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Hawks Center Takes Major Offensive Leap This Season

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The Atlanta Hawks just wrapped a five-game win streak, including a four-game West Coast road trip sweep. The Detroit Pistons snapped the Hawks’ run on Nov. 18 for their 11th-straight win, but Atlanta still sits in excellent position with a 9-6 record on the season.

Jalen Johnson’s magnificent performances deservedly earned him Eastern Conference Player of the Week honors. However, Onyeka Okongwu’s strong start to the campaign has not garnered as much attention. His offensive jump, particularly with his outside shot, helps Atlanta’s offense navigate the challenge of producing consistent scoring without Trae Young.

Hawks Center Takes Major Offensive Leap This Season

Okongwu Lets the 3-Ball Fly

To get the full picture of Okongwu’s 3-point shot development, we must go back to his exit interview in 2022. “The next time you see me, I will have a jump shot,” said the Hawks’ center. He followed up on his promise, expanding to the mid-range area the following season. His long-range ability slowly improved over the next three campaigns, taking corner 3-pointers at low volume. However, that is no longer the case. He took a major step forward this season, showing no hesitation from beyond the arc.

Okongwu takes a career-high 4.6 3-pointers per game after averaging 2.0 in the 2024-25 campaign. He knocks them down at a 40.6% clip, resulting in 1.9 makes per contest. The sixth pick in the 2020 NBA Draft cashed in 17 3-pointers in his last four games. This stretch includes Okongwu’s career-high performance against the Utah Jazz of 32 points on 8-of-14 shooting from beyond the arc. Last season, Atlanta’s center drained 48 triples, and he already reached 28 through 15 games this season. He is on pace to smash his career high.

Okongwu averages a career-high 16.1 points per game on 20.4% usage, stemming from his improved long-range marksmanship. He has scored 20 points in a career-best four-straight contests, taking advantage of his expanded opportunity with Kristaps Porziņģis sidelined.

Will the Hawks Start Okongwu When Kristaps Porziņģis Returns?

Porziņģis missed the last three games due to right soreness. He currently holds a questionable tag for the Hawks’ game against the San Antonio Spurs on Nov. 20. Atlanta’s star center sat out the first of the three on the second night of a back-to-back last week against Utah but surprisingly popped up as questionable for the next two games. The Hawks ultimately ruled him out hours before tip-off both times.

There is reason for concern surrounding Porziņģis’ knee due to his lengthy injury history. The fourth pick in the 2015 NBA Draft only reached the 65-game mark twice in his career. Atlanta heavily relies on Porziņģis’ ability to create offense in the halfcourt, especially down the stretch of games without Young. His absence played a key role in the Hawks’ inability to score down the stretch against the Pistons.

Despite Porziņģis’ absence, Atlanta has still had tremendous success with Okongwu in the starting lineup. The 6-foot-9-inch center has averaged 26.7 points, 5.3 rebounds, and 3.3 assists in the last three games. The team ranks eighth in defensive rating (112.0) this season and first in net rating (38.4) when Dyson Daniels, Zaccharie Risacher, Johnson, and Okongwu share the floor.

If Porziņģis continues to miss games, could Quin Snyder consider making Okongwu the full-time starter? The Hawks’ center is certainly making a strong case.

© Brett Davis-Imagn Images

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