Atlanta Hawks general manager Travis Schlenk told 92.9 The Game that center Onyeka Okongwu will be cleared to play once he returns to the team from a family issue later this week.
The 2020 first round draft pick for the Hawks suffered a torn laburnum and underwent surgery back in July. While he was expected to miss the first three months of the season, with a January return date, it appears Okongwu will be back a little earlier.
"(Okongwu) will be back this week, and he'll be cleared to play," Schlenk told the Morning Show. "Obviously having him back, a defensive-minded big guy in the lane will be beneficial for us."
In his first game back, Okongwu helped the Skyhawks, the Hawks G-League team, get their first win of the season. He played 24 minutes, finishing with 10 points, 15 rebounds and two blocks, assists, and steals.
