Kent Bazemore is the last man standing.
Four seasons ago, the 2014-15 Hawks were a 60-win team and advanced to the Eastern Conference finals for the first time in franchise history. It seems like so long ago.
One by one each player left in different ways. The distinguished starters departed when DeMarre Carroll, Jeff Teague, Al Horford, Kyle Korver and Paul Millsap signed elsewhere as free agents or traded. This offseason, two of the final three reserves from that roster were dealt in Dennis Schroder and Mike Muscala.
It didn’t end there.
Ownership changed hands. The front office went through three restructures, the latest about to embark on the second season of a major rebuild. Coach Mike Budenholzer and all his assistants left this summer. Even the home arena has a new name and an extensive renovation.
Bazemore is the only one left, save for a handful of support staff.
“You take it a day at a time,” Bazemore told The Atlanta Journal-Constitution recently. “Whatever cards you are dealt, you try to find the best way to optimize the situation. I went from a guy who was a glue-guy keeping the bench involved to a guy who has to lead now. As I’m getting older, learning a lot about myself and life, it’s a perfect situation. Being somewhere in the NBA, being my fifth year, you see a lot of people leave, coaching changes, and you get to grow that way. I’m super fortunate to still be around and looking to guide these young guys.”
Bazemore is entering his seventh season in the NBA and fifth with the Hawks. The Hawks invested in Bazemore with a four-year, $70 million contract in 2016. He will earn $18 million this season and has a $19.2 million player option in 2019-20.
The Hawks’ yearly win totals went down each season following the great heights. The win total went from 48 to 42 to 24 last season.
A core of young players is being assembled. Taurean Prince, DeAndre Bembry, John Collins, Tyler Dorsey and this year’s three first-round draft picks Trae Young, Kevin Huerter and Omari Spellman have been added. The team could have as many as three first-round picks again next season.
The Hawks open the regular season Wednesday. There could be more growing pains as the rebuild continues. New head coach Lloyd Pierce sees Bazemore as a leader – if not a vocal one, one who leads by example.
“Forget what’s gone on since he’s been here and what’s changed,” Pierce said. “He has been a consummate professional the entire time he’s been here for the Hawks, for the city of Atlanta. I applaud that. …
“He has bought in from Day 1. I told him I don’t need you to come in here and bark at guys or try to be all that. We’ve got one legend and that’s Vince (Carter). They all follow suit. … Everyone else chimes in with Vince and behind Vince. (Bazemore’s) job is to lead as he sees fit.”
Bazemore has been a constant in the community off the court. He remained in the city for much of the offseason. He continued his charitable work for his foundation with golf and Uno tournaments. He attended the introductory news conferences for both Pierce and the recent three draft picks.
Now, the 29-year-old Bazemore is one of the veterans. It’s time for him to pass on what he has learned, as those season veterans did for him when he first came to Atlanta in 2014 and was a smaller part of team history. Only Carter (41), Jeremy Lin (30) and Miles Plumlee (30) are older than Bazemore.
Bazemore went from averaging 5.2 points in 17.7 minutes per game that first season with the Hawks to a career-best 12.9 points in 27.5 minutes last season.
“I just try to lead by example if a young fella needs someone to lean on,” Bazemore said. “It’s helped me a lot. Chasing them up and down the court all day and playing with a lot of energy. Those guys are up at 10 a.m. dunking. It gets you fired up. With everything I’ve been through with my body, I put a lot into this summer. I came in and the young guys pushed me to see how ready I was. It’s going to pay off.”
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