Atlanta Hawks Depth Chart: How the Roster Stacks Up for Fans in Atlanta

If you follow the Atlanta Hawks from right here in Atlanta—whether you’re catching games at State Farm Arena downtown or watching from home in Buckhead or Decatur—understanding the Hawks depth chart is one of the best ways to follow how the team is built and how minutes are likely to be distributed.

Because NBA rosters change constantly through trades, injuries, and call-ups, think of this as a guide to how the depth chart works and what to watch for, rather than a permanent snapshot of names and roles that never move.

What a Depth Chart Is (and Why It Matters in Atlanta)

A depth chart shows how players are slotted by position:

• Point Guard (PG)
• Shooting Guard (SG)
• Small Forward (SF)
• Power Forward (PF)
• Center (C)

At each spot you’ll usually see:

• A starter
• A primary backup
• Additional rotation or situational players

For Hawks fans in Atlanta, the depth chart helps you:

• Understand who you’re likely to see on the floor when you buy tickets to a game.
• Follow coaching decisions about lineups and substitutions.
• Track player development, especially with younger players spending time between Atlanta and the Hawks’ G League affiliate in College Park.

How the Atlanta Hawks Typically Organize Their Depth Chart

NBA teams adjust lineups often, but the Hawks tend to build around:

• Lead ball-handlers at guard who can score and create.
• Wings who can shoot from three and defend multiple positions.
• Versatile bigs who can stretch the floor or anchor the defense.

Below is a simple, position-based view of how an Atlanta Hawks depth chart is usually structured during a season. Names change, but the roles tend to look similar from year to year.

Guards

Point Guard (PG)

• Starter: Primary playmaker and offensive organizer.
• Backup: Runs the second unit, often sharing the floor with starters in staggered lineups.
• Third guard / emergency PG: Deep rotation, spot minutes, or developmental player.

Shooting Guard (SG)

• Starter: Often one of the team’s main scorers and three-point shooters.
• Backup: Provides shooting, defense, or energy off the bench.
• Combo guards: Players who can slide between PG and SG depending on matchups.

Wings

Small Forward (SF)

• Starter: Frequently the team’s most versatile defender, guarding multiple positions.
• Backup: May be a 3-and-D type player, slasher, or bench scorer.
• Swing wings: Players who can play both SG and SF to give lineup flexibility.

Forwards and Bigs

Power Forward (PF)

• Starter: Can be more traditional (rebounding, interior play) or a “stretch 4” spacing the floor with shooting.
• Backup: May be smaller and quicker or bigger and more physical, depending on matchups.
• Small-ball options: Sometimes a wing slides up to PF when the Hawks go small and fast.

Center (C)

• Starter: Rim protector, rebounder, and screen setter; may also space the floor or roll hard to the basket.
• Backup: Often brings a different style—more defense, more energy, or more shooting.
• Third center / two-way big: Depth for foul trouble, injuries, or developmental minutes.

A Simple Sample Hawks Depth Chart Layout

This example table shows how the Hawks might slot players on a typical night. Exact names and order change, but the structure is similar:

When you attend a game in Atlanta, this is essentially the framework behind who you see on the court and when.

How Coaching Decisions Shape the Hawks Depth Chart

The Hawks coaching staff routinely tweaks the depth chart based on:

• Matchups: Facing a big, physical frontcourt may push the Hawks to use more traditional bigs; playing a fast, perimeter-oriented team may lead to more small-ball lineups.
• Health and rest: Injuries or planned rest days can push backups into starting roles and elevate end-of-bench players into the rotation.
• Player development: Younger Hawks may move up the depth chart as they gain experience, or move down if they need more seasoning in the G League.
• Hot hands: When a shooter or defender is playing well, coaches may extend their minutes and adjust the depth chart temporarily.

For fans in Atlanta, this is why the lineup you see in October might look very different by February, even though the roster hasn’t changed dramatically.

Atlanta-Specific Factors: Home Games, G League, and Roster Moves

State Farm Arena and Home Rotation Patterns

At State Farm Arena (1 State Farm Drive, Atlanta, GA 30303), the Hawks often:

• Lean on star players a bit more in close home games, especially against top opponents.
• Use the bench more on back-to-backs or in games with heavy travel.
• Showcase younger players more in lower-pressure situations or when the schedule is less intense.

If you’re buying tickets, keep in mind:

• Marquee opponents and nationally featured games can lead to heavier minutes for the top of the depth chart.
• Late-season games can bring more experimentation with lineups, especially if playoff positioning is settled or the team is developing youth.

College Park Skyhawks and Player Movement

The Hawks’ G League affiliate, the College Park Skyhawks, plays just south of Atlanta. Younger Hawks or two-way players may move between:

• Atlanta Hawks (NBA) – Higher on the depth chart for NBA games.
• College Park Skyhawks (G League) – Larger roles, more minutes for development.

This back-and-forth directly affects the depth chart:

• A player called up to Atlanta might slide in as a third guard, situational wing, or third big.
• When that player returns to College Park, the Hawks might lean more heavily on veterans or re-balance positions.

For fans in Atlanta, it’s common to watch a player in College Park and then see them earn NBA minutes at State Farm Arena later that season.

How to Keep Up with the Current Hawks Depth Chart in Atlanta

Because the depth chart shifts constantly, Atlanta fans often check:

• Team announcements and game notes on game days to see if there are changes in the expected starters.
• Local sports coverage (TV and radio around Atlanta) for updates on injuries and rotation changes.
• Pre-game and post-game breakdowns to understand why a player’s minutes went up or down.

When you’re headed downtown for a game, a quick check earlier in the day can help you know:

• Who is expected to start
• Which key players are questionable or out
• Which bench players might see expanded roles

Tips for Atlanta Fans Watching the Depth Chart Evolve

Here are a few ways to get more out of following the Atlanta Hawks depth chart as a local:

• Track position flexibility: Many Hawks players can play multiple positions (for example, both SG and SF, or both PF and C). This means the depth chart is more of a web than a simple ladder.
• Watch closing lineups, not just starters: The five players on the floor in the final minutes often say more about the practical depth chart than the tip-off lineup.
• Monitor injury reports: A single injury at guard or center can shift several roles, moving players up or across positions.
• Note opponent styles: Against smaller, faster teams, expect more three-guard or small-ball lineups; against bigger teams, more use of traditional bigs.

What This Means if You Live in or Visit Atlanta

For anyone in Atlanta planning to:

• Buy Hawks tickets
• Bring kids to their first NBA game
• Follow the team more closely all season

…understanding the depth chart helps set expectations. You’ll have a clearer sense of:

• Which players are faces of the franchise versus developing pieces.
• Why certain players get more or fewer minutes in a given matchup.
• How the Hawks are trying to build a competitive core around their stars.

Rather than just asking “Who’s starting tonight?”, think in terms of the overall depth chart—starters, primary backups, and situational pieces. That perspective makes every Hawks game at State Farm Arena—and every box score you read from around the city—much easier to understand.