{"id":631722,"date":"2026-03-01T05:47:15","date_gmt":"2026-03-01T05:47:15","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nba\/631722\/"},"modified":"2026-03-01T05:47:15","modified_gmt":"2026-03-01T05:47:15","slug":"exclusive-hawks-rayj-dennis-navigating-whirlwind-of-a-season","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nba\/631722\/","title":{"rendered":"Exclusive: Hawks\u2019 RayJ Dennis navigating whirlwind of a season"},"content":{"rendered":"

Exclusive: Hawks\u2019 RayJ Dennis navigating whirlwind of a season<\/a> appeared first on ClutchPoints<\/a>. Add ClutchPoints as a Preferred Source by clicking here<\/a>.<\/p>\n

The start of the 2025-26 season was anything but stable for Atlanta Hawks<\/a> guard RayJ Dennis. After beginning the year with the Indiana Pacers, he was cut at the end of the November when the team signed Ethan Thompson. Shortly thereafter, he was picked up by the LA Clippers. He spent about one month with the Clippers before also being waived<\/a>. Immediately following his release, he signed a two-way contract with the Hawks.<\/p>\n

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RayJ Dennis has been playing for the Hawks on his two-way contract for about two months now, the longest stretch of stability he\u2019s had this season. Although the season started anything but calm, Dennis\u2019 unwavering belief in himself in the pursuit of his NBA dream was what kept him focused.<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m living out a dream, so it\u2019s always a blessing,\u201d Dennis told ClutchPoints in an exclusive interview. \u201cI\u2019ve been able to be on two-way contracts, so I\u2019m beyond blessed and just trying to take it day by day and keep getting better. Honestly I\u2019m just grateful. Grateful for the opportunity in Indiana, grateful for the quick stint with the Clippers and grateful that Atlanta is believing in me.\u201d<\/p>\n

Dennis\u2019 start in the NBA came ahead of last season when he signed with the Clippers. He used a strong summer league performance to earn an invite to training camp, but he was cut just a few days after camp began. He latched on with the Washington Wizards on a two-way contract, but was cut before the start of the regular season.<\/p>\n

His first official stint on an NBA regular season roster didn\u2019t come to fruition until January 2025 when the Pacers signed him to a two-way contract<\/a>. Dennis had been putting up numbers for the Clippers\u2019 San Diego affiliate in the G League<\/a>, and the Pacers added him for backcourt depth.<\/p>\n

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Dennis played in a total of 11 games for the Pacers last season. While his time with the team was ultimately cut short, he was still able to pick up important habits as far as finding success in the NBA amid the Pacers\u2019 run to the NBA Finals.<\/p>\n

\u201cI think it\u2019s the little things,\u201d Dennis said. \u201cIt\u2019s the little things, I think it\u2019s the confidence and I think the camaraderie of our team was really good. Obviously we had the talent, the horses to do it, but I think those three things were super important for success.\u201d<\/p>\n

RayJ Dennis developing game with Hawks<\/p>\n

Since signing the two-way contract with the Hawks, Dennis has only appeared in one game with the team. That was a blowout loss to the Boston Celtics in which he logged a little over four minutes and finished with four assists. He may have gone scoreless, but that playmaking aspect of his game<\/a> is what\u2019s going to get him NBA minutes eventually.<\/p>\n

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Amid the Pacers\u2019 injury woes to start the season, Dennis was cast into immediate duty. He responded with games of six, five, five and five assists, respectively, in his first four games of the year. He played over 25 minutes in each of those games as well. Fine-tuning those playmaking reps boils down to the game starting to slow down.<\/p>\n

\u201cI think the biggest thing for me is the game is slowing down a little more every day. Day by day it\u2019s slowing down, reads are little easier,\u201d Dennis said. \u201cIt\u2019s about making the reads, making the right reads, being sharp, making shots and staying out of foul trouble.\u201d<\/p>\n

In addition to learning how to be a ball-handling guard in the NBA, Dennis has to get used to the constant shuffle that\u2019s part of the nature of a two-way contract. He\u2019s limited in terms of the number of NBA games he can play in. Since signing with the Hawks, he\u2019s spent a good portion of the season with their affiliate, the College Park Skyhawks.<\/p>\n

Dennis has appeared in 21 games with College Park thus far, at a little over 37 minutes per game. He\u2019s averaging 24.0 points, 4.6 rebounds, 10.4 assists and 2.5 steals while shooting 45.4 percent from the field, 38.4 percent from the 3-point line and 76 percent from the free-throw line.<\/p>\n

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Whether he\u2019s with the Hawks or with College Park, the key to staying ready and focused is by understanding that it\u2019s an opportunity to take advantage of regardless of the situation.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe G League is where you get your reps, two-ways when you go up,\u201d Dennis said. \u201cThere have been some guys who have been playing a lot this year as two-ways. Normally, you don\u2019t play ton, you don\u2019t really know your routine and rhythm. The G is where you get all your reps. You get to work on everything you\u2019ve been working on. I\u2019m grateful for the G.\u201d<\/p>\n

The Hawks have around 20 games remaining in the regular season. Should they reach the postseason, Dennis would not be able to play as his two-way contract renders him ineligible for the playoffs.<\/p>\n

Dennis has yet to appear in meaningful minutes for the Hawks save for the lone game against the Celtics back in January, but he\u2019s confident that if his number is called, he\u2019ll be able to make an impact.<\/p>\n

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\u201cI think I can be a true point guard,\u2019\u2019 Dennis said. \u201cI think I can brink an energy spark, I think just somebody who can contribute to winning and kind of do everything. Just be a point guard. I think I can be a high-level point guard and I\u2019m excited to show that one day.\u201d<\/p>\n

Related: Hawks selling Magic City inspired hoodies after viral announcement<\/a><\/p>\n

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