The Quiet Storm - A talk with De'Andre hunter
Wake up a couple of hours before start time. Head to the practice facility. Lift. Get some shots up. Practice. Then head home. Atlanta Hawks’ De’Andre Hunter makes his daily routine for practice days sound easy and, according to him, it is. But the proof of the power in this routine comes in how he performs on the court, and that’s no regular feat. The Philadelphia native returns to his hometown Sunday to face the 76ers in game one of the Eastern Conference Semifinals. As a sophomore in the NBA, it has been pretty fun playing the game that has opened so many doors for the 23-year old and it’ll come full circle when he plays for the opposition to the team he used to grow up watching. “It’s gonna be kind of weird to be honest. Growing up, I used to watch Lou-Will (Lou Williams) play. So I remember being in the stands, so actually being on the court is gonna be a little different but at the end of the day, it’s just basketball so I’ll be out there having fun.”
While it's fun for De'Andre to play, he is serious about his game and his results. Among his many goals, a personal one entering the season was to just "be better than last year." A goal he feels he accomplished and one, based on the numbers, he indeed did. He increased his averages in FG%, FT%, rebounds, assists, steals and blocks while decreasing his average turnovers. De'Andre also went from averaging 12.3 points his rookie year to 15 points this past season. Defensively, his opponents' shooting percentages dropped seven percent on average from last year to this year. To the observant eye, he even simply looks better in every facet, especially defense. "I had a lot of time during quarantine to, you know, watch film and stuff. So, I looked at all that stuff and went over with the coaches about things I could do better. Both sides of the ball. So I mean, for me, I'm a two-way player. So I got to get better offensively and defensively." While some people might believe defense is something that you can practice, De'Andre sees it as effort for himself. "I don't think you can really work on defense, because it's just like, effort at the end of the day."
Dealing with a knee injury earlier this year was tough for De'Andre mainly because he simply wanted to play. "When we're playing good, I'm like 'Damn, I wish I was out there.' When we're playing bad, I'm like 'Damn, I wish I was out there.'" There were a few positives for him because he was able to see and study the game in a different way from the sidelines. "People watch from the couch and they're always like, 'Yea, you can do this, you can do this.' Yea, you probably think that but when you're on the court, it's different." He says he was able to analyze what teams were doing against the Hawks and what the Hawks were doing against them. De'Andre would mentally place himself in the games as to how he would guard and play.
De'Andre admittedly reads what's said about him on social media from time to time, especially if it's trending. And if he doesn't read it on his timeline? Somebody he knows might share it with him. "People send me stuff and, you know, you get to scrolling on Instagram and Twitter, you see people talking about you. So you do click on it, and then you just keep going from there. But yeah, I see it all for sure." He said he doesn't read articles about himself, though, so I can write whatever I want in this one. And yes, he read how some people questioned his defensive abilities last season, "And I remember last year, a lot of people saying I wasn't, you know, as good as they thought defensively. So I kind of took that as, like, a challenge to be better."
The youngest of four, De'Andre remains super close to his family, talking to them everyday. And when it comes to being asked for tickets to a playoff game back home? No worries there because De'Andre has already laid the law. "I'm straightforward with people. So I just tell them, 'Yo, I don't have no tickets for nobody outside of my family.' So I put that message out there early so they just leave me alone."
If De'Andre comes across like a quiet person, it's because he is...until he gets to know you. "If you ask any of my friends, they'll probably tell you I talk too much." And while he mentioned last year that he wanted to be more vocal, that doesn't necessarily mean he'll be the loud and boisterous type you'll hear barking down the court, he doesn't think that's in his nature. "I mean, the team knows who I am. They know I'm not a big talker. But, you know, everybody, everyone respects each other in the locker room...So, whenever you got something to say, you just say it and keep it pushing." According to De'Andre, everyone has a voice on the team and whenever someone has something to say, his teammates listen.
Having veterans on the team who have been to the playoffs gives the younger players someone they can go to when they have questions. De'Andre remembers what Solomon Hill had to say about the postseason, "Like, it's not gonna be easy at all, but we definitely could do it. That's the biggest thing he told us." Even though Rajon Rondo was with Atlanta for a short time, he was officially traded March 25th for Lou Williams, De'Andre had already developed a bond with the veteran guard and the trade surprised him a bit. "Me and Rondo were cool. He was a cool dude. He would talk to me all the time, things to do on the court. And you know, he's been in the league for a while so he got stories on and off the court." The two still keep in touch, though admittedly not so much recently with the playoffs happening.
Basketball has not only introduced De'Andre to new people but also new opportunities. "I love it. You know, it's a dream...It's a unique experience and I try to make the most of it." As an avid Spongebob Squarepants fan myself, I had to ask De'Andre if he'd consider doing any acting in the future as one of those possible new opportunities...including voiceovers for the popular animated series. "Hell yea! What?! I wish they would come to me with that. I'd do that everyday." Our conversation soon derailed into a nuanced discussion on The Patrick Star Show and how De'Andre has grown an appreciation and understanding for Squidward's character, "I ain't gon' lie, I didn't like Squidward when I was younger but I kinda like Squidward because he's like real life."
