Atlanta Hawks 2023-24 Player Review: Wesley Matthews

Wesley Matthews just completed his 16th season in the NBA, a feat that very few players in league history can claim. Even fewer can do it after going undrafted. And yet, in his age-37 season, he continues to sign contracts and contribute.

Matthews has a unique ability to find a useful role on any team that calls upon his services, and his voice in the locker room clearly continues to be valuable.

About mentoring, Matthews said this during exit interviews: “It’s been good. It’s amazing to see a group of guys who want to learn. You want to improve yourself and you ask for advice, help and guidance. And try to calm certain situations or be the fire in certain situations. It was a learning experience for me – it’s not something I usually do. In general, I was also able to do this e.g. I was on the ground doing it and it was a different role.

On the field, Matthews spent time on the field very sporadically – something he alluded to in the comments above. This was despite the injury bug that hit the team and his coming off the bench during the Play-In Tournament game against the Chicago Bulls.

But this development probably wasn’t too surprising given his age, as he frequently appeared on injury reports for various ailments throughout the season. He appeared in 36 games and gave up a career-low 3.1 points per game. Unsurprisingly, 71% of his field goal attempts came from threes where he shot 35%.

However, when given a chance to play, he always brought great team defense, excellent communication, and an occasional burst of three-point shooting – a blend of basketball skills he brought all throughout his career. His tenacity was particularly useful when dealing with injuries to attackers during the season. This was especially exemplified during the Boston Celtics’ two-game home sweep when he gave Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown a solid dose of defense at the point of attack.

“Grateful to be able to play this game that we love,” Matthews expressed during postseason media availability. “I’m grateful to be able to do this in front of the fans and play basketball.”

Here’s hoping Matthews gets another chance with someone in the NBA, even if it’s not the Hawks, in the fall of 2024.