Okongwu chipped in four points (2-2 FG), three rebounds, one block and two steals over 27 minutes during Sunday's 113-103 loss to Boston.
Okongwu saw more minutes than Clint Capela for the second straight game, but this still has the look of a timeshare at center. On the season, Okongwu is averaging 22.8 minutes compared to 24.4 for Capela. Okongwu has scored in double digits just once in his last 10 games, but his efficiency and ability to contribute across the board keep his value afloat in category formats.
... See More... See Less
Hawks' Onyeka Okongwu: Double-double off bench in OT win
Rotowire
Okongwu amassed 12 points (6-10 FG, 0-2 3Pt), 10 rebounds and one block across 25 minutes off the bench during Wednesday's 147-145 overtime victory over the Nets.
It was his first double-double since Nov. 1, and those have been the fourth-year center's only double-doubles of the season so far. The sixth overall pick in the 2020 NBA Draft has the talent to do better, but as long as Clint Capela blocks his progress on the Atlanta roster, Okongwu will remain a better dynasty asset for fantasy purposes than a reliable short-term contributor.
... See More... See Less
Hawks' Onyeka Okongwu: Quiet production of late
Rotowire
Okongwu notched eight points (4-4 FG), nine rebounds, two assists and one block over 21 minutes during Tuesday's 126-120 win over Detroit.
Okongwu was perfect from the field Tuesday, but he racked up five fouls in quick succession. Foul trouble remains an issue in the 22-year-old's conquest for a larger workload, but there are games when he overcomes limited minutes by racking up defensive stats. However, it's tough to count on Okongwu for double-digit scoring on any given night.
... See More... See Less
Hawks' Onyeka Okongwu: Outplays Capela off bench
Rotowire
Okongwu supplied 16 points (6-8 FG, 0-1 3Pt, 4-4 FT), 11 rebounds, two assists and one block across 27 minutes during Wednesday's 130-121 win over Washington.
Clint Capela got the start at center and Okongwu backed him up, but the latter outplayed him and logged more minutes than the starter -- 27 for Okongwu and only 21 for Capela. Okongwu has scored in double digits in three consecutive games, and this was his first double-double of the season, so it wouldn't be shocking if he ends up seeing an uptick in minutes in the coming weeks.
... See More... See Less
Hawks' Onyeka Okongwu: Lands four-year extension
Rotowire
Okongwu signed a four-year, $62 million contract extension with Atlanta on Monday, Adrian Wojnarowski of ESPN reports.
Okongwu had a career-best year last season, averaging 9.9 points and 7.2 rebounds in 23.1 minutes per game over 80 appearances. The 22-year-old also displayed some floor-spacing abilities during the preseason this year, going 5-for-13 from beyond the arc after minimal work from long distance over his first three seasons in the league. He'll likely begin the 2023-24 campaign as a bench player while Clint Capela starts at center, but Okongwu should still have plenty of opportunities to contribute.
... See More... See Less
Hawks' Onyeka Okongwu: Back to bench
Rotowire
Okongwu won't start Friday's preseason finale against the 76ers, Brad Rowland of the Locked On Podcast Network reports.
Okongwu has drawn a few starts with Clint Capela resting, but the latter is back in action Friday, sending the former to a reserve role. Okongwu has slowly eaten away at Capela's playing time in recent years and should see close to 25 minutes per game in 2023-24.
... See More... See Less
Hawks' Onyeka Okongwu: Active at both ends Monday
Rotowire
Okongwu finished with 11 points (4-8 FG, 0-3 3Pt, 3-6 FT), six rebounds, an assist and two blocks across 26 minutes in Monday's 116-112 preseason loss to the Pacers.
Okongwu has received a few starts during preseason action, and even though he looked quite good in this one, all signs point to him playing off the bench while Clint Capela operates with the first unit. Okongwu is still valuable in fantasy this year as a handcuff option and could be quite an asset in dynasty formats. He averaged 9.9 points, 7.2 rebounds, 1.0 assists and 1.3 blocks across 23.1 minutes per game last season.
