Atlanta Hawks center Alex Len was selected with the fifth overall pick in the 2013 NBA Draft by the Phoenix Suns. During his time in Phoenix, Len showed small flashes of being a starting-caliber center, but for the most part, his tenure with the Suns was a disappointment.
After spending the first five years of his NBA career with the Suns, Len got a fresh start in Atlanta last season and took advantage of it. The 7-footer averaged a career-high 11.1 points and shot 49.4 percent from the field and 36.3 percent from beyond the arc.
Len believes his career would be in a different place if he was drafted into a situation like the Hawks have instead of starting his career in Phoenix.
“I would have been way ahead of where I’m at right now, like that’s not even crazy to say,” Len said, via Chris Kirschner of The Athletic. “I feel like with the two years that I’ve been in Atlanta, I’m already so much better. Just looking at where I was last summer to now, it’s just crazy how much better I’ve gotten. I’m able to do stuff that I’ve never been able to do in my career. I’m doing ball-handling drills, I’m getting shots up. I’m just a better well-rounded player with things I never had the chance to do. I was never asked to do the things I’m doing now when I was in Phoenix.”
Alex Len will likely start for the Hawks next season after Atlanta lost Dewayne Dedmon to the Sacramento Kings in free agency.
Len led the Hawks in 3-point percentage after the All-Star break last season. Atlanta will look to make the playoffs next year. For that to happen, Len has to build off of his breakout 2018-19 campaign.
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