Hawks Close Out Summer League with Encouraging Signs from Young Core

The Atlanta Hawks wrapped up their 2025 NBA Summer League run Sunday night in Las Vegas, finishing the week with a 4-1 record. While the final game ended in a blowout loss to the Boston Celtics, context matters — Atlanta sat most of its key contributors, clearly prioritizing rest and player health over the scoreboard. And truthfully, the overall trip was a win in every way that counts.

Let’s start with the big picture: four straight victories, tons of player development reps, and strong glimpses into what the future might hold.

Asa Newell, the 19-year-old big man taken No. 23 overall in this year’s draft, gave Hawks fans a lot to feel good about. Remember, Atlanta didn’t just pick him — they made a major move to land him, pulling off a blockbuster trade with New Orleans that brought back an unprotected 2026 first-rounder. Despite not getting the flashy national buzz some first-rounders receive, Newell quietly delivered one of the most consistent showings of the week.

In four games, he averaged 13.5 points, 8.3 rebounds, and nearly two combined steals and blocks (“stocks”) per game — all while playing under 25 minutes a night. He shot a solid 51.3% from the floor and knocked down 42.9% of his threes, showing off a developing jumper that adds to his frontcourt versatility. The free-throw shooting (6-of-14) needs work, and yes, he’ll have to bulk up to bang with NBA bigs, but Newell was mobile, smart, and active — the kind of foundation you can build on.

Then there’s Kobe Bufkin, who came into Summer League with more questions than answers. After appearing in just 27 games over two seasons, and not playing competitively in about seven months, this Vegas run was crucial — and he stepped up.

Bufkin led the team in scoring with 19.5 points per game, added 5.3 rebounds, and dished out a team-best 4.3 assists. The efficiency wasn’t always pretty, but he got to the line often enough to lift his true shooting percentage to a respectable 52.5%. More importantly, he looked confident, assertive, and poised — the clear leader of Atlanta’s squad. He had a knack for making key plays in crunch time and reminded folks why the Hawks believed in his two-way potential in the first place.

Bottom line? This Summer League trip wasn’t just a 4-1 record. It was a showcase of development, confidence-building, and glimpses of what this next chapter of Hawks basketball might look like. There’s still a long road ahead, but if what we saw in Vegas is any indication, the future’s starting to take shape — and it looks promising.