We have liftoff: Hawks’ Houstan shows off hops with highlight dunk

Hawks guard Caleb Houstan has never dunked in an NBA game. But Houstan took his hops to the Southside on Tuesday morning and dunked for the first time in two years.

After landing in Atlanta following the Hawks return from Detroit, Houstan suited up for the College Park Skyhawks in their matinee game against the Westchester Knicks.

With 48.9 to play in the first quarter, Hawks 2025 second-round pick Eli John Ndiaye corralled a loose ball from Knicks’ Adama Bal. Houstan ran ahead and Ndiaye found him in the paint for the running dunk.

It cut the Skyhawks’ deficit to 29-26 and sent the Skyhawks bench to their feet.

While Houstan seems to have avoided dunking in the NBA, he hasn’t shied away in the G League. He dunked Jan. 21, 2023. He had another Feb. 24, 2023, as well as one March 12, 2023, according to Elias Sports Bureau.

As of February 2025, Houstan, at 6-foot-8, is the tallest qualifying player (500 minutes played) currently in the NBA who does not have an in-game dunk to his name.

As with evidence of the bounce he’s showcased in the G league, Houstan can dunk the ball.

Four years ago, Houstan had a pair of transition dunks with the Michigan Wolverines in a matchup against Iowa.

Plus, Houstan has more than likely dunked the ball in practices with teammates and open runs.

Houstan, though, has developed more of a reputation as a shooter in his time in the NBA. And with the Skyhawks, he’s knocking down 39.3% of his shots from deep.

But Houstan, at 22 years, still has runway ahead of him to get his first NBA dunk.