Buying Into the System: The Key for Corey Kispert and CJ McCollum in Atlanta

  • By Tim Ogles

    Last Updated on January 18, 2026 2:36 pm by Mikey K | Published: January 18, 2026

    The Atlanta Hawks entered a new chapter, adding Corey Kispert and CJ McCollum. These two veterans bring shooting gravity, playoff experience, and basketball intelligence to a roster still defining its identity. Talent alone will not be enough. For the Hawks to reach their ceiling, both players must quickly find their roles and perform consistently within Quin Snyder’s system.

    Snyder’s offense is built on pace, spacing, and quick decision-making. It prioritizes 3-point volume, constant motion, and reading advantages rather than relying on slow-developing isolation sets. This reality creates an adjustment period for McCollum and Kispert, particularly after spending time with the Washington Wizards, where possessions leaned heavily on individual creation. In Atlanta, the ball cannot stick. Every catch demands an immediate read, whether that is a shot, drive, or pass.

    McCollum’s transition remains the most important. Through his first four games, his usage sits at 31.7%, and that has to change for the Hawks to be successful. Throughout his career, he has thrived as a shot creator in the midrange, using footwork and balance to punish defenders late in the clock. While that skill still holds value, Snyder’s system asks guards to shift their shot profile. Pull-up twos must turn into rhythm threes or quick attacks off the catch. McCollum does not need to dominate the ball to impact winning. His shooting gravity can bend defenses, opening driving lanes and creating second-side advantages.

    The faster McCollum embraces this role, the more efficient the Hawks’ offense becomes.

    Kispert’s fit is more defined but no less critical. His reputation as an elite shooter makes him a natural match for Snyder’s spacing principles, but the challenge lies in maintaining aggression. Passing up open threes disrupts flow and allows defenses to recover. Kispert must be decisive and confident, even if the volume feels higher than his Wizards tenure. His off-ball movement, including relocating after passes and sprinting into dribble handoffs, remains just as important as his release.

    Both players must also adapt defensively. Snyder demands connectivity on both ends of the floor. Offense fuels defense, and defensive stops create transition opportunities where shooting and spacing matter most.

    Neither McCollum nor Kispert needs to become a lockdown defender, but consistent effort, correct positioning, and communication are nonnegotiable.

    Atlanta’s 20-24 record leaves little margin for error in the Eastern Conference. Atlanta cannot afford empty possessions or stylistic clashes. When McCollum embraces quick reads and 3-point volume, and when Kispert commits to being a high usage floor spacer, the Hawks’ offense gains clarity. Their ball movement improves, shot quality rises, and roles solidify.

    Atlanta’s success depends less on isolation play and more on cohesion, trust, and execution. If Kispert and McCollum adapt to Snyder’s system, the Hawks become tougher to guard and put themselves in a better position for consistent winning.

     

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    January 18, 2026, 2:33 pm