USC Basketball: Former Trojans Standout Inks Massive 4-Year Extension With NBA Squad
Big man Onyeka Okongwu — a former USC Trojan, Southern California native, and top-6 pick in the 2020 NBA draft — has signed a four-year, $62 million extension to remain with the Atlanta Hawks.
Big O has been a difference maker since his time at Chino Hills High School, playing alongside LaMelo, LiAngelo, and Lonzo Ball, where the former two-time California Mr. Basketball averaged an absurd 28 points, 14 rebounds, and four blocks per game his junior season. He was also a member of the 2016 California Division I State title team.
Onyeka was a five-star recruit on ESPN and Rivals.com, fielding offers from USC and UCLA as early as his freshman year.
Okongwu has been solid in the NBA, but his role has perhaps been smaller than what he's capable of due to the presence of Clint Capela in Atlanta.
Capela is one of the most productive centers in the NBA, and has been playing ahead of Okongwu in the rotation since Big O entered the league. Capela has averaged double-digit points and rebounds in each of his 3 seasons in the ATL, making it tough for the Hawks to give Onyeka a ton of minutes.
To that end, Big O has been productive in the minutes he's gotten. Just last season, for example, the versatile big averaged 10 points, 7 rebounds, and 1.3 blocks in just 23 minutes of play.
Capela's contract is bound to expire soon, and that paired with his age (29), makes him a great trade candidate for Atlanta, which would give Big O full reign over the Atlanta frontcourt.
Their decision to move off of longtime forward John Collins also speaks to the commitment they have to keeping Okongwu in the ATL, as he also took a ton of his minutes.
With a longer-term deal and a great young core around him including the likes of Trae Young, Saddiq Bey, Jalen Johnson, and AJ Griffin, the Hawks are in a good spot moving forward, and clearly consider Big O a big part of that moving forward process.
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