Against all odds, the Atlanta Hawks have turned their season around after losing Trae Young to an MCL sprain. Young’s absence, however, is not what has driven the team’s success. Instead, losing their offensive engine has forced the Hawks to adopt a temporary philosophical shift towards length and defense. This, paired with a few brief injuries, gave perhaps their best prospect a chance to shine: Mohammed Gueye.
Gueye has averaged 15 points, 7 rebounds, 4 assists, and 1.7 stocks in the three games where the Senegalese big man played over 20 minutes, but his greatest impact does not show up on the box score.