Atlanta Hawks: 5 legends for Onyeka Okongwu to study over the offseason
NBA legend for Atlanta Hawks center Onyeka Okongwu to study No. 5) Hakeem Olajuwon.
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There is no expectation for Okongwu to become one of the greatest centers to ever play the game. However, if he can emulate some of the defensive efforts of Hakeem Olajuwon then the Hawks would be in a tremendous position. Olajuwon is still the only player to average two steals and two blocks in multiple seasons. He did it four times.
Olajuwon was also incredible at the other end of the court with his moves where he would fake a player out, often giving five or six fakes on a single shot attempt. Sometimes he gave the player a chance to get back into the play with the sheer number of fakes before losing him again.
Currently, Okongwu is extremely good at finishing with authority at the rim. The problem is that he is only able to do this when others create for him. Okongwu needs to develop a post-game where he is able to create his own shot in there as well as finishing the pick and roll.
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While Okongwu has started to come to grips with the pace of the game, his game is not developed anywhere near where his potential ceiling is. By learning how Olajuwon positioned himself on defense and then also where he was able to fake out so many players, Okongwu will potentially be a vital member of a championship team.