2026 NBA Draft Scouting Report for Atlanta Hawks' No. 52 Pick Henri Veesaar
The Atlanta Hawks have officially selected Henri Veesaar with the No. 52 pick in the 2026 NBA draft.
Jumping from one power school to the next, the Arizona transfer, Veesaar, nearly doubled his scoring production at North Carolina.
Though not the flashiest or most athletic big in the class, he suddenly checks a pair of offensive boxes that NBA teams value when combined.
Veesaar choosing to go pro without dragging out the decision tells you the level of interest there was in the Estonian big man who would have likely made serious money to return for his senior year.
Essential Facts, Stats, Combine Measurements
College: North Carolina | Position: C | Age: 22 | Height: 6'11.25" | Weight: 227 lbs | Wingspan: 7'2" | PPG: 17.0 | RPG: 8.7 | APG: 2.1 | BPG: 1.2 | SPG: 0.6 | FG%: 60.8 | 3PT%: 42.7 | FT%: 61.5
Realistic Pro Comparison: Nikola Vučević
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Nikola Vučević is the ideal outcome for Veesaar, a heavily used roll/pop man with size, offensive skill and defensive limitations.
Similar to Vučević, Veesaar generated the majority of his offense on post-ups, dives to the basket, and catch-and-shoot threes.
Neither player blocks many shots, but like Vučević has, Veesaar figues to be very reliable with a translatable inside-out scoring attack.
Strengths
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Strength 1: Shooting
The improved shooting really helped turn Veesaar into a believable and coveted NBA prospect. At over 6'11" barefoot, he made 40 threes at a 42.0 percent clip.
Strength 2: Interior scoring
Veesaar shot nearly 60.0 percent from the post and converted 58 dunks. He possesses an effective mix of soft touch and powerful finishing ability.
Strength 3: Feel/IQ/Effort
Though Veesaar won't put the ball on the floor, offense can run through him due to his feel and passing IQ. He also plays hard, adding to the list of strong intangibles.
Weaknesses
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Weakness 1: Defensive upside
Veesaar doesn't block shots at a high rate, nor is he considered very switchable. He graded poorly guarding in spot-up situations, particularly against players who put the ball down and drove.
Weakness 2: Face-up game
Veesaar isn't a threat to handle the ball or attack closeouts. His offense lacks creativity, and if the three-point shooting doesn't translate, he's going to have a tough time justifying minutes.
Weakness 3: Rebounding physicality
Veesaar isn't the most physical rebounder, as evidenced by a poor 8.1 offensive rebounding percentage, an extremely low number for a big his size.
