Dale Zanine-Imagn Images

39th Overall Pick Emerging As Hawks X-Factor

Originally posted on Last Word On Sports
By Quenton S Albertie | Last updated Oct 26, 2025 8:09 AM ET

The Atlanta Hawks are now 1-2 early in the 2025-26 season.

In the season opener, they lost in an embarrassing fashion, allowing the Toronto Raptors to break a franchise scoring record. They were able to bounce back against the Orlando Magic, former 39th overall pick Mo Gueye‘s defense on former first overall pick Paolo Banchero indisputably a key factor in their victory. However, the increasingly shorthanded Hawks then lost to the Oklahoma City Thunder in the second leg of their first back-to-back of the season.

There’s no shame in losing to the reigning NBA champions while missing three starters (Jalen Johnson, Zaccharie Risacher, and Kristaps Porzingis). Furthermore, Thunder guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander is once again playing at an MVP level. Nevertheless, a week into 2025-26 and there’s one particularly intriguing trend that’s worth monitoring.

Mo Gueye Is Emerging As Hawks X-Factor

Entering the season, a couple of well-known players were emerging as the Hawks x-factor. At the offensive end, Luke Kennard presented as a generational marksman who could thrive alongside an elite facilitator like Trae Young. At the other end, Nickeil Alexander-Walker arrived in Atlanta looking like a godsend for their point-of-attack defense. Then there’s Johnson, a potential All-Star who spent part of his offseason training with Los Angeles Lakers forward LeBron James, who’s already enshrined in the Hall of Fame.

Defining Moments

As it turns out, Atlanta’s early season x-factor has actually been Gueye.

#nba Mo Gueye bien présent cette nuit dans la victoire des Hawks sur le parquet d’Orlando (111-107). Le Sénégalais a été efficace et a bien défendu sur Banchero limité à 11 points seulement.

#basket221 #hawks #usa pic.twitter.com/vOJaY47aTS

— Basket221 Officiel (@basket_221) October 25, 2025

Now in his third season, the Senegalese big man looked like he could be this type of player early in his career. However, he had yet to have a defining moment, at least until the Hawks took down the Magic. After suffocating and infuriating Banchero, someone who has earned high praise, he may have even become a household name.

Atlanta’s decision to start him when they played the Thunder, which allowed him to match up with Chet Holmgren, only increases that likelihood.

Oct 25, 2025; Atlanta, Georgia, USA; Atlanta Hawks forward Mouhamed Gueye (18) and Oklahoma City Thunder center Chet Holmgren (7) reach for the opening tip off during the first half at State Farm Arena. Mandatory Credit: Dale Zanine-Imagn Images

To be clear, Gueye wasn’t as effective against Holmgren as he was against Banchero but that’s because Holmgren was unconscious from deep, going 6-8 from long-distance. In total, Holmgren made three 3-pointers over Gueye and got a couple of putbacks while Gueye was on the court. On the flip side, Gueye was able to get a block on Holmgren (and had a 7-foot-1 player feeling like he’d be better off 25 feet away from the rim when he was guarding him) and posterize him.

MO GUEYE POSTER pic.twitter.com/NLlJpj8oWv

— Basket221 Officiel (@basket_221) October 26, 2025

Outside of that 1-on-1 matchup, Gueye affected multiple shots around the rim and crashed the boards well despite the Thunder starting both Holmgren and seven-footer Isaiah Hartenstein. He nailed a couple of his own 3s. He also showed off his playmaking upside, his skip pass to Young particularly impressive.

The Last Word

It’s early, but so far, the 22-year-old is averaging-8.0 points, 4.7 rebounds, 1.3 blocks per game while shooting 36.4% from 3. Numbers aside, he’s playing assertively, using his physical gifts to hound players all over the court.

This article first appeared on Last Word On Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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