Following his trade from Washington to Atlanta in January, former Gonzaga standout Corey Kispert averaged 9.2 points with the Hawks in 38 games. (Getty Images)
Following his trade from Washington to Atlanta in January, former Gonzaga standout Corey Kispert averaged 9.2 points with the Hawks in 38 games. (Getty Images)
Corey Kispert was one of the few constants during 4½ seasons with the Washington Wizards.
Teammates came and went, including former Zag Rui Hachimura. The coaching staff and front office changed. It added up to a lot of losses – a combined 33-131 in his last two full seasons after 35-47 records in each of his first two NBA seasons – and zero playoff appearances.
It was the polar opposite of his four seasons at Gonzaga. The Zags went 127-12 from 2018 to 2021 and made runs to the Sweet 16, Elite Eight and national championship game. The Zags were a shoo-in to be a No. 1 seed before the 2020 NCAA Tournament was canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Kispert was a consensus first-team All-American in 2021.
When he was traded to Atlanta in January, Kispert landed in the middle of a playoff chase but also had to fit into a new system and new roster.
Atlanta Hawks wing Corey Kispert, left, draws a foul from Miami Heat guard Tyler Herro, center, at the Kaseya Center on April 12 in Miami, Florida. (Tribune News Service)
Atlanta Hawks wing Corey Kispert, left, draws a foul from Miami Heat guard Tyler Herro, center, at the Kaseya Center on April 12 in Miami, Florida. (Tribune News Service)
“It felt like a new experience for me,” Kispert said. “It had been so long since I played in a playoffs or tournament type situation. But compared to the other teams that played the (NBA champion Knicks), it was a really respectable effort against them (4-2 series loss in the opening round).
“It was really fun to relive and relearn super competitive, high level basketball.”
The 6-foot-6, 225-pound wing has proven to be a steady, reliable player, whether starting or coming off the bench in five NBA seasons. He averaged 9.2 points in 19 Wizards games and 9.2 points in 38 contests with Hawks following the trade.
Kispert averaged double figures in three seasons, including a career-best 13.4 points in 2023-24. He’s hit 38% of his career 3-pointers, 62.1% on 2s and 80.3% at the free throw line.
“You’re all in wherever you’re at, especially when you’re young in the league,” said Kispert, selected 15th overall in the 2021 draft. “It’s keep playing and earn that next contract. The winner in you and competitor inside gets antsy and itchy. Washington did a lot for me and poured a lot into me. You kind of have to grow where you’re planted.”
Kispert’s time as a Zag and Wizard helped speed up his transition to being a Hawk.
“Sticking with it, just not giving up, being consistent, stacking days,” he said. “It was a grind my first couple years in Washington. The first two years we were trying to compete and push and it didn’t work out. We switched to a total rebuild halfway through, so I’ve seen it all in how organizations are trying to do it, how to build a team.
“The commitment to being a really good teammate and someone you like having around and being around has helped me more than I could have imagined. Washington allowed me some leeway to figure it out.”
The Hawks appear to be on the rise in the Eastern Conference, even though Philadelphia, Boston, Miami and the Knicks hogged the offseason headlines.
“I definitely feel like we’re a more complete team (going into the 2026-27 season),” Kispert said. “There’s a lot of buzz coming out of Philly, Miami, Boston and New York, but we definitely feel we can stand toe to toe.”
“The fit is really good. The main thing is I wish I had a full training camp and full season (with the Hawks). The chemistry you need to learn and the camaraderie you get during a full season – getting thrown in the middle of it is something everyone has to get used to. Coach (Quin) Snyder and I see the game the same way. We have a lot of younger, talented guys that are easy to get along with, so I’m excited for a full year and training camp.”
Kispert spends offseasons in Phoenix, usually getting in morning workouts and training sessions and playing pick-up games with numerous NBA players, including several of the hometown Suns. The Hawks also held workouts in Las Vegas and Los Angeles leading into the beginning of training camp in late September.
Kispert nailed nearly 44% of 385 3-point attempts in his last two seasons as a Zag. He buried 42.4% in his second season with the Wizards and was just under 40% last year when the trade to Atlanta was finalized.
“In order to take another step in my career, I have to be a truly elite shooter,” he said. “It’s all kinds of shots, off the dribble, open, contested, moving, especially from 3. I’ve been a very good shooter and I’ve been elite a couple of years. I need to put it together more consistently.
“And then just lean into and embrace my strength and physicality, especially on the defensive front. You have to be able to play both sides of the ball in the NBA. I’m not claiming to be a truly lock-down guy, but I need to lean into how strong I am and athletically I can make more of an impact.”
Kispert credited Gonzaga coach Mark Few’s impact on his career, even if the road was bumpy at times, particularly during his freshman and sophomore seasons.
Gonzaga coach Mark Few pats Corey Kispert (24) after he fouls out against Fairleigh Dickinson during a 2019 first-round NCAA Tournament game at Vivint Smart Home Arena in Salt Lake City. (Tyler Tjomsland/The Spokesman-Review)
Gonzaga coach Mark Few pats Corey Kispert (24) after he fouls out against Fairleigh Dickinson during a 2019 first-round NCAA Tournament game at Vivint Smart Home Arena in Salt Lake City. (Tyler Tjomsland/The Spokesman-Review)
“It took me a long time to realize what he’s doing, a long time to realize this guy is a Hall of Famer and he has a plan for me,” Kispert said. “Early on, the tough love was so jarring for me, that level of being on me was something I hadn’t experienced.
“But there were multiple moments where he said, ‘I wouldn’t be hard on someone that I didn’t believe in and didn’t believe had a future. Keep going, keep stacking days.’ ”
Kispert started all but one game in his last three seasons and his scoring averages soared from 8.0 to 13.9 to 18.6. His shooting percentages were off the charts as a senior: 62.8% on 2s, 44.0% on 3s and 87.8% at the foul line.
“If you’re mentally strong enough and believe in yourself enough, the other side, the amount of freedom and to have the keys was life-changing and career-changing for me when it fully clicked in,” Kispert said. “His feel for me as a person and how much he could push and ride me, was a huge credit. All of that was stuff I’ve leaned on in the NBA.
“I couldn’t be happier for him. No one could be more deserving of the Hall of Fame and I’m so happy all the work that it takes to build a program like that has culminated in such an awesome honor.”