The start of the 2025-26 season was anything but steady for Atlanta Hawks guard Rayjay Dennis. After starting the year with the Indiana Pacers, he was waived in late November when the team signed Ethan Thompson. Soon after, he was picked up by the LA Clippers. He spent about a month with the Clippers before being waived. Shortly after his release, he signed a two-way contract with the Hawks.
Raze Dennis has been playing for the Hawks on his two-way contract for almost two months, his longest period of stability this season. Although the season got off to a quiet start, Dennis had an unwavering belief in himself that kept him focused on achieving his NBA dream.
"I'm living a dream, so it's always a blessing," Dennis tells ClutchPoints in an exclusive interview. "I've been able to be on two-way contracts, so I'm very blessed and just trying to take it day by day and get better. Honestly, I'm just grateful. Grateful for the opportunity at Indiana, grateful for the quick stint with the Clippers and grateful that Atlanta is believing in me."
Dennis' debut in the NBA came before last season when he signed with the Clippers. He used strong performances in the summer league to earn an invitation to training camp, but was released just days after camp began. He joined the Washington Wizards on a two-way contract, but was waived before the start of the regular season.
His first official stint on an NBA regular season roster did not come to fruition until January 2025 when the Pacers signed him to a two-way contract. Dennis was putting up numbers for the Clippers' San Diego affiliate in the G League, and the Pacers added him for backcourt depth.
Dennis played a total of 11 matches for the Pacers last season. Although his time with the team was ultimately cut short, he was able to pick up important habits in terms of finding success in the NBA amid the Pacers' run to the NBA Finals.
"I think it's the little things," Dennis said. "It's the little things, I think it's confidence and I think the camaraderie of our team was really good. Obviously we had the talent, the horses to do it, but I think those three things were extremely important to success."
Raze Dennis is developing games with Hawks
Since signing a two-way contract with the Hawks, Dennis has appeared in only one game with the team. It was a blowout loss to the Boston Celtics in which he logged a little over four minutes and finished with four assists. He may have gone scoreless, but the playmaking aspect of his game is what will ultimately get him NBA minutes.
Amid the Pacers' injury problems at the start of the season, Dennis was appointed to immediate duty. He responded with games of six, five, five and five assists in his first four games of the year, respectively. In each of these games he played more than 25 minutes. Fine-tuning those playmaking reps starts to slow the game down.
Dennis said, "I think the biggest thing for me is that the game is getting a little slower every day. Day by day it's getting slower, it's getting a little easier to read." “It's about reads, making the right reads, being fast, making shots and staying out of foul trouble.”
In addition to learning how to be a ball-handling guard in the NBA, Dennis will have to get used to the constant shuffling that is part of the nature of a two-way contract. He is limited in terms of the number of NBA games he can play in. Since signing with the Hawks, he has spent a good portion of the season with their affiliate, the College Park Skyhawks.
Dennis has appeared in 21 games with College Park so far, averaging a little over 37 minutes per game. He is averaging 24.0 points, 4.6 rebounds, 10.4 assists and 2.5 steals, while shooting 45.4 percent from the field, 38.4 percent from the 3-point line and 76 percent from the free-throw line.
Whether it's with the Hawks or College Park, the key to staying prepared and focused is to understand that this is an opportunity to take advantage of regardless of the situation.
“The G League is where you get two-way reps as you move up,” Dennis said. "There are some guys who have been playing a lot as a two-way this year. Normally, you don't play a ton, you don't really know your routine and rhythm. G is where you get all your reps. You get to work on whatever you're working on. I'm thankful for G."
The Hawks have about 20 games remaining in the regular season. If they reach the postseason, Dennis would not be able to play because his two-way contract would make him ineligible for the playoffs.
Dennis has yet to appear in meaningful minutes for the Hawks save for the only game against the Celtics in January, but he is confident that if his number is called, he will be able to make an impact.
“I think I can be a true point guard," Dennis said. "I think I can spark an energy, I think just somebody that can contribute to wins and do everything. Just be a point guard. I think I can be a high level point guard and I'm excited to show that one day.
