Atlanta Hawks: Guide to Opening Night Roster

Philips Arena, home of the Hawks. (Photo Credit: hectorir, Flickr)

The Atlanta Hawks went through greater personnel change than most other teams during the recent offseason. In fact, in the last two years, the landscape has been completely transformed in the ATL. Many of the franchise stalwarts have gone, meaning there may not be too many familiar faces left for the casual Hawks fan. With that in mind, with the NBA returning and the Hawks roster settled (at least for now), let’s take a look at the men representing the franchise for the 2013-14 season. Here’s my take on the Hawks squad, their playing histories, and some off the court interests that may or may not surprise you.

Pero Antic – Center

Pero Antic (Photo Credit:NBA.com)

Antic, 31, was born in Skopje, in the former Yugoslav state of Macedonia. Now the captain of the Republic of Macedonia’s national team, Antic arrives in the NBA, and more specifically Atlanta, as a basketball veteran. Although he enters the NBA as a rookie this year, Antic has been playing professionally since 1999, having played across Europe in the likes of Macedonia, Serbia, Bulgaria, Russia, and most recently, Greece. In his last two seasons in Greece, Antic won back-to-back Euroleague titles with Olympiakos. For his career in Europe to date, Antic averaged 6.83 points and 3.93 rebounds in 16.86 minutes a night. The Hawks see him as a solid backup option up front, offering experience, leadership, strong interior defense, and the ability to step back and shoot the 3-pointer. Off the court, Antic is an avid car enthusiast, whom if it wasn’t for basketball, would likely be a race car driver.

Gustavo Ayon – Center

Gustavo Ayon (Photo Credit: NBA.com)

Ayon, 28, was born in Tepic, Mexico. Much like Pero Antic, Ayon spent time playing in Europe and elsewhere around the world before finding his place in the NBA. Ayon’s contract with Spanish club, Baloncesto Fuenlabrada, was bought out in 2011 by the then-New Orleans Hornets and he has been a fixture in the league ever since. In his two years in America, Ayon has previously played for the Hornets, the Orlando Magic and the Milwaukee Bucks. While in the NBA, the Mexican has posted averages of 4.8 points, 4.3 rebounds and 1.3 assists off 54.25 percent shooting in 16.7 minutes a night. Ayon offers the Hawks the type of size and rebounding skills that they so badly needed in last year’s playoffs, and once he returns from an injury he picked up in preseason, will likely feature as a specialist off the bench against the league’s top centers. Away from the game, Ayon loves to cook and his favorite film is “Gladiator.”

Elton Brand – Center/Forward

Elton Brand (Photo Credit: NBA.com)

Brand, 34, was born in Cortland, N.Y. Brand entered the league as the No. 1 overall pick in the 1999 draft and has built from there to have a very solid career in the NBA. Following a collegiate career that saw him reach the championship game as a Duke Blue Devil, Brand was picked by the rebuilding Chicago Bulls. Brand was one of the few bright lights in a poor Chicago team and averaged 20 points and 10 assists for his two seasons as a Bull. From there, Brand moved to the Clippers, where he spent more than six years as the star man, before moving on to Philadelphia. As a Sixer, Brand played for four seasons on a competitive Philadelphia roster. Most recently, before moving to the Hawks, the New York native spent last year as a Dallas Maverick. For his career, Brand has averaged 17.4 points, 9.1 rebounds and 1.8 blocks a game, although as one of the league’s elder statesman now, he will be more of an impact player from the bench. Brand will offer vast experience and leadership, making him a pivotal figure in this young Hawks locker room. Off the court, Brand is president of film company, Gibraltar Films, as well as being a fan of the TV show, “Curb Your Enthusiasm.”

DeMarre Carroll – Forward

DeMarre Carroll (Photo Credit: NBA.com)

Carroll, 27, was born in Birmingham, Ala. Carroll started his college career with two successful years at Vanderbilt before transferring to Missouri. It was during his time as a Missouri Tiger that Carroll showed real signs of improvement and in his senior year he helped his team to reach the Elite Eight. Carroll was drafted by the Memphis Grizzlies in 2009 with the 27th pick. From there Carroll was bounced around the league and the D-League for a number of years, stopping off in Houston and Denver along the way. It wasn’t until he landed in Utah that Carroll truly found his feet though. As a member of the Jazz, he found a regular spot in the rotation and began to show his skills. Renowned for his grit and determination, the Alabama native is nicknamed “The Junkyard Dog.” With further involvement and increased minutes this season with the Hawks, expect Carroll to bound forward and improve again. Away from the NBA, Carroll is a Pittsburgh Steelers fan.

