Atlanta Hawks rookie AJ Griffin on Saturday scored his first points of the preseason during a win over the Milwaukee Bucks at Etihad Arena in Abu Dhabi.
Griffin, the 16th pick, led the Hawks off the bench with 13 points, two rebounds and one steal in the 118-109 victory. He finished shooting 4-of-8 from the field, including 3-of-5 from 3-point range, in nearly 25 minutes of action.
He debuted with the Hawks on Thursday, logging only one minute in the 10-point win. Hawks head coach Nate McMillan said the younger players on the roster, including Griffin, would see more time on Saturday and that resulted in a larger role for him.
Welcome to the league! @whoisAG21 pic.twitter.com/hD8zTcna0S
— Atlanta Hawks (@ATLHawks) October 8, 2022
The outing on Saturday was Griffin’s first action with the Hawks in a game setting after missing the Las Vegas Summer League due to foot discomfort. He shot the ball well in his debut and looked to play confidently during his time on the court.
Griffin projects to have a difficult time finding consistent minutes this season as a rookie on such a veteran-heavy team. The Hawks’ first-round pick last year, Jalen Johnson, spent much of the year in the NBA G League and that could be how Griffin is utilized, as well.
The Hawks like the addition of Griffin given his ability as a floor spacer and defender. While he may play sporadically this year, Griffin projects to be a key player in the future with more development.
Atlanta returns to action on Wednesday versus the Cleveland Cavaliers.
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