De'Andre Hunter's demeanor might come across as quiet on the court but his personality and game are far from it. He doesn't have to be heard to be seen and, with a stage like the NBA Playoffs, people worldwide are beginning to see his booming impact on this Atlanta Hawks team.
While it's fun for De'Andre to play, he is serious about his game and his results. Among his many goals, a personal one entering the season was to just "be better than last year." A goal he feels he accomplished and one, based on the numbers, he indeed did. He increased his averages in FG%, FT%, rebounds, assists, steals and blocks while decreasing his average turnovers. De'Andre also went from averaging 12.3 points his rookie year to 15 points this past season. Defensively, his opponents' shooting percentages dropped seven percent on average from last year to this year. To the observant eye, he even simply looks better in every facet, especially defense. "I had a lot of time during quarantine to, you know, watch film and stuff. So, I looked at all that stuff and went over with the coaches about things I could do better. Both sides of the ball. So I mean, for me, I'm a two-way player. So I got to get better offensively and defensively." While some people might believe defense is something that you can practice, De'Andre sees it as effort for himself. "I don't think you can really work on defense, because it's just like, effort at the end of the day."
Dealing with a knee injury earlier this year was tough for De'Andre mainly because he simply wanted to play. "When we're playing good, I'm like 'Damn, I wish I was out there.' When we're playing bad, I'm like 'Damn, I wish I was out there.'" There were a few positives for him because he was able to see and study the game in a different way from the sidelines. "People watch from the couch and they're always like, 'Yea, you can do this, you can do this.' Yea, you probably think that but when you're on the court, it's different." He says he was able to analyze what teams were doing against the Hawks and what the Hawks were doing against them. De'Andre would mentally place himself in the games as to how he would guard and play.
De'Andre admittedly reads what's said about him on social media from time to time, especially if it's trending. And if he doesn't read it on his timeline? Somebody he knows might share it with him. "People send me stuff and, you know, you get to scrolling on Instagram and Twitter, you see people talking about you. So you do click on it, and then you just keep going from there. But yeah, I see it all for sure." He said he doesn't read articles about himself, though, so I can write whatever I want in this one. And yes, he read how some people questioned his defensive abilities last season, "And I remember last year, a lot of people saying I wasn't, you know, as good as they thought defensively. So I kind of took that as, like, a challenge to be better."
The youngest of four, De'Andre remains super close to his family, talking to them everyday. And when it comes to being asked for tickets to a playoff game back home? No worries there because De'Andre has already laid the law. "I'm straightforward with people. So I just tell them, 'Yo, I don't have no tickets for nobody outside of my family.' So I put that message out there early so they just leave me alone."
If De'Andre comes across like a quiet person, it's because he is...until he gets to know you. "If you ask any of my friends, they'll probably tell you I talk too much." And while he mentioned last year that he wanted to be more vocal, that doesn't necessarily mean he'll be the loud and boisterous type you'll hear barking down the court, he doesn't think that's in his nature. "I mean, the team knows who I am. They know I'm not a big talker. But, you know, everybody, everyone respects each other in the locker room...So, whenever you got something to say, you just say it and keep it pushing." According to De'Andre, everyone has a voice on the team and whenever someone has something to say, his teammates listen.
Having veterans on the team who have been to the playoffs gives the younger players someone they can go to when they have questions. De'Andre remembers what Solomon Hill had to say about the postseason, "Like, it's not gonna be easy at all, but we definitely could do it. That's the biggest thing he told us." Even though Rajon Rondo was with Atlanta for a short time, he was officially traded March 25th for Lou Williams, De'Andre had already developed a bond with the veteran guard and the trade surprised him a bit. "Me and Rondo were cool. He was a cool dude. He would talk to me all the time, things to do on the court. And you know, he's been in the league for a while so he got stories on and off the court." The two still keep in touch, though admittedly not so much recently with the playoffs happening.
Basketball has not only introduced De'Andre to new people but also new opportunities. "I love it. You know, it's a dream...It's a unique experience and I try to make the most of it." As an avid Spongebob Squarepants fan myself, I had to ask De'Andre if he'd consider doing any acting in the future as one of those possible new opportunities...including voiceovers for the popular animated series. "Hell yea! What?! I wish they would come to me with that. I'd do that everyday." Our conversation soon derailed into a nuanced discussion on The Patrick Star Show and how De'Andre has grown an appreciation and understanding for Squidward's character, "I ain't gon' lie, I didn't like Squidward when I was younger but I kinda like Squidward because he's like real life."
De'Andre Hunter's demeanor might come across as quiet on the court but his personality and game are far from it. He doesn't have to be heard to be seen and, with a stage like the NBA Playoffs, people worldwide are beginning to see his booming impact on this Atlanta Hawks team.