Onyeka Okongwu had a breakout season last year, emerging as a strong starting center after replacing Clint Capela in the starting lineup halfway through the year. Okongwu averaged 15.0 points, 10.1 rebounds, 1.2 steals, and 0.9 blocks a night while shooting 36.2% from three and 64.7% from two-point range. Okongwu was a bright spot in what was otherwise a dark period of Atlanta Hawks basketball following Jalen Johnson’s injury and the De’Andre Hunter trade.
Zach Lowe took note of this improvement and named Okongwu as his favorite to win the Sixth Man of the Year award this season. Lowe predicted that the big man would play a “sixth-starter” role, logging starter-level minutes and supplying the Hawks with starter-level impact in his bench role.
Interestingly, and perhaps controversially among Hawks fans, Lowe predicted Okongwu would split minutes between the power forward and center positions, playing in a slightly different role each time he hits the floor. Lowe praised the USC product’s versatility and argued that Okongwu’s effectiveness in this role is critical to the Hawks reaching their potential.
Can Onyeka thrive in this new role and win the Sixth Man of the Year?
For Lowe’s prediction to come true, Okongwu must adapt to playing the four consistently. This transition should be relatively smooth, however, as he has shown significant improvement as a shooter in recent memory and possesses a rare blend of strength, length, and mobility that few non-centers can match.
Furthermore, Okongwu will likely play the four next to Kristaps Porzingis, whose unique skill set can mask Okongwu’s weaknesses. If Okongwu struggles with his outside shot, he can play the inside scoring and screen-setting role traditionally given to the center while Porzingis stretches the floor.
Okongwu will have to prove he is ready to make this leap this season. In his first chance in the starting role last year, he gave reason to believe he is a starting-caliber player who could take home the award. Despite this, he is now being asked to play a constantly changing role.
The other major development that could prevent Okongwu from getting a shot at the award is out of his control. If Kristaps Porzingis misses significant time to injury this season, Okongwu could start more games than he comes off the bench and be disqualified from award consideration.
Okongwu’s versatility at the four and five positions will be essential for a team with limited depth at both spots on the floor. Even if he does not win Sixth Man of the Year as Lowe predicted, he will chip in with a starter-level impact off the bench, a contribution that shouldn’t be overlooked.