The Atlanta Hawks opened their Las Vegas Summer League slate on Thursday with a 93-66 victory over the San Antonio Spurs. The win came in the league’s first night of competition, giving the Hawks a dominant start to a roster that is still shaping its identity. Rookie forward Asa Newell led the scoring with 15 points while adding five rebounds. Henri Veesaar, another first-year player, contributed 14 points and six boards. Zuby Ejiofor chipped in 12 points and four rebounds, and Kingston Flemings distributed a team-high eight assists.
The 27-point margin underscored the Hawks’ defensive intensity, as the Spurs were held to just 66 points. Newell’s 15 points and five rebounds, paired with Veesaar’s 14 points and six rebounds, gave Atlanta a strong interior presence from its young frontcourt. Ejiofor added 12 points and four rebounds while doing all the little things the Hawks want to see from their rookie big man. Flemings’ eight assists showed how the second-year guard can create for others even in a blowout.
Ejiofor may not have cleaned up the glass as much as he did in Salt Lake City, but his overall game still delivered value. He set screens effectively, boxed out on the defensive end and hustled for loose balls. Those efforts align with what the coaching staff demands from developmental bigs who are fighting for regular-season opportunities. His ability to impact winning without filling up the stat sheet stands out in a summer setting where evaluation is constant.
The performance builds on a strong showing in Salt Lake City, where the Hawks also displayed defensive discipline. Newell and Veesaar combined for 29 points and 11 rebounds against the Spurs, offering Atlanta two different looks inside. Newell finished at the rim with authority, while Veesaar showed mid-range touch that could translate to spacing in smaller lineups. Flemings’ playmaking from the point guard spot adds another layer, giving the Hawks multiple ball-handlers who can run offense when the veterans rest.
Atlanta’s emphasis on versatile, switchable pieces showed up throughout the game. The young core’s ability to move the ball and defend at a high level in the opener provides early data for the front office as it sorts out which summer standouts can earn roster spots or G League assignments. With the next game set for Saturday against the Minnesota Timberwolves’ summer squad, the Hawks will look to sustain that defensive identity against a more athletic frontcourt. Consistent production from these rookies could accelerate their path to the regular-season bench.
By the time training camp opens, the front office will have a clearer picture of which of these summer league contributors can stick. The collective effort against the Spurs hints at a group that values hustle and versatility, traits that could help the Hawks build depth behind the veteran core.