Jared Cunningham – Guard

Jared Cunningham (Photo Credit: NBA.com)

Cunningham, 22, was born in Oakland, Calif. Cunningham played his college basketball at Oregon State University. During his three seasons as an Oregon State Beaver, Cunningham improved his play year on year while remaining a key component of the Oregon State system. He goes down in Beavers history as second all-time in steals and third in free throws made. Coming out of college, Cunningham was drafted No. 24 overall by the Cleveland Cavaliers, before being immediately traded to the Dallas Mavericks. In his rookie year in Dallas, the Californian only played in eight games, averaging two points. Instead Cunningham played much of his time in the D-League with the Texas Legends. While with the Legends, he averaged 15.3 points, three assists, two rebounds and 1.2 steals, showing his all-around potential. Having been traded to the Hawks on draft night this year, he will hope to receive greater opportunities in the big league this time around. Cunningham’s favorite TV show is the Fresh Prince of Bel Air.

Al Horford – Center/Forward

Al Horford (Photo Credit: NBA.com)

Horford, 27, was born in Puerto Rico. Son of former NBA player Tito Horford, Al started in the University of Florida with basketball already in his blood. Alongside fellow NBA stalwarts Joakim Noah and Corey Brewer, Horford excelled as a Gator. He was a major force in the Gators winning back-to-back national championships in 2006 and ’07. Declaring for the draft as someone who already has proven they can win made Horford an appealing prospect and a no-brainer for the Hawks with the No. 3 overall pick. Horford has been a cornerstone of the Hawks franchise since that day, a key to their consistent trips to the playoffs. Horford is one of the few familiar faces returning for Atlanta and Hawks fans know the consistent production they’ll get. For his six seasons as a Hawk, Horford has averaged 13.7 points and 9.6 rebounds, shooting 53.9 percent from the field. With Josh Smith now in Detroit, this is undoubtedly Horford’s team now and there is every chance his numbers could go up this year. Horford’s favorite film is “The Dark Knight Rises” and he is a talented table tennis player.

John Jenkins – Guard

John Jenkins (Photo Credit: NBA.com)

Jenkins, 22, was born in Nashville, Tenn. He played in his rookie season last year, having been drafted with the 23rd pick by the Hawks. Jenkins spent his college years at Vanderbilt University, playing for the Commodores. This is where Jenkins, a prolific shooter, honed his touch and developed the fundamentals of his stroke. In his final year in college, Jenkins led the country in 3-pointers per game and was voted onto the AP All-America Third Team. Jenkins featured regularly in his rookie year, playing in 66 Hawks games despite spending some time in the D-League. For the Hawks, Jenkins averaged 6.1 points a game off 44.6 percent from the field and 38.4 percent from deep. If he can overcome a lingering back issue, these shooting percentages will improve considerably this year. Away from basketball, Jenkins says if he hadn’t turned pro he would have become an athletic trainer or a music producer.

Kyle Korver – Guard/Forward

Kyle Korver (Photo Credit: NBA.com)

Korver, 32, was born in Lakewood, Calif. Korver’s reputation is already secured as one of the greatest 3-point shooters of all time. With a shot in the fourth quarter against Dallas last night, Korver moved to 74 consecutive regular season games with a made 3-pointer. He now sits fourth on the all-time list, only 15 behind the record. At college, Korver averaged 14.1 points and 5.2 rebounds, while hitting .453 from the 3-point line in four years as a Creighton Bluejay. Korver was named Second Team All America by the Associated Press and went onto finish as Creighton’s fifth all-time leading scorer. Korver was drafted by the New Jersey Nets with the 52nd pick of the 2010 draft, but was immediately traded to Philadelphia. Korver has also played in Chicago and in Utah, where he was the league’s 3-point shooting leader in 2010. Having spent much of his career coming off the bench, Korver has now adjusted to life as a starter with the Hawks and he’s become one of the most lethal offensive options in the NBA. Off the court, Korver is a keen golf fan.

Shelvin Mack – Guard

Shelvin Mack (Photo Credit: NBA.com)

Mack, 23, was born in Lexington, Ky. Shelvin Mack hasn’t had things easy since he made it to the NBA. Mack has bounced around the league and the D-League, fighting for minutes on rosters. Mack played his college basketball at Butler, gaining the experience of running a high quality offense. Mack managed to get to two national championship games as a Butler Bulldog, but unfortunately he lost both. He was drafted by the Washington Wizards with the 34th pick in 2011. Mack received decent minutes in his first two seasons but was waived by Washington last January. From that point on, he signed with Philadelphia on a 10-day contract, before doing the same with Atlanta. Mack entered Hawks training camp with a non-guaranteed contract, but having held off the competition of Royal Ivey, he is the Hawks third choice point guard to start the season. Aside from basketball, Mack’s favorite movie is “The Book of Eli.”