... See More... See Less
Hawks' Onyeka Okongwu: Puts up 18 points
Rotowire
Okongwu (rest) recorded 18 points (8-10 FG, 1-3 3Pt, 1-1 FT), six rebounds and two assists across 25 minutes in Saturday's preseason win over the Pelicans.
Okongwu didn't play Thursday but was active Saturday and among the starters -- in fact, he led the Hawks in scoring while also looking extremely efficient from the field. Okongwu is expected to open the season as the backup center behind Clint Capela.
... See More... See Less
Hawks' Onyeka Okongwu: Plays well off bench
Rotowire
Okongwu recorded 12 points (5-7 FG, 2-3 3Pt), two rebounds and two turnovers in 19 minutes during Tuesday's 108-107 preseason win over Cleveland.
Clint Capela drew the start in the preseason opener and appears to be the favorite to open the season as the starting center. Okongwu offers plenty of upside and nearly forced a timeshare with Capela in 2022-23, so there's still a lot to like about his fantasy outlook.
... See More... See Less
Hawks' Onyeka Okongwu: Returns to bench
Rotowire
Okongwu isn't in the starting five for Tuesday's Play-In Game versus Miami.
Clint Capela will replace Okongwu in the starting lineup Tuesday after missing the previous game with a calf injury. Okongwu will likely serve as Atlanta's primary backup center, averaging 12.0 points, 6.8 rebounds and 2.1 blocks in 20.0 minutes across his last 10 appearances coming off the bench.
... See More... See Less
Hawks' Onyeka Okongwu: Nears double-double in start
Rotowire
Okongwu closed with 10 points (4-7 FG, 1-2 3Pt, 1-2 FT), nine rebounds, two assists and one steal in 26 minutes during Sunday's 120-114 loss to the Celtics.
Okongwu got the start in Sunday's game due to Atlanta sitting its regular starters, finishing second on the team in rebounds while ending up one board short of a double-double outing. Okongwu has recorded at least 10 points and five rebounds in nine of his last 10 games.
... See More... See Less
Hawks' Onyeka Okongwu: Starting season finale
Rotowire
Okongwu will start Sunday's game at Boston, Lauren Williams of the Atlanta Journal-Constitution reports.
With the Hawks locked into the 8-seed in the East, they'll rest a handful of starters Sunday, including Clint Capela (calf). It will be Okongwu's first start since back in mid-January, when he started a string of 12 straight games. In that span, he posted 11.2 points, 9.5 rebounds, 2.0 blocks and 1.0 steals in 32.9 minutes per game.
... See More... See Less
Hawks' Onyeka Okongwu: Big night off bench
Rotowire
Okongwu registered 21 points (5-5 FG, 11-12 FT), nine rebounds and three blocks over 20 minutes off the bench during Tuesday's 120-118 win over the Cavaliers.
The third-year center tied his career scoring high while almost recording his first double-double since March 13. Okongwu has been a very effective weapon on the second unit for the Cavs of late, scoring in double digits in eight of the last nine games and averaging 14.4 points, 8.1 boards, 1.8 blocks, 0.9 assists and 0.8 steals in just 20.9 minutes a night while shooting 78.3 percent from the floor and 90.0 percent from the free-throw line. Clint Capela still has two more years left on his current contract after signing an extension in 2021, but Okongwu's play down the stretch might encourage the Hawks to move on from the veteran big man over the summer.
... See More... See Less
Hawks' Onyeka Okongwu: Cedes minutes to Capela
Rotowire
Okongwu finished Sunday's 126-118 loss to the Spurs with 17 points (6-8 FG, 5-5 FT), seven rebounds, one steal and one block in 20 minutes.
For the first time in four games, Okongwu saw fewer minutes than starter Clint Capela (28), but that didn't stop both centers from contributing useful fantasy lines. Capela converted seven of nine field-goal attempts and logged his second double-double in three games, while Okongwu continued what has been a nice run of productive games. While getting 20 minutes in each of the past four games, Okongwu is converting on 82.8 percent of his field goals and 93.8 percent of his free-throw tries while averaging 15.8 points, 9.0 boards and 1.3 blocks.
