Okongwu's entire appeal as a player is in his ability to protect the rim and guard in space. He's in the mold of Jaren Jackson Jr., Evan Mobley, Chet Holmgren.
If we don't believe he can do these two things at a high level, we should move on from him.
(FTR, I do believe he can do these things at an NBA All-Defense Level.)
CP War Hawks wrote:Jamaaliver wrote:Okongwu, from even his college days, has always been viewed as a Bam Adebayo-lite.
McMillan modeled Okongwu's early development after Bam.
Onyeka even compares himself to Bam, reportedly.
Key word is Bam lite. The ceilings between the comparisons are just too wide.
He's always at risk of catching a foul on screens, even DHOs. Foul trouble and turnovers in one possession are double whammys the team can go w/o.