5 things that went wrong for Atlanta Hawks in the 2020-21 NBA season

#3 Kris Dunn's injury in the regular season

Kris Dunn of the Atlanta Hawks. Photo Credit: Raj Mehta-USA TODAY Sports.

The Atlanta Hawks signing Kris Dunn in the 2020 NBA Free Agency was another great move from the front office, as the team needed Dunn's elite defense in order to leave behind a terrible 2019-20 campaign in terms of defensive performance (the team ranked 27th in Defensive Rating that year).

Dunn was coming off a good year with the Chicago Bulls, averaging two steals per game in the 2019-20 campaign and posting a 106 Defensive Rating. However, he was unable to contribute to the Atlanta Hawks' cause in the 2020-21 NBA regular season, as an ankle injury only allowed him to play four regular-season games.

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#2 De'Andre Hunter's injury in the NBA Playoffs

De'Andre Hunter #12 of the Atlanta Hawks.

De'Andre Hunter became the team's best perimeter defender heading into the 2021 NBA postseason, even after playing just 23 games in the regular season due to knee injuries.

He averaged 15 points and 4.8 rebounds per game in the regular season, before averaging 10.8 points per game with 40/37.5/75 shooting splits in a five-game, first-round series against the New York Knicks.

However, Hunter's postseason ended when he suffered a torn lateral meniscus in his right knee. He had to undergo surgery and miss the rest of the postseason.

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#1 Ultimately, Trae Young's ankle injury was too much for the Atlanta Hawks

Trae Young #11 of the Atlanta Hawks.

Even though injuries were definitely negatively impactful in the Atlanta Hawks' 2020-21 NBA campaign at different stages, Trae Young's injury in Game 3 of the Eastern Conference Finals was the most decisive blow to the Hawk's year.

Young averaged 25.3 points and 9.4 assists per game in the regular season, and then put up 28.8 points and 9.5 assists per game in the NBA Playoffs.

However, when he stepped on an official's foot during a loss against the Milwaukee Bucks in the ECF, Young had to miss the fourth and fifth games of the series, before returning to play in Game 6 clearly hindered by a bone bruise in his foot.

His injury was a huge blow for the Atlanta Hawks in the ECF, where the Milwaukee Bucks also suffered an injury to their best player, Giannis Antetokounmpo, who had to miss the last two games with a hyperextended knee.

Young's injury was decisive for the Atlanta Hawks' chances in the ECF, even though the team managed to win Game 4 without him.

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