Bruno Fernando is back with the very organization that came away with him on draft night 2019. As the first Angolan in NBA history, he arrived as a player with a unique physical profile and a high level of skill for a still developing big man. Expectations within the franchise have since heightened the Atlanta Hawks traded up in the second round to nab Fernando out of Maryland with the 34th overall pick. He featured in the rotation in his rookie season, but the Hawks sagged to a 20-47 record in a truncated rebuilding season.
With the Hawks making a playoff push in the 2020-21 season — and Clint Capela and Onyeka Okongwu now in fold — Fernando was largely left out of the active rotation.