-Walker mentioned his childhood battles with his friend, who is now an NBA player. Their dads pushed them to constantly compete and want to be better than each other. “The connection that we had when we were playing and his dad always used to say this like you got to want to be better than him and he has to want to be better than you,” he said.

McCollum noted that while emotional control is key, it’s also important that the hard work translates into results. He spoke about learning to channel his energy after youthful outbursts. Alexander-Walker, however, admired his friend’s consistent calmness, even after tough losses. “I know not only am I not panicking, I actually am so confident that we’re going to turn it around that I’m going to have no emotional reaction to anything that’s happening,” Alexander-Walker described.

Trusting the Process

Ultimately, the Hawks’ success comes down to trusting the process, hard work, and a genuine connection between players. McCollum summed it up, “The more we win, the more we all get what we want at the end of the road.” With this mindset, Atlanta is looking like a serious contender.

“Everybody is working towards something. The guys that play, the guys that don’t play. And I think when you have that type of culture, I think it’s easier to be successful.”

“When I first met with him, it was the first time in a long time I heard a coach say things to me that made me feel like they seen more out of myself than I did.”

“For me it was like okay like it sucked in the moment and it hurt me to get traded but like on the flip side of it being traded for CJ was like oh okay like I still feel like that made me a good enough player in my eyes at that time.”

Source: AN ATLANTA HAWKS EPISODE | Nickeil Alexander-Walker & CJ McCollum (YouTube)