The Hawks hope rookie Andrew White is the latest player they can help develop into an NBA wing.
The Hawks on Sunday transferred White from their G League affiliate in Erie, Pa. White, who has never appeared in an NBA game, was on the Hawks’ active roster for the game against the Pistons.
White, 24, wasn’t selected in the 2017 draft out of Syracuse (he also played at Kansas and Nebraska). He’s made 39 percent of his 3-point attempts in 32 G League games and shot 39.5 percent on 3-pointers in 111 collegiate games.
At 6-foot-7 with shooting ability, White has the kind of positional versatility that NBA teams covet. DeMarre Carroll, Kent Bazemore and Tim Hardaway Jr. all became starting wing players with the Hawks.
“A guy with size who can really shoot the ball,” Hawks coach Mike Budenholzer said of White. “I think those are the two (intriguing) things: his shooting ability and having kind of that small forward size. And (he’s) a worker. He has been great with our G League staff and the intel coming out of college (is) he is going to work and put the time in.
“We are looking forward to having him with us for a few days and, if we throw him out there, seeing how he does.”
White should already be familiar with the Hawks’ plays and concepts because Erie runs the same systems.
“I thought my first day in the NBA I’d be jumping through the roof but I’m pretty calm,” White said before the game.
White is on a two-way contract that allows for 22 days with the NBA team, with the balance of the season spent at Erie. He was with Maine of the G League when the Hawks signed him.
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