Cartier Martin – Guard/Forward

Cartier Martin (Photo Credit: NBA.com)

Martin, 28, was born in Crockett, Texas. Cartier Martin is the epitome of a basketball nomad having played all across the globe. Starting off in college, Martin was a Kansas State Wildcat for five years, ending up as one of the institution’s all-time leading scorers. Upon leaving college, Martin declared for the draft and having gone unselected, departed for Turkey for a year. Martin then came back and spent a year in the D-League before finally getting his chance in the NBA with the Bobcats. Since then, Martin has also played for the Golden State Warriors and Washington Wizards, as well as playing in Italy and China, and being assigned to the D-League. Having come into the Hawks training camp late, Martin impressed enough to make the roster. The Texan will add much needed depth for the Hawks at the 2 and 3 spot.

Paul Millsap – Forward

Paul Millsap (Photo Credit: NBA.com)

Millsap, 28, was born in Monroe, La. Paul Millsap, the seven-year NBA veteran, is now getting his first taste of basketball at an organization other than the Jazz. A highly decorated collegiate player, Millsap performed to the highest level during three years at Louisiana Tech. To this day he is still the only man in NCAA Division I history to lead the nation in rebounding three years in a row. For a player who averaged 18.6 points, 12.7 rebounds, 2.0 blocks and 1.3 steals in college, Millsap went late, drafted by the Jazz with the 47th pick of the 2006 draft. Millsap made an impact in Utah straight away. He was named to the All-Rookie Second Team in his debut season and spent the next few years as a high impact option off the bench. Millsap’s development was so rapid though that the Jazz felt comfortable enough to trade All-Star forward Carlos Boozer to the Bulls in 2010. From that point on, Millsap never looked back, and along with center Al Jefferson, they formed a formidable frontcourt duo in recent years. Now in Atlanta, Millsap remains one of the premier forwards in the league, and alongside Al Horford, he should improve further. Millsap’s favorite TV show is “Breaking Bad,” and he likes to play chess.

Dennis Schroeder – Guard

Dennis Schroeder (Photo Credit: NBA.com)

Schroeder, 20, was born in Braunschweig, Germany. Dennis Schroeder joins the Hawks as one of the most hyped players from the 2013 draft class. The German, who has frequently been compared to Rajon Rondo, comes into the league with a veteran head on young shoulders having already played professionally in Germany for three years. Schroeder really grabbed the attention of scouts when after being invited to the prestigious Nike Hoop Summit; he had 18 points and six assists in 29 minutes to help the World Select team defeat the junior U.S. side. Following flashes of brilliance in both Summer League and preseason since being drafted with the 17th pick by the Hawks, it’s clear that Schroeder has the defensive and passing game to be a runaway success. Off the court, Schroeder is a fan of skateboarding and soccer.

Mike Scott – Forward

Mike Scott (Photo Credit: NBA.com)

Scott, 25, was born in Chesapeake, Va. Virginia through and through, Scott represented the state university’s Cavaliers for five years. Generally, a solid performer throughout his five year spell, Scott earned first team All-ACC honors as a senior, when he averaged 18.0 points, 8.3 rebounds and 1.2 assists. It was this type of performance level that persuade the Hawks to select Scott with the 43rd pick of the 2012 draft. In his rookie season, Scott featured very little before the All-Star break. Following a brief spell in the D-League though, he was ready to play, and even managed to post impressive numbers against some of the better teams in the league towards the end of the season. Coming off a great preseason, Scott will feature off the bench as a significant role player in the rotation, as the Hawks will be looking for him to contribute. Away from the NBA, Scott’s favorite teams are Manchester United and the Washington Redskins.

Jeff Teague – Guard

Jeff Teague (Photo Credit: NBA.com)

Teague, 25, was born in Indianapolis. Jeff Teague spent three years at Wake Forest University playing college basketball, where he consistently posted impressive numbers. After his breakout sophomore season, Teague was named Honorable Mention All-America by the Associated Press. Teague was one of the star men at Wake Forest, helping them to achieve a No.1 national ranking. He was drafted with the 19th pick of the 2009 draft by the Hawks. Teague figured regularly for the Hawks from his rookie season but it was his third season in the league before he became the full-time starter. Teague has continued to improve throughout his four NBA seasons and now with many of the older faces departed, he has the chance to lead the Hawks forward. Teague is a big Indianapolis Colts fan.

Louis  Williams – Guard

Louis Williams (Photo Credit: NBA.com)

Williams, 27, was born in Memphis, Tenn. Lou Williams grew up in Snellville, Ga., and attended South Gwinnett High School. An incredibly talented high school player, Williams was named Georgia’s Mr.Basketball, was a four-time All-State selection and was picked on the McDonald’s All-American East Team in 2005. These successes led to Williams being one of the last players to come straight from high school to the NBA. Picked up with the 45th pick of the 2005 draft by the 76ers, Williams spent the next seven years of his career in Philadelphia developing his skills. Williams is a specialist off the bench, and a regular contender for the Sixth Man of the Year award. Having arrived in Atlanta before last season, Williams made a strong start to his Hawks career before a torn ACL halted his progress. The Hawks hope that  Williams can return pre-Christmas to give the boost of his remarkable productivity. Away from basketball, Williams is a rapper who has released a number of mixtapes.

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