Veteran big man Derrick Favors inks deal with Hawks

A 12-year NBA veteran, Atlanta native Derrick Favors spent 2021-22 with the Oklahoma City Thunder.

The Atlanta Hawks today announced the signing of 12-year NBA veteran center Derrick Favors to a 10-day contract. Per team policy, terms of the agreement were not disclosed.

In 12 NBA seasons, Favors has seen action in 790 career games (503 starts), owning averages of 10.6 points, 7.1 rebounds, 1.1 assists and 1.19 blocks in 24.3 minutes (.534 FG%, .663 FT%). He is one of only 12 active players with over 8,000 total points (8,354), 5,500 rebounds (5,608), 900 blocks (938) and 500 steals (577). Among active players, Favors ranks 17th in offensive rebounds (1,933), as well as 18th in field goal percentage (.534%) and blocks (938). Throughout his career, the newest Hawk has played for New Jersey (2010-11), Utah (2010-19, 2020-21), New Orleans (2019-20) and Oklahoma City (2021-22).

Selected by the New Jersey Nets with the No. 3 overall pick in the 2010 NBA Draft, Favors was traded to the Utah Jazz on Feb. 23, 2011. During his rookie season, the 6-9 center led all rookies in blocks per game (0.87), while ranking fifth among NBA rookies in rebounds per game (5.3) and eighth in scoring (6.8), en route to a 2010-11 NBA All-Rookie Second Team Selection. During the 2015-16 campaign, Favors averaged a career-best 16.4 points, in addition to 8.1 rebounds, 1.5 assists, 1.19 steals and 1.47 blocks (.515 FG%). He was one of only five players during the 2015-16 season to average at least 16.0 points, 8.0 boards, 1.0 steal and 1.0 block, while shooting .500% from the field. On Nov. 12, 2015, at Miami, Favors posted 25 points, 12 rebounds, seven blocks, three steals and two assists. No player in the NBA has put together those minimums in a single game since Favors did so that night.

In total, Favors suited up for the Jazz for 10 seasons, recording 11.4 points, 7.2 rebounds, 1.1 assists and 1.3 blocks in 644 games (413 starts) (.530 FG%, .670 FT%). He appeared in 42 playoff contests (14 starts) across five postseason runs with Utah, tallying 7.8 points, 5.7 boards and 1.0 block in 20.8 minutes (.587 FG%). Favors currently ranks fourth all-time in Utah history in total rebounds (4,626) and field goal percentage (.530 FG%), seventh in made field goals (2,976) and blocks (840), and eighth in games played (644).

Prior to returning to Utah in 2020-21, Favors saw action in 51 games (49 starts) for the New Orleans Pelicans during the 2019-20 campaign. He notched a streak of 22 consecutive made field goals from Jan. 16-23, marking the longest such streak in the NBA in the last 20 years. He most recently appeared in 39 games (18 starts) for Oklahoma City during the 2021-22 season, averaging 5.3 points and 4.7 rebounds in 16.7 minutes (.516 FG%, .640 FT%).

The Atlanta, Ga., native spent one season at Georgia Tech (2009-10), appearing in 36 games (35 starts), recording 12.4 points, 8.4 rebounds and 2.1 blocks in 27.5 minutes (.611 FG%, .629 FT%). Favors was named ACC Rookie of the Year after leading all ACC freshmen in scoring, rebounding, double-doubles, blocked shots and field goal percentage.

A graduate of South Atlanta High School, Favors will wear No. 33.