Oct 25, 2025; Atlanta, Georgia, USA; Atlanta Hawks center N'Faly Dante (12) and Oklahoma City Thunder forward Jaylin Williams (6) battle to control a loose ball during the first half at State Farm Arena. Mandatory Credit: Dale Zanine-Imagn Images Dale Zanine-Imagn Images

Atlanta Hawks Assign Key Offseason Acquisition To The G-League

Originally posted on Atlanta Hawks on SI
By Jackson Caudell | Last updated Nov 3, 2025 4:51 PM ET

The Atlanta Hawks have their next game tomorrow night at home against the Orlando Magic, but they announced a pair of intriguing moves today.

Center N'Faly Dante and forward Jacob Toppin (two-way contract) have both been assigned to the College Park Skyhawks, who open their season on Friday. Dante was the third center in the rotation this season, but neither player has seen a significant role through the first seven games.

When he was signed away from the Rockets, Dante was looked at as an important piece due to the injury history with Kristaps Porzingis and Jalen Johnson. As long as though two stay healthy, it will be tough to find minutes for Dante.

The Atlanta Hawks announced today that center N’Faly Dante has been assigned to the College Park Skyhawks from the Atlanta Hawks, while two-way forward Jacob Toppin has been transferred to the Skyhawks from the Hawks.
— Hawks PR (@HawksPR) November 3, 2025

Dante could unlock talent in College Park

Kirby Lee-Imagn Images

Dante appeared in four games with the Houston Rockets on a two-way contract during the 2024-25 season, averaging 6.0 points, 5.3 rebounds and 1.3 blocks in 12.8 minutes of action (.769 FG%, .800 FT%). In his NBA debut against the Oklahoma City Thunder on March 3, he tallied a near double-double, contributing 10 points, nine rebounds, one assist and two blocks in 18 minutes of play. He became just the second player in the NBA since 1983-84 to post those numbers in an NBA debut while appearing in fewer than 20 minutes, joining Kevin Love (Oct. 29, 2008, vs. Sacramento).

The 6-11 center saw action in 42 total games (all starts) with the Rio Grande Valley Vipers of the NBA G League this past season, averaging 15.1 points, 9.8 rebounds, 1.1 assists, 2.2 blocks and 1.0 steal in 26.8 minutes (.743 FG%).

Prior to going undrafted in 2024, Dante appeared in 103 games (84 starts) across a five-year collegiate career at Oregon (2019-24), averaging 11.3 points, 7.1 rebounds, 1.0 assist, 1.1 steals and 1.3 blocks in 23.4 minutes (.654 FG%). A two-time All-Pac 12 First Team member, he averaged 17.0 points, 9.2 rebounds, 1.6 assists, 1.7 steals and 1.9 blocks in 22 games (21 starts) in his final season at Oregon, en route to a nod on the All-Pac 12 Defensive Team and earning Pac-12 Tournament Most Outstanding Player honors.

A native of Bamako, Mali, Dante played for Mali in the 2016 FIBA Under-17 World Championship and competed for Team World in the 2018 and 2019 Nike Hoops Summit.

Keep an eye on how Dante and Toppin perform, as the Hawks have had several success stories come out of College Park, including Jalen Johnson and Vit Krejci.