The Atlanta Hawks have won five straight games. The vibes are at an all-time high, and a lot of it can be credited to a player not many saw as one of Atlanta's top guys. Onyeka Okongwu, the sixth-year center out of USC, has been playing the best basketball of his life during this stretch.
Entering the four-game West Coast trip, the Hawks sat at 5-5. Not an ideal start, but certainly not a deflating one. While initially fighting to stay afloat in the Eastern Conference, an unexpected spark from the 6'8" big man has propelled them near the top of the standings.
His play has been remarkable. Through his last three games, Okongwu is averaging 26.7 points, 6.0 rebounds, 3.0 assists, 1.7 steals, and 1.7 blocks on 65.0% from the field and 50.0% from deep. Atlanta won all three of those outings, as they are now 8-2 over their last ten games.
While the numbers look incredible on paper, his all-around impact cannot be determined by a simple look at the statistics. On the court, he has expanded several key areas of his game, allowing him to adjust to any sort of change in the scheme.
This all-around breakout is something that no one, not even Quin Snyder, was expecting...
Okongwu's jumper now appears to be among the most elite from any big man in the league. In Atlanta's recent victory against the Utah Jazz, he knocked down eight triples, the most by any center in Hawks history.
Along with his outside shooting, OO's fluidity on the court has seen a remarkable improvement. He looks quicker than he's ever been, beating a lot of defenders up the floor and giving Atlanta a massive boost on both ends.
His handle and overall playmaking have taken significant leaps as well. In the comeback victory against the Phoenix Suns, Okongwu was aggressive on the offensive end, converting on drives to the rim and occasionally taking the ball up the floor.
Where were you when Onyeka Okongwu became a top five center in the NBA?
— Zach Langley (@langleyatl) November 17, 2025
Atlanta plays quicker and more efficiently when Onyeka Okongwu is on the floor, matching their identity and helping generate wins. This observation raises an important question: Should he be the full-time starter over Kristaps Porzingis?
This could be something Head Coach Quin Snyder heavily considers over the next few weeks, as Atlanta's schedule continues to get more difficult. Given Porzingis' health concerns and unfamiliarity with the system, a decision to fully commit to Okongwu could prove to be wise.