It turns out, the Hawks do have a rim protector.

It just comes in an unlikely player – one Paul Millsap.

The Hawks all-star power forward, listed at 6-foot-8, has easily a career-best 133 blocks this season. Millsap has far outdistanced the 99 blocks he had in 2009-10.

But here is the amazing part. Millsap is seventh in the NBA in total blocks this season behind only 7-0 Hassan Whiteside (260), 6-11 DeAndre Jordan (174), 7-0 Pau Gasol (146), 6-10 Serge Ibaka (145), 7-0 Karl-Anthony Towns (135) and 7-3 Kristaps Porzingis (134).

What is that old children’s song? ‘One of these things is not like the other. …’

“If I was 7-foot-2 it would make it a lot easier,” Millsap said before his monster game of 31 points (including five 3-pointers), 16 rebounds, five blocks, three assists and two steals in a 118-107 win over the Celtics Saturday.

Millsap became the first player in NBA history to tally at least 30 points, 15 boards, five blocks and five 3-pointers in the same game. Hawks coach Mike Budenholzer described Millsap’s performance as a “monster game” and added: “Just overall, it was a pretty special game by him.”

The Hawks (48-32) are third in the Eastern Conference with two regular-season games remaining – at the Cavaliers on Monday and at the Wizards on Wednesday. Millsap will look to continue his torrid pace of blocking shots going into the postseason.

Maybe undersized, Millsap has 30 blocks over the last eight games, including five in each of the past two. That’s an average of 3.8 blocks per game. The stretch of success also includes a career-high tying six blocks against the Bulls. For the season, Millsap ranks 11th in the league in blocks per game at 1.68.

Millsap was asked to explain his success. He said: “Energy. Hustle. Not giving up. Trying to be a defensive presence, whether that is though verticality or blocking shots. Just protecting the rim. I think to be a good defensive team, you have to have rim protection somewhere. Me and Al (Horford) try to fill that role.”

Horford, the all-star center, has 119 blocks this season – also easily a career-high. His previous best was 98 set last season.

Millsap has reassumed his role of carrying the Hawks down the stretch of the regular season. He has record four straight double-doubles and has averaged 21.5 points, 14.8 rebounds, 4.0 assists, 3.5 blocks and 2.0 steals in those games.

About the Author

Keep Reading

Duke guard Kon Knueppel (7) attempts to save the ball from going out of bounds during the first half of an Elite Eight round NCAA college basketball tournament game, Saturday, March 29, 2025, in Newark, N.J. (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II)

Credit: AP

Featured

Cox Communications plans to merge with Charter Communications in a deal that, if approved by regulators, will combine two of the nation’s largest cable companies. (Courtesy of Cox Communications)

Credit: special