The Atlanta Hawks are poised to make a run in the 2026 playoffs after an A+ offseason, yet one major question remains. Is Oneyka Okongwu truly a playoff-caliber center? He is certainly a playoff-caliber player, but perhaps he fits best in a different role.
After entering the starting lineup last season, Okongwu showed why the Hawks gave him an extension. The undersized big man tallied 15 points, 10 rebounds, 0.9 blocks, and 0.7 steals per game per game on improved efficency. Over his 40 games as a starter, he showed flashes of an improved skillset and played with tremendous energy.
However, Okongwu was inconsistent during this stretch, particularly at the beginning. Before the Hawks made their ambitious move to contend for a title, this inconsistency would be tolerable. Centers tend to break through later in their career, giving the 24-year-old Okongwu time to grow into his duty as a starter before he enters his prime.
But with the added expectations for this Atlanta squad in a one-year period where the Eastern Conference has no dominant team, the Hawks need consistent high-level center play. This is particularly important considering the best center on the roster is Kristaps Porzingis. While he's an incredible player, it is unreasonable to assume he can play on a nightly basis given his injury history.
Atlanta must use double-big lineups to hit their ceiling
Okongwu was one of the most fun under-the-radar stories of last season. After sliding into the starting role, the Hawks went on a four game losing streak. When all hope seemed to be lost after going 3-9 with Okongwu starting, they added Mouhamed Gueye in the starting lineup.
The Hawks went 13-13 in games where both Gueye and Okongwu started, and Okongwu had the best stretch of his career. He averaged 18 points, 15 boards, 2 blocks, and 2 steals in two games against Pascal Siakam and the Finals runner-up Pacers. He thrived against other elite competition, dropping 30 and 14 against the Magic and 21, 14, 3 blocks, and 2 steals against the Knicks. When reviewing the tape, Okongwu looks like a true star on the floor.
Snyder has a difficult task on his hands. The Hawks have limited frontcourt depth, making double-big lineups a serious challenge. Perhaps maximizing Okongwu is less important than maximizing Kristaps Porzingis's durability in the regular season. In the playoffs, however, the Hawks will need to bring the best out of all their players to achieve success.