ATLANTA — The Atlanta Hawks tip off the 2025-26 NBA season tonight at home with a swell of optimism despite missing the playoffs last year.

Kristaps Porzingis is entering a new chapter with the Atlanta Hawks after being traded from the Boston Celtics in June. The move, part of a three-team deal, sent Porzingis and a second-round pick to Atlanta in exchange for Georges Niang and other draft assets.

The new-look Atlanta Hawks have their first test of the 2025-26 season on Wednesday night, as they’ll take on an interesting Toronto Raptors team. Atlanta made

Just after trading for Porziņģis, the Hawks pulled off the swap of the draft, flipping the No. 13 pick to the New Orleans Pelicans for No. 23 and an unprotected 2026 first-rounder, which has a chance to be close to the top if New Orleans produces another disappointing season.

Los Angeles Lakers superstar LeBron James and former MVP Steve Nash identified a potential dark horse threat in the East.

The Celtics described Porziņģis' condition as an upper respiratory and non-COVID illness during the Eastern Conference semifinals series with the Knicks. The veteran center played 13 minutes in Game 1 and 12 minutes in Game 5, with coach Joe Mazzulla saying afterward that Porziņģis didn't play in the second half because " he couldn't breathe ."

NBA rosters feature record-tying 135 international players from record-tying 43 countries across six continents

Concerns have arisen among fans due to recent chaos at a New Orleans show and a canceled performance in Atlanta.

Daniels captured the NBA’s Most Improved Player of the Year Award and was runner-up for Defensive Player of the Year. He also made first team All-Defense and racked up 229 steals, the most in a single season by any player since Gary Payton in 1995/96.