... See More... See Less
Hawks' Onyeka Okongwu: Dominant against Warriors
Rotowire
Okongwu notched 19 points (8-9 FG, 3-4 FT), seven rebounds, one assist, two blocks and one steal over 24 minutes during Friday's 127-119 victory over the Warriors.
Friday's game was a fast-paced matchup that suited Okongwu much more than Clint Capela, and Okongwu's efficient scoring and rim protection made it hard for coach Quin Snyder to take him off the floor. Okongwu is trending up at the ideal time for fantasy managers, clearing 23 or more minutes in his last three games with averages of 15.3 points, 9.7 rebounds, 1.0 assists, 0.7 steals and 1.3 blocks.
... See More... See Less
Hawks' Onyeka Okongwu: Posts double-double off bench
Rotowire
Okongwu racked up 16 points (6-7 FG, 4-4 FT), 14 rebounds, one block and one steal across 25 minutes during Monday's 136-115 loss to Minnesota.
On a night where most of the Hawks struggled, Okongwu thrived. He crushed the Timberwolves on the offensive glass, grabbing nine of Atlanta's misses en route to finishing with his first double-double in eight games. Though Okongwu has shown the ability to produce interesting numbers when given the majority of the minutes at center, he's typically fallen on the smaller side of a timeshare at the position with Clint Capela since Quin Snyder took over as the team's head coach. In Snyder's first eight games at the helm, Okongwu is averaging 20.1 minutes per game to Capela's 27.0.
... See More... See Less
Hawks' Onyeka Okongwu: Sneaky production Friday
Rotowire
Okongwu closed with four points (1-4 FG, 2-4 FT), eight rebounds, one assist, one block and two steals in 19 minutes during Friday's 114-107 win over Washington.
Okongwu managed to chip in across the board Friday despite playing fewer than 20 minutes for the second time in his past three games. A change in head coach has not improved the short-term outlook for Okongwu. He is outside the top 200 over the past two weeks, leaving him as a drop candidate in standard formats. There is enough there for him to still be considered in certain builds, although it does not appear as though he will be logging more than 20 minutes very often.
... See More... See Less
Hawks' Onyeka Okongwu: Busy night at charity stripe
Rotowire
Okongwu racked up 15 points (4-5 FG, 7-8 FT), four rebounds and one assist in 23 minutes during Saturday's 117-109 loss to the Heat.
Okongwu tied his season high with seven made free throws en route to his highest scoring outing since Feb. 3. Since the start of February (13 games), he's averaging 10.0 points, 6.4 rebounds, 1.3 blocks, 1.1 assists and 0.9 steals in 21.0 minutes.
... See More... See Less
Hawks' Onyeka Okongwu: Fills stat sheet, double-doubles
Rotowire
Okongwu produced 13 points (6-7 FG, 1-2 FT), 11 rebounds, two assists, three blocks and two steals across 25 minutes during Friday's 136-119 victory over Cleveland.
Okongwu logged only 25 minutes Friday but played a massive role in the win over the Cavaliers, as he recorded a double-double on efficient shooting and had multiple tallies across the board. He should remain on a bench role with Clint Capela being healthy, but Okongwu is showing he might deserve some more minutes even if he's not starting. He's averaging 10.6 points, 6.9 rebounds and 1.7 blocks per game across 20.7 minutes in nine February appearances.
... See More... See Less
Hawks' Onyeka Okongwu: Scores double-double off bench
Rotowire
Okongwu totaled 11 points (4-6 FG, 3-4 FT), 11 rebounds, one block and one steal in 23 minutes during Thursday's 116-107 win over the Suns.
Okongwu produced a very well-rounded game Friday night, recording his second double-double in four contests. The center minutes distribution was split almost evenly between him and Clint Capela, which isn't always the case. The young backup center has proven multiple times that he can handle a larger role, but Capela is also playing quite well, so Atlanta seems content keeping Okongwu in his current role off the bench for now.
