2024-25 Atlanta Hawks player preview: Seth Lundy

The Hawks faced a plethora of injuries down the stretch of the 2023-24 season, creating opportunities for less tenured players. Unfortunately for Seth Lundy, he fell victim to the injury bug.

Though he logged just 52 minutes with the big club, Lundy had an impressive campaign in the G League under head coach Ryan Schmidt. From the start, he recognized that to earn real NBA minutes, he needed to excel in two areas: shooting and defense. He showcased his skills with the College Park Skyhawks, frequently erupting for 20 or more points and playing a crucial role in the G League’s most formidable defense.

While I won’t dive as deeply into his previous season as I have in the past, there are ways for Lundy to earn more minutes with the Hawks this year. While it’s unlikely he becomes an everyday player, a few factors bolster his case. He looked very good in the G League, and injuries are inevitable over an 82-game season. He averaged just over 23 points per game across 12 regular season games with the Skyhawks and averaged roughly a block and a steal per game across showcase and regular season games. With the Hawks’ roster better aligned with Quin Snyder’s vision this year, Lundy could easily step in during games when some of the top eight players are out of gas.

If he had been healthy for the final stretch of last season, we would have likely seen him get extended minutes. One can only hope the Hawks avoid similar injury woes in the 2024-2025 season, but it’s always a possibility. One thing is certain: Lundy makes the most of his opportunities. Just look back at the preseason matchup against the Grizzlies last year — he scored two key buckets late in a close game and sealed the win with a block.

Fast forward to just a few days ago, Lundy came up big again. After a late entry into the Hawks’ first preseason game of the year, Lundy hit the game winner over two defenders with 0.3 seconds remaining on the clock.

It’s clear Lundy is unafraid of the moment. This type of play will likely need to continue for him to find a spot in the regular rotation. Facing limited playing time, he usually does everything he can to set himself apart. Every time he steps on the floor, his defensive intensity is evident. This was especially apparent in his 52 minutes played with a Hawks team who boasted one of the worst defenses in the entire NBA last season. They have now made a clear shift towards defense this off-season, so he certainly fits the bill.

He still falls in a peculiar grey area between the G League and the NBA. With guys like Dyson Daniels, Bogdan Bogdanovic, Kobe Bufkin, Vit Krejci, and Garrison Mathews in the mix, it’s hard to see a place for Lundy when the team is at full health. But if he can stay health and available, there will be times for him to come in and prove himself again. I believe he is a player that deserves to be on an NBA bench, especially when you look back at his G League games. I wouldn’t say he’s too good for the G League, but I think there comes a point in time where players graduate. What he needs to learn now comes at the next level.