For much of this decade, the Atlanta Hawks found themselves all over the place. The franchise swung between rebuilding, developing, and competing at an elite level.<\/p>\n
Atlanta\u2019s recent decision to extend<\/a> Snyder stems from his on-court results and strong player development. Jalen Johnson<\/a> flourished<\/a> under the head coach, earning his first All-Star and All-NBA selections. The same can be said for Dyson Daniels<\/a> (2025) and Nickeil Alexander-Walker<\/a> (2026), both of whom have earned back-to-back Most Improved Player honors with the Hawks. Snyder became the first coach to achieve consecutive MIP winners in this span.<\/p>\n Now, the franchise is hoping Snyder can keep the team\u2019s newfound momentum going.<\/p>\n The Atlanta Hawks\u2019 Biggest Success Story<\/p>\n The Hawks\u2019 strongest argument for extending Snyder does not necessarily lie in Snyder\u2019s coaching record. However, it certainly helps considering\u00a0the team\u2019s performance in the 2025-26 season, especially after the departure<\/a> of Trae Young<\/a>.<\/p>\n Snyder led Atlanta to a 46-36 record last year, guiding the Hawks to their first Southeast Division title in five years. The franchise also returned to the playoffs for the first time since 2022-23. The regular season result marked a six-win improvement from the prior year, as well as the franchise\u2019s most total wins since 2015-16.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n In January 2026, the Hawks traded Young, a four-time All-Star, to the Washington Wizards in a deal involving CJ McCollum<\/a> and Corey Kispert<\/a>. Many teams can struggle after a major, mid-season move involving a franchise player, such as when the Dallas Mavericks traded<\/a> Luka Don\u010di\u0107<\/a> to the Los Angeles Lakers in February 2025.<\/p>\n Before the Luka deal, the Mavericks were roughly 26-23 and in playoff contention. After the trade, they went 13-20 the rest of the way, finished the season 39-43 overall, and missed the playoffs outright.<\/p>\n Snyder, on the other hand, adapted very well, leading the Hawks to a 28-15 record<\/a> and a playoff berth after the franchise dealt away Young. Throughout the post-Trae streak, players like Johnson and Alexander-Walker adapted to the increased offensive responsibility. Together with Snyder, their performance ultimately led to team success and accolades for both players.<\/p>\n Several Players Took a Leap Under Quin Snyder<\/p>\n Daniels, the 2024-25 MIP, was acquired via trade by the Atlanta Hawks and transformed into a two-way player under Snyder.<\/p>\n Two years ago, he averaged<\/a> 14.1 PPG, 5.9 RPG, 4.4 APG, and 3.0 SPG. He also led<\/a> the league in total steals with 229. His average of three steals per game was also the highest season average since<\/a> Alvin Robertson<\/a> in 1990-91.<\/p>\n In 2025-26, Daniels maintained his production. He averaged 15.5 PPG and stayed one of the league\u2019s best defenders, earning an All-Defensive Second Team nod.<\/p>\n Alexander-Walker, the reigning MIP of the league, arrived from the Minnesota Timberwolves last offseason. Despite only averaging 9.4 PPG the year before he joined the Hawks, NAW saw a drastic improvement in year one under Snyder. He averaged<\/a> 20.8 PPG \u2014 more than double his career scoring average \u2014 along with 3.4 RPG and 3.7 APG during the regular season.<\/p>\n \u201cNickeil\u2019s dedication, continual work on his craft, and the ensuing results this season make him incredibly deserving of this award,\u201d Snyder said<\/a> after Alexander-Walker earned the MIP award. \u201cHe has a tireless work ethic and a focus on improving in every aspect of his game. His game continues to evolve, and his commitment and unselfish attitude as a teammate have also positively impacted the success of the team.\u201d<\/p>\n