Hawks center Onyeka Okongwu out six months after shoulder surgery

Atlanta Hawks center Onyeka Okongwu is expected to be sidelined for six months after undergoing shoulder surgery Wednesday to repair a torn labrum in his right shoulder, the team announced Thursday.

According to ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski, Okongwu suffered the injury in May.

The 2020 sixth-overall pick averaged 4.6 points and 3.3 rebounds during the 2020-21 campaign while shooting 64.4% from the field. He primarily served as backup to starting center Clint Capela. 

Okongwu appeared in every game during the Hawks' postseason run to the Eastern Conference finals, averaging 2.7 points and 2.7 rebounds per game.

NBA training camps are set to open Sept. 28, with opening night slated for Oct. 19. Okongwu's timeline suggests he could return to the Atlanta lineup in January.