The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
AJC HAWKS Kevin Huerter welcome return from injury
Hawks get another shooting threat back in the lineup.
After the shorthanded Hawks’ 10-game losing streak ended with a win against the Warriors on Monday, some reinforcements have finally arrived.
Kevin Huerter, who was diagnosed with a left rotator cuff strain with an associated shoulder capsule strain after he was fouled by Nikola Jokic in the Hawks’ win in Denver on Nov. 12, was back in action against the Nets on Wednesday night at State Farm Arena (go to AJC.com for the late game result). He was to be on a restriction of 15-20 minutes per game.
T he Hawks welcome Huerter back as an additional shooting threat. In his absence, Trae Young had a hefty load to carry and faced enormous pressure from opposing defenses. Huerter missed 11 games total, and the Hawks were 1-10 without him. It was particularly handy to have Huerter back Wednesday, with rookie De’Andre Hunter out with a dislocated right index finger.
“Kevin can get Trae shots,” Hawks coach Lloyd Pierce said. “I think that’s a skill that we talk about with Kevin that’s a little under- rated. He can create shots for other guys and take some of the pressure off Trae’s playmaking ability, but then we can also get Kevin some shots. He’s been a 40%, 38%, 39% shooter since he’s been here and we miss that.”
Having Huerter back won’t solve all the Hawks’ problems, and it likely will take time to get his conditioning back up to speed. But it will give them a boost. Entering Wednesday, the Hawks ranked last in the
NBA in 3-point percentage (31.1%), which is Huerter’s specialty.
“Just being a guy who can simply make shots,” Huerter said of how he can help the Hawks upon his return. “I think we struggle a little bit shooting the ball. I think guys can shoot better than how they’re shooting, but I think it’s a lot easier for (Young) if defenses are worried about other guys making shots and spacing the floor and allowing him to get in the lane and make plays. He doesn’t need too much help, but if I can just
be a guy (to) make shots and make things a little bit easier for him.”
The injury actually could have been much worse, Huerter said, had his left arm been flexed when taking contact from Jokic.
“I actually got lucky,” Huerter said. “I wasn’t expecting the blow, which was my arm kind of went rubber band-like. If I was expecting the blow, or if I was coming up and my arm was flexed or anything, I could have had a more serious injury.”
This wasn’t the first injury
Huerter has faced this season, as right knee issues caused him to miss all five exhibition games and lim- ited him toward the beginning of the regular season.
He shot 26.3% from 3-point range through five games in November, shooting 48.9% from the field, before looking more like his old self in the five games he played in October (shooting 48% from 3, in that small sample size, with a 48.9 fieldgoal percentage). Unfortunately for Huerter and the Hawks, as soon as he found a rhythm, the shoulder injury occurred.
“Unbelievably frustrating, to be completely honest, especially with just how the summer went and that frustrating process of dealing with the knee and never really having a point where I injured them but going through that whole rehab process, and coming all the way back, missing preseason, having all these low-minute games, just want to be on the court, and then I get back and I’m playing well, and then something else happens . ... It’s definitely been a frustrating month, not only for me but for everybody,” Huerter said.
Huerter was able to play 3-on-3 in practice Monday and 5-on-5 in practice Tuesday. His shoulder isn’t at 100% yet, but since it’s his left side (Huerter shoots right), he’s progressed to the point where he can get back on the court. His right knee isn’t 100% either, though that has made progress as well.