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Depth Concerns Arise for the Atlanta Hawks

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The injury bug has come back to bite the Atlanta Hawks once again through the first 29 games of this season. Trae Young only played in six contests due to a sprained MCL on Oct. 29. Kristaps Porziņģis appeared in 13 contests before Atlanta announced its star center would miss two weeks due to an illness that keeps popping up. Hawks general manager Onsi Saleh said, “We’re super confident in Kristaps’ health,” before the season started, but that has not been the case. To make matters worse, on the morning of Dec. 21, Atlanta found out it lost its second frontcourt depth piece for the rest of the campaign.

Depth Concerns Arise for the Atlanta Hawks

Atlanta signed forwards Jacob Toppin and Eli Ndiaye to two-way deals before training camp started in late September. As expected, they spent the overwhelming majority of their time with the College Park Skyhawks. However, both players suffered shoulder injuries that will keep them out of the rest of the campaign.

Hawks Lose Jacob Toppin for 2025-26 Campaign

The Hawks announced Toppin suffered a torn labrum in his right shoulder in a game on Nov. 29. He went up for a shot in the paint and fought through a slapdown to get it off.

The two-way forward underwent surgery less than two weeks later. Toppin appeared in five games for Atlanta but only averaged 3.4 minutes. He mostly entered contests in fourth-quarter blowouts. He put up 18.0 points, 10.4 rebounds, 3.2 assists, and 1.2 steals for College Park this season. Toppin struggled from three-point range in his rookie season but shot 35.7% from deep for the campaign. His ability to handle the ball, attack seams from the perimeter, rebound, and defend smaller guards from the wing position was a valuable asset.

Atlanta waived Toppin on Dec. 15. It has yet to fill the 25-year-old forward’s spot on the roster, but that could change following the team’s Dec. 21 injury update.

Oct 13, 2025; Atlanta, Georgia, USA; Atlanta Hawks forward Jacob Toppin (0) points while talking to a teammate during the game against the Miami Heat during the first quarter at State Farm Arena. Mandatory Credit: Jordan Godfree-Imagn Images
Oct 13, 2025; Atlanta, Georgia, USA; Atlanta Hawks forward Jacob Toppin (0) points while talking to a teammate during the game against the Miami Heat during the first quarter at State Farm Arena. Mandatory Credit: Jordan Godfree-Imagn Images

Eli Ndiaye Out for the Season

One day after the Hawks announced Toppin’s surgery, Ndiaye sustained a shoulder injury on Dec. 9. 11 days later, the team revealed he suffered a left shoulder subluxation, leading to a torn labrum. He will undergo surgery in January and miss the remainder of the 2025-26 campaign. Ndiaye’s torn labrum marks the fourth Hawks player in the last year to suffer a season-ending shoulder injury. Jalen Johnson and Kobe Bufkin experienced the same troubles in the 2024-25 season.

Ndiaye did not enter a game for the Hawks this season but averaged 8.1 points and 6.9 rebounds in nine games for College Park. He showed flashes of impressive rim protection and the ability to defend on the perimeter in the G-League and summer league.

The Hawks signed Ndiaye to a two-way deal immediately after the 2025 NBA Draft. He played at Real Madrid for four seasons, including some time with former Hawks centers Bruno Fernando and Edy Tavares, before coming to the NBA. Atlanta could waive Nidaye to open up a second two-way slot to add depth to its depleted frontcourt.

If the Hawks release Ndiaye, Caleb Houstan will be the only two-way player on the roster. The Hawks likely act quickly to sign frontcourt depth if they choose this path.

© Kamil Krzaczynski-Imagn Images

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