Last season, fifth-year forward Corey Kispert went through a major shift in his NBA career when he was traded from the to the .
The deal ended his tenure with the team that drafted him and inserted him into a playoff race in Atlanta. That was a sudden change for Kispert, who never reached the playoffs during his Wizards tenure.
Now preparing for his first full season in a Hawks uniform, Kispert reflected on how the trade gave him a chance to experience high-level hoops again. Atlanta ended up facing the New York Knicks in the first round of the playoffs before bowing out in six games.
“It felt like a new experience for me,” Kispert , via the Spokesman-Review. “It had been so long since I played in a playoffs or tournament type situation. But compared to the other teams that played the (NBA champion Knicks), it was a really respectable effort against them (4-2 series loss in the opening round).
“It was really fun to relive and relearn super competitive, high level basketball.”
The Hawks were the only team in the playoffs to push the Knicks to six games last season. Even though New York ultimately left no doubt by dominating the final three games of the series, Atlanta held a 2-1 lead after Game 3. That was the only time the Knicks trailed a series at any point in the playoffs.
In his first taste of the NBA postseason, Kispert's role was shaky. His spot in the rotation came into question near the end of the regular season, and that continued in the playoffs, as he averaged just 10.8 minutes per game against New York and didn't see any action in Game 1.
But getting to the playoffs in itself was certainly a milestone for the former first-round pick, and he will now have a chance to do it again with Atlanta this season.
Kispert had some for the Hawks after the trade last season. Overall, he averaged 9.2 points per game for Atlanta in 39 appearances and eight starts in the regular season.
But his 3-point shooting, which is a huge part of what he brings to the table, was just okay, as he shot 35.4 percent from long range. He then went just 1-for-12 from deep in the playoffs.
The good news is that the Hawks can likely count on getting more from him in that department this season. He is a career 38.0 percent 3-point shooter and had a season during his Wizards tenure in which he shot 42.4 percent from deep. Anything along those lines would help him play a key role for Atlanta in the 2026-27 campaign.
The Hawks were able to make the playoffs last season even after trading away former franchise cornerstone Trae Young. Kispert , and now, he'll have a chance to help the team reach the playoffs again.
