Hawks player who will shock NBA world with breakout 2026-27 season appeared first on ClutchPoints. Add ClutchPoints as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
The Atlanta Hawks have made player development one of their biggest points of emphasis over the last few years, and it has led to big seasons from several players. Jalen Johnson has continued to get better every season, and it helped him to become a first-time All-Star and be honored on the All-NBA team. Nickeil Alexander-Walker won Most Improved Player last season after increasing his point average by over 10 points.
The season before that, Dyson Daniels won the Most Improved Award after being traded to the team and having a bigger role.
If history suggests, the Hawks should have another player who could break out, and with the several additions they made over the offseason, it could happen. Out of all the options, there is one player who stands out, and it’s Aaron Wiggins.
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Aaron Wiggins will be Hawks’ breakout player
Wiggins is coming from an Oklahoma City Thunder team that thrived under their three stars, but also got big moments from their role players. Wiggins happened to be one of them, but there were others above him in the rotation. He’ll be coming into a similar situation where he may be the 7th/8th man on the team, but he’ll definitely have more of an opportunity to showcase his skills.
The Hawks knew they needed a player of his caliber on the team, and general manager Onsi Saleh reiterated it before the season.
“Aaron is a three-level scorer, a guy who can guard. He brings something to our group and our rotation that we felt like we didn’t have a lot of last season,” Saleh said during preseason media availability.
Wiggins can definitely impact the game on both sides of the ball, but it’s his scoring that will take his game to another level for the Hawks. He showed here and there with the Thunder that he can get on a hot streak and start making shots, but that’s something he genuinely has in his bag. The thing was that he didn’t need to do much of that when you’re playing with someone like Shai Gilgeous-Alexander.
The Hawks also have several players on the team that can get a shot, but coming off the bench, Wiggins may be the guy who has more experience and more of a green light to score the ball. Lu Dort doesn’t have the offensive creation like Wiggins, Kingston Flemings is a rookie and Jock Landale won’t be looked at as a main scoring option.
Wiggins will be looked on to carry the scoring load coming off the bench, and he has the ability to do so.
Hawks’ system should allow Aaron Wiggins to thrive
Over the years, the Hawks have actually had wing players come off the bench to provide the scoring they need from the second unit. The first player that comes to mind is De’Andre Hunter, who was a favorite to win Sixth Man of the Year two seasons ago before the Hawks traded him to the Cleveland Cavaliers. It was a season where Hunter had put everything together on offense and defense, and was able to find his spots to become successful.
Caris LeVert, the player who was in the Hunter deal, took over that role for the Hawks in the second half of the season and played it well. He was one of the few players the Hawks could trust to go get a bucket with the ball in his hands outside of Trae Young.
Last season, that player was supposed to be Alexander-Walker, but he found his role in the starting lineup and exceeded expectations. Fast forward to this season, and it looks like Wiggins is primed to be in that position like the other players were, and it could lead to a breakout year for him.
After averaging 9.4 points last season, it wouldn’t be a surprise if Wiggins increased that average in a new role with his new team.