The Hawks’ rough start has left plenty to sort through, but Onyeka Okongwu sits near the center of it all.
Atlanta is 2-3 after dropping three straight, and the early returns on the reshaped roster have exposed just how much work remains for Quin Snyder’s group to settle in. The offseason changes brought natural growing pains, but one thing is already clear: the Hawks need more from their longest-tenured player.
Okongwu’s value starts with what he gave Atlanta a season ago. Last year, he gave the offense a real boost from the center spot by hitting 37.6% of his three-point attempts while taking 5.2 per game. That kind of perimeter threat matters in a five-out system, especially for a team trying to keep defenses honest all over the floor.
That touch hasn’t shown up yet through five games. Okongwu is averaging 9.6 points and is shooting only 20% from deep on four attempts per contest.
For a Hawks offense built around spacing, that dip has consequences. When the center isn’t a threat from outside, defenses can crowd the paint and dare Atlanta to beat them in tighter quarters.
That puts more pressure on Jalen Johnson, whose ability to get downhill and create for others remains a key part of the attack.
There’s also a defensive side to this slow start, and Okongwu matters there too. The Hawks came into the year expecting to build a stronger defensive identity, but that has not fully taken shape. Okongwu is supposed to help anchor the paint and finish possessions with rebounds, and through five games he’s averaging 5.6 boards, a number that leaves room for more.
His five personal fouls against Miami were another reminder of how important discipline will be. If those fouls pile up, they can change how aggressively he plays and force Snyder to shuffle his rotation.
None of that means the Hawks’ defensive issues are on him alone. Perimeter pressure, communication and team rebounding all need to improve together. But when those pieces do come together, Okongwu becomes especially useful because of the way he moves and the range of actions he can handle.
Atlanta is not asking him to become the team’s main scorer or save the defense by himself. What the Hawks need is simpler than that: steady production, the kind he has already shown he can deliver.
If Atlanta is going to work through this early stumble, it will need its established players to hold up their end. Okongwu is one of the biggest pieces in that equation.
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