Onyeka Okongwu, who had surgery in July to repair a torn labrum, will in the next few days play 5-on-5 in practice with the College Park Skyhawks, Hawks coach Nate McMillan said Tuesday.

Okongwu has been ramping up in his rehab, and if 5-on-5 action in practice goes well, the Hawks will see if Okongwu can play in a G League game with the Skyhawks, per McMillan. Advancing to play 5-on-5 in practice is a good sign of Okongwu’s progress, and he is hopeful to return to the Hawks by the end of December, but the team’s goal is still to get him back in January.

“We slowly are trying to build him up,” McMillan said.

Having Okongwu back certainly would give the Hawks’ second unit a boost.

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Atlanta Hawks guard Kobe Bufkin dribbles away from Cleveland Cavaliers guard Sam Merrill in the first half of an NBA basketball game, Wednesday, Nov. 23, 2024, in Cleveland. (David Dermer/AP)

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