Atlanta Hawks: Early NBA comparisons for Onyeka Okongwu

Atlanta Hawks rookie Onyeka Okongwu comparison No. 4) The other categories

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Okongwu is averaging 2.4 blocks per-36 which has him highly placed amongst the group being compared with. Only Capela (3.6), Gobert (3.4), and Jordan (2.8) had a better per-36 for blocks in their rookie year.

The rookie is averaging 1.6 assists per-36 which also has him highly placed amongst the group. Only Antetokounmpo (2.8), Adebayo (2.7), and Horford (1.8) had a better per-36 in their rookie seasons. This is a really solid part of Okongwu’s game that is getting overlooked.

However, Okongwu is showing some incredible defensive tendencies in his rookie season. So much so that the rookie is averaging 1.6 steals per-36 which is the best of the group that he is being compared to.

So what does this all mean? Well, it means that Okongwu has a heap of development left in his game as he is only eight games in on what could be a promising NBA career. However, what it also means is that if he can develop at a similar level to any of the players mentioned in the above slides, then the Hawks have got a good one for a number of years yet.