Onyeka Okongwu will he be the next NBA player to give in to the lure of naturalization? Very far from the prospect of being part of the American selection, the interior of Atlanta would be ” open “ to the idea of being naturalized to compete in one or more international competitions.
The logical next step for him would be to knock on the door of the Nigerian selection since he has Nigerian nationality. Indeed, Nigeria would be interested in taking this step. Except that we learn that the Philippines are also in the running, and that Onyeka Okongwu would not be against this possibility.
In competition with Jordan Clarkson?
But why the Philippines? Apparently, this is because the Hawks interior grew up in the Filipino community of Chino Hills, a suburb of Los Angeles. He would thus train with one of the major players of the Philippine championship (PBA) Alex Cabagnot and would participate in the “Fil-Am Nation”, a kind of organization which highlights the best basketball players of Filipino origin who live in the United States. United.
For now, it is Jordan Clarkson who takes on the role of naturalized player by the Philippine selection, and the Jazz back has already warned that he is interested in continuing the adventure. As for Onyeka Okongwu, he will first worry about his personal situation in the NBA since he is entering the last guaranteed year of his contract.
| Onyeka Okongwu | Percentage | Rebounds | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Season | Team | MJ | Min | Shots | 3pts | L.F. | Off | Def | Early | Pd | Party | Int | Bp | Ct | Pts |
| 2020-21 | ATL | 50 | 12 | 64.4 | 0.0 | 63.2 | 1.2 | 2.0 | 3.3 | 0.4 | 2.0 | 0.5 | 0.6 | 0.7 | 4.6 |
| 2021-22 | ATL | 48 | 21 | 69.0 | 0.0 | 72.7 | 2.4 | 3.5 | 5.9 | 1.1 | 3.1 | 0.7 | 0.9 | 1.3 | 8.2 |
| 2022-23 | ATL | 80 | 23 | 63.8 | 30.8 | 78.1 | 2.7 | 4.5 | 7.2 | 1.0 | 3.1 | 0.7 | 1.0 | 1.3 | 9.9 |
| Total | 178 | 19 | 65.3 | 25.0 | 74.1 | 2.2 | 3.5 | 5.7 | 0.9 | 2.8 | 0.6 | 0.9 | 1.1 | 7.9 | |
How to read the stats? MJ = matches played; Min = Minutes; Shots = Successful shots / Attempted shots; 3pts = 3-points / 3-points attempted; LF = free throws made / free throws attempted; Off = offensive rebound; Def=defensive rebound; Tot = Total rebounds; Pd = assists; Fte: Personal fouls; Int = Intercepts; Bp = Lost balls; Ct: Against; Pts = Points.
