The Atlanta Hawks are tweaking their lineup again, just weeks into the 2025-26 season, as Kristaps Porziņģis makes his way back from a brief rest stint. Traded to the team over the summer in a three-team deal that shook up the Eastern Conference, the Latvian big man is set to reclaim his starting center role on Monday against the Bulls. It's a move that's got fans buzzing—and not entirely in a good way for young talent Onyeka Okongwu.
Porziņģis, who sat out the last couple of games for load management after dealing with some flu-like symptoms earlier, brings serious firepower to the paint. Through his first handful of games with Atlanta, he's averaging 17.6 points, 6.3 rebounds, and 3.3 assists per outing, shooting a respectable 43.3% from the field. In his most recent appearance, he dropped 27 points on efficient 11-of-17 shooting, helping the Hawks stay competitive despite a 128-123 loss. At 30 years old, he's still got that unicorn stretch and shooting touch that made him a former All-Star, though his injury history looms like a shadow.
For Okongwu, it's back to the second unit after a solid stretch filling in. The 24-year-old, a former lottery pick, has been putting up 13.0 points and 8.6 rebounds a game while starting, with a strong 47.5% field goal clip. But with Porziņģis healthy, coach Quin Snyder's opting for the veteran's experience up front. It's a tough pill—Okongwu's mobility and defensive chops could complement KP nicely off the bench, yet it raises questions about development time for the rising star.
The Hawks sit at 5-5, ninth in the East, and this frontcourt pairing might just be the spark they need, or it could lead to some early-season friction. How Atlanta balances these two towers will shape their playoff hopes this year.
