Onyeka Okongwu took over as the Atlanta Hawks' starting center last season after Clint Capela went down with a hand injury that ended up sidelining him for the remainder of the year. This unfortunate circumstance was a blessing in disguise because it proved something that Atlanta fans have been wondering for a long time. The 6'8" center out of USC is starter-material, even in today's NBA that prioritizes size in the frontcourt.
In 40 appearances as a starter last season, Okongwu averaged 15.0 points, 10.1 rebounds and 2.7 assists per game. Even more impressively, most of these games came in the second half of the year after Jalen Johnson suffered a season-ending shoulder injury. It was up to Okongwu to control the paint himself, and despite his undersized frame, he held his own and produced quality numbers.
His most impressive outing of the season came on Feb. 5 against the San Antonio Spurs, when he recorded 30 points, 12 rebounds and five assists on 81.3 percent shooting from the floor and 60.0 percent from deep. Those are unreal numbers considering who he was facing. He had the primary matchup against the most impactful rim protector in the NBA: Two-time blocks leader Victor Wembanyama.
A performance like that is no small feat. This is a player who's meant to start in today's NBA, despite his smaller build. Although Atlanta made a bold move for Kristaps Porzingis, who's set to take over as their starting center next season, his health concerns and one-year contract suggest that the team is planning to keep Okongwu in the role he earned last season long-term.
Onyeka Okongwu must confirm he's a starting-caliber big in 2025-26
If everything goes according to plan, Okongwu will start a good portion of games for the Hawks next season, even with the blockbuster acquisition of Porzingis. He may not be the day-one starter at the 5, but Atlanta will be smart with Porzingis, even if that means sitting him during back-to-backs or specific instances during long road trips.
While Okongwu's numbers as a starter look phenomenal, he needs to continue on his upward trajectory of becoming a reliable paint defender and outside shooter.
The return of Johnson, who Onyeka Okongwu displayed flashes of brilliance alongside, will help the team in various aspects. There will be less pressure on Okongwu to control the paint himself, both offensively and defensively, which has proven to be a difficult task for the 6'8" big. When healthy, Johnson is one of the best rebounding forwards in the NBA, with nightly averages exceeding double digits. He's also a positive interior and perimeter defender, allowing Okongwu to stick to his strengths on the defensive end.
Furthermore, he also needs to take another outside shooting leap. While it has improved tremendously over the last two seasons, his percentages still have a long way to go. Last season, Okongwu shot 32.4 percent from deep, which could improve with more volume. Unfortunately, the newly-acquired Porzingis is one of the best three-point shooting big men in the league, leaving Okongwu with a tough task to fill in his absence.
It hasn't been an easy road for Okongwu since being drafted in 2020, but the front office and coaching staff have the utmost faith in his abilities and long-term trajectory. The Hawks will be smart with how they manage his minutes in comparison to Porzingis, but having two quality centers to rotate between is an excellent problem to have.