Hawks have extra fuel to make statement with opening night victory

Jock Landale getting his revenge on the Orlando Magic on Wednesday night would be sweet.

By Zach Langley · Soaring Down South

Published: Wednesday, 21 October 2026 at 5:00 PM

Key Things to Know

Zach Langley argues the Atlanta Hawks have extra motivation to beat the Orlando Magic on opening night.
A late-season injury caused by Orlando's Goga Bitadze forced Jock Landale to miss the entire 2026 playoffs.
The writer notes that Jock Landale excelled during Atlanta's 4-1 preseason campaign.

The Story in 60 Seconds

Zach Langley of Soaring Down South argues that the Atlanta Hawks have added motivation to defeat the Orlando Magic in their season opener following last season's late injury to center Jock Landale. Langley highlights that a foul by Orlando's Goga Bitadze sidelined Landale for Atlanta's entire first-round playoff series against the New York Knicks.

According to Langley, Landale showed significant improvement during Atlanta's 4-1 preseason run. The writer suggests that a strong performance and opening night win against their division rivals would provide fitting revenge for the Hawks.

Read the full article on Soaring Down South

Hawks have extra fuel to make statement with opening night victory

More Atlanta Hawks News

Never Miss a Sports Update