By R.L. Bynum
Henri Veesaar’s first full day as an Atlanta Hawk came with a familiar face watching from the back of the room.
UNC coach Hubert Davis was on hand Thursday at the Emory Sports Medicine Complex in Brookhaven, Ga., as Veesaar, Atlanta’s second-round draft pick, met with reporters alongside the Hawks’ other two draftees, Kingston Flemings and Zuby Ejiofor.
Hawks President of Basketball Operations Onsi Saleh said the team was “shocked” that Veesaar was still available in the second round.
“We couldn’t be more happy with Henri, and the pick in the second round,” Saleh said. “Just high level. Shocked that he was there, and we were able to trade up to go get him. Super-excited about that. We were jumping up and down.”
For Veesaar, who became one of the biggest developmental stories of Davis’ program last season, having his college coach there made the moment even more meaningful.
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The 7-foot Estonian thanked the people who helped him reach the NBA, including his fiancée, family, agents and coaches, before turning his attention to the franchise that traded up to get him.
The Hawks selected Veesaar at No. 52, adding him to a draft class that also included Flemings, a former Houston player, at No. 8 and Ejiofor, a former St. John’s player, at No. 23. Veesaar wasn’t asked about falling to No. 52.
Atlanta’s front office made clear Thursday that Veesaar was not merely a late second-round flier. Saleh said the organization was thrilled that Veesaar was still available and eager enough to move up to get him.
“With Henri, unbelievable processor of the game,” Saleh said. “His ability to make reads, passes. Offensively, he’s absolutely elite. The shooting and stretchability is so vital to today’s program in the NBA. If you don’t have stretch bigs, it’s really hard to figure this stuff out. The spacing he’s going to provide, and defensively, the shot blocking, we got really lucky having him here, too.”
Veesaar’s rise from UNC transfer to NBA draft pick was built on the kind of player development Atlanta repeatedly emphasized Thursday. Saleh cited Davis’ presence and the programs represented by the Hawks’ draft class as reasons the organization liked the group.
“The programs these guys came out of as well, Coach Davis is in the back there, with Henri, and then St. John’s with Coach [Rick] Pitino, and Kingston with Coach [Kelvin] Sampson, these are programs where guys work,” Saleh said. “That’s not going to change when they come to the next level out here. We are going to be a working program. Here, you’ve got to earn everything. You come into our building, you’ve got to earn all your minutes, your playing time, all that.”
Saleh jokingly asked Davis if he could still play because the Hawks could use his 3-point shooting ability.
That message matched what Veesaar said he valued most about landing in Atlanta. He repeatedly returned to the idea of growth, patience and learning, concepts that helped him become a much more complete player at Carolina.
“Just diving into basketball, enjoying the process of getting better, not being result-oriented all the time, but just seeing the little progress of working out and constantly getting better and trying to improve myself,” said Veesaar, who got to Atlanta early Thursday after a red-eye flight.
Veesaar, who will play for former Duke star Quin Snyder, said the Hawks’ style appealed to him because of how quickly they want to play and how much they value ball movement. He said that his passing and shooting can help create advantages without forcing the game.
“On a team that plays fast, just being able to create player movement by player and ball movement, being there, seeing and being able to learn from all these great people around the team, veterans, and just enjoy the process,” Veesaar said.
Veesaar also pointed to several NBA players he has studied. All three drafted by Atlanta were asked which player they like to pattern their game after. Veesaar said New York Knicks center Karl-Anthony Towns because of the way Towns helped change what was expected from shooting big men.
“Since I was little, I liked watching Karl-Anthony Towns play,” Veesaar said. “I feel like he was one of those bigs, really one of the first ones really shooting and being able to drive, being able to create an advantage with his shooting and being able to move the basketball that way.”
More recently, Veesaar said he has watched Isaiah Hartenstein and Jalen Williams of the Oklahoma City Thunder because of the ways they impact winning without needing constant touches and seeing how they move the ball and are able to create without having to touch the ball constantly.
Veesaar was also candid about what must improve. He said pick-and-roll defense is an area where he needs work, and he knows that adding strength will be necessary as he adjusts to the NBA’s physicality.
“For me, my most ordinary part is pick-and-roll defense,” said Veesaar, who suggested that he and forward Onyeka Okongwu would be in the gym together a lot. “I need to gain weight and some muscle to be better at defense, and being able to hold up at the next level.”
The emotional weight of the moment was not lost on Veesaar. He spoke about coming from a small country and seeing years of work pay off in the NBA.
“For me, just being able to spend the time with my family and the people around me, and knowing that I come from a small country, and being able to see that the hard work is paying off, being able to finally get there to the NBA level is a special moment,” Veesaar said. “You feel like all the blood, sweat and tears paid off finally, and you can see that the steps you’re taking are moving the right way.”
He said keeping a small circle has been important throughout that climb because he knows they truly want him to succeed and make him better.
“Sometimes you might have bad days, but those people are going to keep pushing you and making you go where you wouldn’t be going by yourself,” Veesaar said.
For Veesaar, the next step is turning a draft dream into daily work. He said the key will be keeping the same mindset that helped him make his jump at UNC, while staying open to new coaching, new teammates and new demands.
“Keeping a growth mindset, especially going through different stages, having new coaches, being able to learn from all the coaches,” Veesaar said. “Maybe you have done something your whole life one way, and some new coach or new players do everything the other way. Being able to keep what you did before, but also adding the new stuff that you haven’t done before, and keeping an open mind to it, and really diving into it with two feet in.”
For the Hawks, that is exactly the point. They believe Veesaar’s shooting, passing and shot blocking give him a modern NBA skill set. They also believe their development system can help him grow into more.
Veesaar’s first message as a Hawk was simple. He is grateful for the opportunity, aware of the work ahead and eager to begin.
“I’m just excited to get to work,” Veesaar said.
Photos via YouTube screenshots
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