Hawks center Onyeka Okongwu out indefinitely / News - Basketnews.com

The Atlanta Hawks will be without Onyeka Okongwu for the foreseeable future.

Credit: Bill Streicher-USA TODAY Sports - Scanpix Credit Bill Streicher-USA TODAY Sports - Scanpix

Center Onyeka Okongwu will be out for an indefinite period of time, leaving the Atlanta Hawks with serious front-line depth issues as they return from the All-Star break.

Onyeka Okongwu

MIN:25.79PTS:10.23 (65.67%)REB:6.96As:1.34ST:0.47BL:1.11TO:0.85GM:53ProfileNBA2023/2024

Okongwu, who missed the final game before the break with a sprained left toe, is not going to be available for the foreseeable future, despite initial estimates which revolved around a 10-day absence.

Okongwu, 23, was a 2020 first-round draft pick. His averages of 10.2 points and 25.8 minutes this season are career highs. He also is averaging 7.0 rebounds in 53 games, including eight starts. The Hawks (24-31) are 10th in the Eastern Conference and would fall out of the last spot in the play-in tournament if they fall below 11th-place Brooklyn.

Okongwu has shared playing time with starting center Clint Capela, who has missed the past six games with a left adductor strain. Capela could return for Friday night’s game against Toronto but is not expected to immediately be ready to assume his normal share of minutes.

"We’ll get Clint back but he’ll be in a situation where it’s been a few weeks since he has played and I’m sure he will be on some kind of minutes restriction," Snyder said.

"Even before Clint went out you could just see his progress," Snyder praised Okongwu . "He’s getting better in a lot of areas and some of the things he does and does well gives us another dimension on both ends of the floor."

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