Atlanta Hawks Rookie Mo Gueye: 39th Pick Turns into 2025-26 Season X-Factor with Game-Changing Plays

In a league where lottery picks often steal the spotlight, Atlanta Hawks‘ second-round steal Mo Gueye is rewriting the script for the 2025-26 NBA season. Selected 39th overall in the 2025 NBA Draft, the 22-year-old center from France has exploded onto the scene, delivering clutch performances that have the Hawks faithful buzzing and analysts rethinking their draft boards. With the team sitting at 1-2 after a rocky start, Gueye’s emergence as an early X-factor couldn’t come at a better time, injecting energy and rim protection into a squad hungry for playoff contention.

Gueye’s impact was immediate and undeniable. In his NBA debut against the Boston Celtics, he notched 12 points, 8 rebounds, and 3 blocks in just 22 minutes off the bench, helping the Hawks secure a gritty 108-105 victory. Fast-forward to the next two games—a loss to the Knicks and a defeat to the Heat—and Gueye has averaged 11.3 points, 7.7 rebounds, and 2.3 blocks per game, shooting an eye-popping 68% from the field. For a rookie drafted late, these numbers aren’t just impressive; they’re transformative for a Hawks team still finding its footing without Trae Young sidelined by a minor ankle tweak.

Atlanta’s front office, led by general manager Landry Fields, gambled on Gueye’s raw athleticism and defensive upside during the draft. Now, that bet is paying dividends, positioning the Atlanta Hawks as a team with hidden depth in the loaded Eastern Conference. As the 2025-26 season unfolds, Gueye’s story is one of the NBA’s most compelling underdog narratives, proving that talent knows no draft position.

Mo Gueye’s Draft Night Underdog Tale Unfolds in Atlanta

Mo Gueye’s path to the NBA was anything but conventional. Hailing from Dakar, Senegal, but raised in France, Gueye honed his skills in the French LNB Pro A league with AS Monaco before crossing the Atlantic to play college ball at the University of Washington. There, he averaged 9.2 points, 8.1 rebounds, and 2.4 blocks per game as a junior, earning All-Pac-12 honorable mention honors. Scouts praised his 7-foot-2 frame, explosive vertical leap, and shot-blocking instincts, but concerns about his offensive polish and free-throw shooting (a mere 62% in college) kept him out of the first round.

The Atlanta Hawks saw untapped potential. With the 39th pick, acquired in a midseason trade involving Danilo Gallinari’s expiring contract, Fields pulled the trigger. “Mo has that rare combination of size and agility that can change games,” Fields said post-draft. “We’re building around youth and defense, and he fits perfectly.” Gueye, elated but humble, shared his excitement in a draft-night interview with ESPN: “Atlanta feels like home already. I came here to work and contribute right away.”

Training camp validated the hype. Gueye impressed head coach Quin Snyder with his work ethic, often staying late for extra reps on pick-and-roll defense. In preseason games, he swatted seven shots across three outings, drawing comparisons to a young Rudy Gobert. As the regular season tipped off, Snyder slotted him into a rotation role behind starters Onyeka Okongwu and Clint Capela, but Gueye’s minutes have quickly ballooned to 24 per game. His international background adds a global flair to the Hawks’ roster, appealing to the team’s growing international fanbase in Europe and Africa.

What sets Gueye apart early is his adaptability. Unlike many rookies who struggle with the NBA’s pace, he’s thriving in Atlanta’s switch-heavy scheme, using his length to disrupt passing lanes and finish lobs from Dejounte Murray. Off the court, Gueye’s engaging personality—fluent in French, English, and Wolof—has endeared him to teammates, fostering chemistry in a locker room blending veterans and youth.

Dissecting Gueye’s Stat Line: Blocks, Boards, and Beyond

Numbers don’t lie, and Mo Gueye’s early stat sheet is a revelation for Atlanta Hawks fans. Through the first three games of the 2025-26 NBA season, the rookie is posting per-36-minute averages of 18.4 points, 11.6 rebounds, and 3.5 blocks—elite territory for any big man, let alone a second-rounder. His field goal percentage sits at 68.2%, bolstered by dunks and putbacks, while he’s grabbing 4.3 offensive rebounds per game, second only to Capela on the team.

Defensively, Gueye is a force. In the season opener, his three blocks included a chasedown swat on Jayson Tatum that ignited a fast break, leading to a Murray three-pointer. Advanced metrics back this up: Gueye’s defensive rating of 98.7 is tops among Hawks rotation players, and his plus-12.3 net rating reflects his positive influence. According to NBA.com tracking data, he’s contesting 5.2 shots per game, altering opponents’ shots by an estimated 2.1 points per contest.

Offensively, Gueye’s growth is evident in his finishing around the rim. He’s converted 14 of 16 close-range attempts, showcasing soft hands and a knack for tip-ins. While his three-point shot remains a work in progress (0-for-2 so far), he’s shown flashes of mid-range touch, including a 15-footer in the Knicks loss that kept Atlanta in the game. “Mo’s motor is relentless,” Snyder noted after a practice. “He’s rebounding misses his own teammates can’t reach, and that’s huge for our second unit.”

