As the new season approaches, the Atlanta Hawks are adding fresh talent to their roster by signing Daeqwon Plowden. According to Lauren L. Williams, Plowden is joining the Hawks on an Exhibit 10 deal. After an impressive showing in the Summer League with the Warriors, the 6’6″, 26-year-old is poised to be a valuable backup for the Hawks. Let’s dive deeper into the story of this promising new addition to the Hawks’ roster.

Born in Germantown, Philly, Daeqwon Plowden got his start at Mastery Charter North, where his love for basketball took off. From high school, it was clear he was on a mission to make it to the NBA, putting up solid performances on the court. He mostly played forward and center, but thanks to his coaches, he also leveled up his guard skills.

After killing it in high school, Daeqwon Plowden was locked in on making basketball his future. He took his talents to Bowling Green, where he played for their basketball team, not only helping the squad but also sharpening his skills on the court. The craziest part? He never missed a single game in his whole college career!

Like every basketball player who dreams of making it to the NBA after a standout high school and college career, Daeqwon Plowden had those same hopes. But, unfortunately, his name wasn’t called in the 2022 NBA Draft.

From Undrafted to the NBA

After going undrafted, Daeqwon Plowden had two options: throw in the towel or keep grinding. He chose to keep pushing, and little did he know, it was the right move. Plowden balled out in the 2022 NBA Summer League for the Pelicans, even earning a contract with them. But not long after, he was waived—a crushing moment for anyone chasing NBA dreams.

Making it to the NBA ain’t easy. Even though being waived was a tough pill to swallow, he didn’t let it stop him. He bounced back and joined the Pelicans’ G League squad, the Birmingham Squadron. After a season with the Osceola Magic, Orlando’s G League squad, Daeqwon Plowden balled out enough to land a contract with the Orlando Magic. Still, it got waived shortly after, and headed back to Osceola. He didn’t let that stop him though. In the NBA Summer League, he signed a two-way deal with the Warriors, where he dropped 14.6 points a game and hit 39.6% from beyond the arc in eight games.

Plowden’s solid Summer League performance definitely put him on the Hawks’ radar, but it looks like his next stop is with the College Park Skyhawks, Atlanta’s G League affiliate. College Park snagged his returning rights in a trade with Osceola earlier this month, so while he might get waived before the season starts, all signs point to him suiting up for the Skyhawks. But it’s not sure yet if he can impress the Hawks before the season starts, there’s still a chance he could earn a spot on their squad this season. What are your thoughts on him?