Entering year five, Onyeka Okongwu is set for his biggest season yet in Atlanta.
Of the 14 lottery selections in the 2020 NBA Draft, only a handful of those names called by NBA Commissioner Adam Silver have remained with the teams that have drafted them only four seasons later and entering their second contracts. Atlanta Hawks center Onyeka Okongwu is one such example of a player who is now officially entering his second deal, beginning his fifth season with the team that drafted him, and beginning the first year of a team-friendly four year, $62 million deal.
While much has changed from the Hawks’ roster perspective from 2020 to what is is now (the blockbuster addition of Dejounte Murray has come and gone, longer term stays such as John Collins and Kevin Huerter have moved on, etc.), Okongwu’s particular situation is very similar now as it was when he drafted.
Okongwu has primarily come off the bench for his career so far, only really stepping into the starting lineup when health has prevented starting center Clint Capela from doing so, and on the surface it seems as though this will be the case again this season. There have been calls made from fans for Okongwu to finally step into the starting lineup over Capela, and this extends long before the beginning of this season — this has been a popular sentiment of many for a while now.
When asked on media day about Okongwu specifically and if we would step into the starting lineup, Atlanta Hawks head coach Quin Snyder was reluctant to get drawn into any specifics — especially before training camp — but made a concession that finishing a game is arguably more important than starting a game.
“We haven’t started training camp yet,” said Snyder of if Okongwu would step into the starting lineup. “Talking about not just Onyeka and Clint but ‘Bogi’, De’Andre, Dyson, Jalen, you can go through the whole list of who’s starting. The important thing is how we’re playing. Probably more important than starting is finishing the game … consistency of level of play is what we’re looking for … I just want to see ‘O’ continue to take strides. That’s something that he’s done and there’s an opportunity for him to do that whether he’s starting or coming off the bench or finishing.”
Even though the first part of Snyder’s answer is a non-answer so to speak, what he alluded to has become more of a theme for Okongwu as his career has progressed: he may not start, but Okongwu is beginning to finish more games now. The margins are still close, but they are gently nudging in Okongwu’s favor: a total of 391 fourth quarter minutes in 55 games compared to Capela’s 362 minutes in 59 games last season.
The plus/minus numbers are in Okongwu’s favor too, plus-12 in those 362 minutes compared to Capela’s minus+18. These are narrow margins in terms of season totals but they represent a potentially larger change in the wind, and that can only intensify as Capela enters the final year of his current deal.
For Okongwu, however, his mentality remains the same whether he’s in the starting lineup or coming off the bench.
“I have the same approach,” said Okongwu on if his approach differs between starting games and coming off the bench. “I know regardless I’m going to get minutes on the court. My job is to go out there and produce.”
Okongwu’s particular qualities — his mobility/athleticism, versatility defensively, shot-blocking, and pick-and-roll threat to name a few — make him arguably more playable in close fourth quarter games over Capela. I think people are quick to pit Okongwu and Capela against each other, but their differing qualities compliment each other well, and it gives the Hawks options depending how a game is unfolding and what they need. Capela is undoubtedly better equipped to secure and procure rebounds and has more size and strength than Okongwu but is more limited offensively, doesn’t boast the same quickness as Okongwu and is more likely to clog the lane a little more on offense.
Each have their advantages and disadvantages, but there’s definitely a case to be made that Okongwu has more of what the Hawks need down the stretch.
This may be exemplified further as last season Okongwu experimented with the three-point line, attempting 1.3 threes per game last season, shooting 33%. Okongwu has continued to work on his three-point shot over the summer and says he’s much more comfortable from shooting the beyond the arc.
“I think being more confident out there, shooting more,” said Okongwu on what he worked on. “Last year was about shooting the ball, but now that I’m more comfortable out there, it’s just working on it and being better at it.”
Okongwu’s progression from three season will be one of the more underrated elements for the Hawks this season. It’ll be interesting to see if there will be an increase in shooting volume from Okongwu and what the percentage is. Success for Okongwu here begins to open the floor up offensively for the Hawks and Okongwu, who could become an inside-out threat, and could further build his case for the starting lineup.
However, it’s unlikely to be at the start of the season as Okongwu continues to recover and ramp up his activity from a left toe sprain that initially ruled him out for several weeks in February before a brief return in March for two games — which proved to be his final involvement of the 2023-24 season after re-aggravating the injury before eventually being ruled out for the remainder of the season in April.
While Okongwu was satisfied with his rehab over the summer, he acknowledged he’s still ‘working his way back up,’ implying he could perhaps be limited heading into the season.
“Rehab over the summer has been good,” said Okongwu on media day. “I feel good mentally, physically. Ready for another year.”
“Right now I’m working my way back up,” added Okongwu to a later question. “Excited for camp, excited to go out there and be with the team again.”
Onyeka Okongwu has had to be patient for his NBA starting opportunity and he may have to continue to wait, but there’s no doubt his impact for the Hawks off the bench is instrumental and growing. He may not start games, but he certainly finishes games which is arguably more important and a huge nod of trust from his coaches to finish games.
It feels as though Okongwu’s time is coming, and with his skillset growing — and evolving beyond the arc — and as his career continues to progress combined with Capela entering his final year on his current deal and entering his 30’s with previous health concerns, the winds of change are surely not far away. While he may have to be patient again this season, there is no doubt — whether starting or coming off the bench — that year five for Okongwu is his most important yet with the opportunity to make his biggest impact yet…