• Key Stat Highlight: Gueye leads all rookies in blocks per 36 minutes (3.5), surpassing even top-10 picks like Duke’s projected lottery star.
• Rebounding Edge: His 7.7 rebounds per game rank him 15th among centers league-wide, despite limited minutes.
• Foul Trouble Watch: Averaging 3.0 fouls, Gueye must refine his positioning to stay on the floor longer.

These stats aren’t flukes; they’re the product of Gueye’s basketball IQ, developed through years in high-level European play. As the season progresses, expect his role to expand, potentially challenging Okongwu for starter’s minutes if injuries linger.

Hawks Teammates and Experts Praise Gueye’s Instant Chemistry

Inside the Atlanta locker room, Mo Gueye is already a fan favorite. Dejounte Murray, the Hawks’ All-Star guard, has been vocal about the rookie’s fit. “Mo’s like having another set of arms on defense,” Murray said after the Celtics win. “He cleans up my mistakes in the paint, and offensively, he’s always open for lobs. This kid is special.” Veteran forward Bogdan Bogdanovic echoed the sentiment: “Rookies usually take time to adjust, but Mo? He’s playing like he’s been here for years. His energy lifts everyone.”

Coaches are equally impressed. Snyder, known for developing young talent, has increased Gueye’s reps in film sessions, focusing on pick-and-pop reads. Assistant coach Joe Prunty, who worked with Gobert in Utah, sees parallels: “Mo has that Gobert-like presence without the ego. He’s coachable and hungry.” Fields added in a team presser: “We drafted for upside, and Mo’s delivering. He’s not just contributing; he’s elevating our defense from middling to menacing.”

League-wide, experts are taking notice. ESPN analyst Jay Bilas called Gueye “the steal of the draft’s second round” on First Take, while The Athletic’s John Hollinger projected him for 25+ games of rotation play. On social media, #MoMamba is trending among Hawks fans, with clips of his blocks garnering over 500,000 views. Even rival scouts admit surprise: A Knicks source told HoopsHype, “We passed on him twice in mocks, but he’s making us look foolish.”

Gueye’s cultural impact extends beyond stats. As one of few African-born players in the NBA, he’s mentoring younger teammates on resilience, drawing from his journey from Senegal’s streets to State Farm Arena. This blend of on-court prowess and off-court maturity is cementing his status as a cornerstone for Atlanta’s rebuild.

Gueye’s Spark Ignites Hawks’ Push Through Early Season Hurdles

The Atlanta Hawks entered the 2025-26 season with tempered expectations, aiming to climb from last year’s play-in frustration. At 1-2, challenges abound: Young’s injury has forced Murray into a heavier load, and the bench’s scoring has been inconsistent. Yet, Gueye’s insertion has stabilized the paint. In the win over Boston, his +18 plus-minus was second on the team, and he’s the only Hawk averaging positive net rating in limited minutes.

Against the Knicks, Gueye’s 10 rebounds helped Atlanta control the glass (48-42), limiting New York’s second-chance points to just 12. In the Heat loss, despite fouling out late, his early blocks (two in the first quarter) set a tone of physicality. Statistically, the Hawks’ defensive efficiency improves by 8.2 points per 100 possessions with Gueye on the floor, per Cleaning the Glass data. This is crucial in a conference featuring behemoths like the Sixers’ Joel Embiid and the Celtics’ rebuilt frontcourt.

Broader context underscores Gueye’s value. The NBA’s second-round success rate is low—only 15% of such picks play 500+ career games—but Gueye joins a lineage of late-round gems like Fred VanVleet and Nikola Jokić (41st pick). For Atlanta, clinging to the No. 8 seed in early power rankings, Gueye’s contributions could mean the difference between lottery bound and playoff push. His dual-threat ability addresses the team’s rebounding woes (ranked 22nd last season) and bolsters a defense that allowed 115 points per game in the opener without him.

Injuries to depth pieces like Jalen Johnson have accelerated Gueye’s timeline, but he’s responded with poise. Snyder’s rotations now feature him closing halves, a nod to his growing trust. As the Hawks face a tough road trip against Milwaukee and Philadelphia, Gueye’s rim protection will be tested, but early signs point to him rising to the occasion.

Looking ahead, Mo Gueye’s trajectory suggests a bright future. With a rookie scale contract worth $2.1 million this year, he’s cost-effective depth that could earn an extension by 2027. Analysts project 20-25 minutes nightly by midseason, potentially earning All-Rookie honors if he sustains this pace. For the Hawks, Gueye represents hope in a youth movement, pairing seamlessly with core pieces like Murray and Dyson Daniels.

The 2025-26 NBA season is young, but Gueye’s emergence signals a shift. If he continues anchoring the defense and growing offensively, Atlanta could surprise as a dark horse in the East. Fans are already dreaming of March Madness in the playoffs, with No. 39 as the unexpected hero. As Gueye himself put it post-debut: “I’m just getting started. Atlanta, let’s build something special.” The city is listening, and the league is watching.