After seven seasons in the NBA, former Atlanta Hawks shooting guard Garrison Mathews is set to take his talents overseas.
In an interview with Charles Pulliam of The Williamson Herald, Mathews confirmed that he’ll be joining Olimpia Milano of the Lega Basket Serie A in Italy.
“I’m excited about the opportunity,” Mathews said. “I didn’t think I’d ever play (overseas), but I got a couple calls with some great offers that were too hard to pass up.”
The former Indiana Pacers forward has signed a 1+1
Alessandro Luigi Maggi of Sportando first reported Mathews reached an agreement to sign with Olimpia Milano last month. The club has yet to make it official, but it will likely happen before the start of their training camp on August 15.
Mathews is set to join other former NBA players on the Olimpia Milano roster, such as Moses Wright, Leandro Bolmaro, Devon Hall, Marko Guduric and Alec Peters. The club has won 32 Italian Championships, nine Italian Cups and 3 EuroLeague titles.
Garrison Mathews’ NBA Career
GettyGarrison Mathews #24 of the Atlanta Hawks reacts after a three-point basket against the Phoenix Suns during the fourth quarter at State Farm Arena on January 14, 2025 in Atlanta, Georgia.
After four seasons at Lipscomb, Garrison Mathews entered the 2019 NBA draft. He went undrafted but signed a two-way contract with the Washington Wizards. He played the majority of his rookie season in the NBA G League before carving out a spot in the rotation in his second year.
Mathews signed with the Houston Rockets in 2021, posting career highs of 10.0 points and 2.9 rebounds per game on 36.0% shooting from 3-point range. He was initially on a two-way deal before signing a four-year, $8.2 million standard contract.
However, the Rockets traded him to the Atlanta Hawks midway through his second season in Houston. He primarily played off the bench with the Hawks, coming in as a 3-point specialist.
After two and a half seasons in Atlanta, Mathews became a free agent and signed with the Indiana Pacers. He was waived last December and spent time with his family before making a decision on his future.
“These last six months or so being back home has been really nice for me, just being able to spend time with my family and see old friends again,” Mathews told Charles Pulliam.
In seven NBA seasons, Mathews averaged 6.4 points and 1.7 rebounds in 329 games. He shot 37.0% from 3-point range, with a high of 44.0% during the 2023-24 season with the Hawks.
Atlanta Hawks This Offseason
GettyC.J. McCollum #3 of the Atlanta Hawks dribbles the ball against Ousmane Dieng #21 of the Milwaukee Bucks at Fiserv Forum on March 04, 2026 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.
The Atlanta Hawks have been fairly active this offseason, as per NBA.com. They re-signed CJ McCollum and Jock Landale, while Devin Carter, Lu Dort, Ryan Nembhard and Aaron Wiggins were acquired via trades.
The Hawks also parted ways with former No. 1 pick Zaccharie Risacher as part of the Dort trade with the Oklahoma City Thunder and Dallas Mavericks. They are even reportedly interested in re-signing Jonathan Kuminga, who remains an unrestricted free agent.
Former Atlanta Hawks 3-Point Specialist Leaving NBA to Play in Italy