What happened?
The Atlanta Hawks drafted Estonian basketball star Henri Veesaar 52nd overall on Wednesday. Veesaar, a 22-year-old center, slipped out of the first round despite being widely projected as a first-round selection.
Why it matters for Atlanta Hawks
The pick originally belonged to the Los Angeles Clippers before being traded to Atlanta. Henri Veesaar and his agent declined a two-way contract arrangement that would have included time in the NBA G League.
What comes next?
Veesaar is set to become the third Estonian to play in the NBA, following Martin Müürsepp and Henri Drell. The Atlanta Hawks finished sixth in the Eastern Conference last season before losing to the New York Knicks in six games in the first round of the 2026 NBA playoffs.
| Stat | Value |
|---|---|
| Last result | Milwaukee Bucks 124-145 Atlanta Hawks (2025-03-30) |
| Recent form | 3W-0D-1L (WLWW, most recent first) |
The Hawks will be led this season by center Onyeka Okongwu, who averaged 15.2 points and 7.6 rebounds last season while shooting 37.6 percent from 3-point range. And the team also added guard Aaron Wiggins ahead of the draft. So Veesaar could make his first appearance in a Hawks uniform as soon as next month, with the NBA Summer League set to begin July 9.
Key players
Onyeka Okongwu, Dyson Daniels, Jalen Johnson, and 2024 number 1 overall draft pick Zaccharie Risacher will be key players for the Atlanta Hawks this season. But Veesaar's addition could provide a boost to the team's young core. The Atlanta Hawks are shaping up to be a competitive team in the Eastern Conference, with a strong roster and a promising new addition in Henri Veesaar.
