What is Onyeka Okongwu's contract with Hawks? Closer look as forward agrees to multi-year extension 

The Atlanta Hawks secured big man Onyeka Okongwu by giving him a huge payday and extending his contract. The team is expecting Okongwu to have a massive leap in improvement this season as the Hawks try to contend for the NBA title.

According to his agent, Sam Goldfeder, the 6-foot-8 big man has signed a four-year contract extension worth $62 million. The big man is closing in on the expiration of his rookie deal. This season was to be the last year of his four-year rookie contract.

Last season, Okongwu had a solid season off the bench. He's also shown his improved shooting from 3-point range, which has given him another weapon on offense. He appeared for 80 games last season, which is already an impressive feat in the modern NBA.

Onyeka Okongwu averaged 9.9 points, 7.2 rebounds and 1.0 assists last season. He shot 63.8%, making him a problem inside the paint. His improvement has been great as the Hawks' starting center, Clint Capela, has been involved in trade rumors since last season.

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Onyeka Okongwu is open to playing for the Philippine national basketball team

Over the summer, NBA stars suited up for their countries during the 2023 FIBA World Cup. Fans were treated to great games, which concluded with Germany taking home the gold medal. The Philippine national basketball team, however, wasn't able to win anything significant, which could mean they might bring in a new naturalized player.

During the tournament, Jordan Clarkson served as their naturalized player, despite holding both a Philippine passport and an American one. Additionally, Clarkson's mother is Filipino, which should've been enough for him to be part of the team without being a naturalized player.

Still, with his inclusion, the team wasn't able to win anything that left an impact. That led the team to lean into a different NBA player.

Onyeka Okongwu reportedly became interested in joining Gilas Pilipinas (Philippine National basketball team). According to sources, Okongwu grew up in a Filipino community in Chino Hills, California. On top of that, Alex Cabagnot, a Philippine basketball star, had a chance to work out with him in the past.

The Nigerian national basketball team is also interested in recruiting him. So far, Onyeka Okongwu hasn't given his final decision on which team he'll represent in international games down the line.