Henri Veesaar posts 5/3/1 line in debut

Veesaar, the 52nd overall pick in June’s draft, suffered the injury during a workout on September 15. As a result, the 6-foot-11 center will miss the entire 2026-27 season. Veesaar’s injury leaves the Hawks down a player in the minutes battle behind starting center Onyeka Okongwu. Jock Landale projects to be the primary backup, with rookie Zubi Ejiofor also in the mix for minutes.

After going off for 20 points in a win over the Celtics on Monday, Veesaar struggled in his final two games of Summer League. In losses to the Grizzlies and Wizards, the 6-foot-11 center shot a combined 3-of-14 from the field. However, Veesaar did offer some production in the defensive categories. His outlook for next season changed somewhat when Mouhamed Gueye suffered a foot injury that will keep him out for three to four months. Fellow rookie Zuby Ejiofor likely has the leg up in the competition to back up Onyeka Okongwu, but there may also be opportunities for Veesaar to contribute, especially early in the season.

The Hawks once again sat first-round picks Kingston Flemings and Zuby Ejiofor, so it’s clear that qualifying for Saturday’s semifinals was not a priority. Memphis jumped out to a huge lead, and that was it, with Veesaar offering limited production in his second start in Las Vegas. Veesaar has played well throughout the summer when sharing the court with a solid point guard, so Thursday’s effort should not cause too much concern. While Ejiofor is likely to be the priority in the competition for frontcourt minutes, Mouhamed Gueye’s foot injury opens the door for Veesaar when training camp opens in the fall.

The Hawks did not have Zuby Ejiofor or Asa Newell for Monday’s game, which opened a spot in the starting lineup for Veesaar. The second-round pick, who many believed could have gone in the first round, shot 4-of-6 from beyond the arc and recorded a complete stat line. Veesaar’s contract has not been finalized yet, so he could be on a two-way or standard deal once the season begins. However, he has the offensive tools and rebounding ability to provide added value off the bench for the Hawks, who need more size in the frontcourt.

Veesaar was quiet in Salt Lake City, but he was able to make a strong offensive impact in his first game in Las Vegas. He got some boards and defensive stats as well, which was a nice bonus, but his success on offense will help him get on the floor in year one. Defense is still a question mark for him, but if he’s able to score in year one, he could end up being a rotation piece for the Hawks as a rookie.

After three seasons at Arizona, playing two, the 6-foot-11 Veesaar made a decision that likely made him a first-round pick. He transferred to North Carolina and was featured more offensively, resulting in a significant increase in production. Veesaar averaged 17.0 points, 8.7 rebounds, 2.1 assists, 1.2 blocks and 1.3 three-pointers, shooting 60.8 percent from the field and 61.5 percent from the foul line. Veesaar also shot 42.6 percent from three, taking advantage of his increased offensive freedom. Most mocks had Veesaar going in the first round, so it was a big surprise that he slid this far. The Hawks traded up from pick 57 to add him, and with Jock Landale set to his free agency, Veesaar could see some time as the backup center in Atlanta early on.