Onyeka Okongwu has worked hard to get where he is now with the Atlanta Hawks. The former USC Trojan was a lottery pick back in the 2020 draft, 6th overall to be exact. That comes with expectations that some feel he still hasn't reached in his career. He is one of the oldest tenured Hawks, being only 1 of 3 players left from the Eastern Conference finals team back in 2021.
Now, Okongwu has become a vocal point of this current Hawks team and broke through to become a starter earlier this year.
Okongwu didn't become the starter until this year close to the middle of the season. Some Hawks fans have been wanting him to start for years. There have been a few reasons why it has taken so long for him to get here. Clint Capela has been the starter for most of his time in Atlanta. He is a strong rebounder and a good rim protector. Over time, Capela has gotten older and isn't the same guy he was even just a few years ago, but at the same time, he provides something to Atlanta with his skills that they don't have a lot of with other bigs. Okongwu and Capela have two different styles of play, and under former coaches Lloyd Pierce and Nate McMillan, it seemed like Capela fit more of what they wanted. But with current Head Coach Quin Snyder, you could see that Okongwu started to have a real path to finally getting the nod over Capela.
One of the biggest knocks on Okongwu was his size. NBA.com lists him as 6'10, while others think he is closer to 6'8. It is something that has kept some fans from fully embracing him as a starter, not only now but also in the future. Size is something the Hawks lack in general, which also adds to that argument. When asked about that critique about his size after a game earlier this year, he said, "How do I feel? I don't care about that. I feel like I'm big enough to do what I do out there at a, you know, productive rate. So the naysayers can, you know, keep on saying what they want. But you know, I'm content with my size.” This was after he had a 16-point, 16-rebound game against the Pacers earlier this month. That was also against Myles Turner, who is a 7-footer for the Pacers.
Let's take a look at Okongwu's numbers as a starter this year, as he is averaging 14.8 points on 60% field goal shooting plus essentially 10 rebounds a game and a positive net rating of 2.1. He is also shooting close to 40% from 3 as a starter and has the best offensive rating for the Hawks, according to Statmuse. He's just the 6th center this season to record at least 15 points, 5 rebounds, and 5 assists in a single half. The Hawks look and play a lot differently when he is on the floor for them. Additionally, his impact can't be overlooked.
Okongwu also does things that I feel don't get much praise or love in his game. First off, he can guard multiple positions outside of the bigs. When he is on the floor, it allows the Hawks to switch more and be more versatile defensively. So, depending on the matchup, he can guard wings and maybe even certain guards, plus with the way the Hawks are building out the roster, that only enhances the impact of that. Then he is also a strong passer. No, he isn't Nikola Jokic in Denver or Alperen Sengun in Houston, but he is good at finding the open man and also good on back cuts towards the rim. When you run a very motion-heavy offense, having multiple players who can pass on the floor from any position can be crucial. Okongwu does many little things well that make him valuable.
The biggest thing that can help Okongwu take off is the development of the 3-point shot. This season he has hit a career-high 36 3-pointers, while last season he made 23. He is continuing to work on that shot and could become a huge weapon. Since he is a smaller player, being able to be a threat from distance will make him a bigger offensive threat, especially since he has a strong inside game, to begin with. If Okongwu can hit the shot more moving forward, it opens up his game more.
Overall, Okongwu has been playing strong basketball as a starter and is playing up to the contract he signed. He also fits with Snyder's style of basketball better. He has stepped up his game and is part of this core of players who have gotten better due to the Hawks' developmental program. He may not be the 7-footer that some would prefer but size isn't everything. For him, doing what he's been doing should have Hawks fans excited about what's to come. It seems Okongwu is firmly a part of the vision moving forward and the center of the future.