Kristaps Porzingis is officially available for the Atlanta Hawks’ Monday night matchup against the Miami Heat - and for a team that’s been reeling since early December, that’s more than just good news. It’s a potential turning point.
Let’s rewind for a second. The Hawks opened the season with a solid trio of big men: Porzingis, Onyeka Okongwu, and rookie N’Faly Dante.
On paper, that’s a frontcourt with size, versatility, and depth. But paper doesn’t win games.
Porzingis has suited up for just five of Atlanta’s last 32 contests, and in that stretch, the wheels came off.
Atlanta tumbled from a promising start to a team struggling to stay afloat in the Eastern Conference. And while there were multiple factors at play, the lack of frontcourt depth was the glaring issue - a problem that only got worse with each injury.
Okongwu deserves credit. He’s stepped up in a major way, especially as a shooter.
His ability to stretch the floor has added a new wrinkle to his game, and he’s exceeded expectations in several areas. But he’s also giving up size almost every night - at 6’8”, he’s the shortest center in the league.
That’s not a knock on his effort or skill, but in a league where size still matters, it’s a tough ask to carry the load alone.
Then there’s Dante. The Hawks brought him in as a low-risk, high-upside addition, but it quickly became clear he wasn’t NBA-ready.
Head coach Quin Snyder used him sparingly, even with Porzingis sidelined, and any hope of development this season vanished when Dante tore his ACL. Just like that, Atlanta was down to one true center.
Enter Christian Koloko. The Hawks picked him up to plug the gap, and the results were immediate: a four-game win streak.
It wasn’t flashy, but it was effective. The team looked balanced again, with real rim protection and interior presence.
But that momentum hit a wall when Okongwu took a stray elbow to the face from Jaylen Brown in a win over the Celtics, suffering a dental fracture that sidelined him again. With the frontcourt back in flux, the Hawks dropped their next two games.
That brings us back to Porzingis.
When he’s on the floor, his impact is undeniable. Offensively, he’s still a nightmare to guard.
He thrives in isolation, especially from the high post, and he’s been living on a steady diet of tough shots this season. According to shot-creation metrics, he ranks in the 94th percentile among centers - and he’s converting those looks at a rate 10.8% above league average.
That’s not just good - that’s elite.
Defensively, Porzingis isn’t locking down guards on the perimeter, but that’s not his job. What he brings is size, length, and rim deterrence.
At 7’2”, he changes shots just by being in the paint. He’s stronger than he looks and holds his ground well in drop coverage.
He’s not flashy on that end, but he’s effective - and that’s exactly what Atlanta needs.
The numbers back it up. Since December 1st, the Hawks have played just nine games with two centers available.
Their record in those games? 7-2.
That’s not a coincidence. When Atlanta has real size in the rotation, they’re a different team - one that can compete with anyone on a given night.
Porzingis’s return doesn’t just give the Hawks a boost - it gives them a chance to reclaim their early-season form. If he stays healthy, and if the team can finally get some consistency in the frontcourt, don’t be surprised if another win streak is right around the corner.