Why the Atlanta Hawks Should Take a Long Look at Flory Bidunga in the 2026 NBA Draft

When an NBA prospect is described as "raw," it's not typically a compliment.

It means their skills are underdeveloped. Typically, it's a word we use to describe high-upside athletes who have a lot of learning to do.

Sometimes they pan out, and sometimes they don't. These types of players are gambles.

The latest reports indicate that the Atlanta Hawks intend to work out one player who fits the description perfectly.

That would be Kansas big man Flory Bidunga.

Bidunga is an intriguing player. He measured 6-7.75 barefoot and 228.6 pounds at the 2026 NBA Draft Combine, with a 7-3.25 wingspan and an 8-10.5 standing reach. He's a dominant rim protector (2.6 blocks per game for Kansas this season) who can also survive on the perimeter. This is an archetypal defensive big man.

Offensively, he earns the "raw" distinction. Bidunga has flashed a little open-floor ball-handling, but as a half-court scorer, he's largely only capable of finishing lobs at the moment.

Counterpoint: So what? How many successful NBA big men are largely designated lob catchers? Sure, the game is trending toward a more diversified skill set. If Bidunga is a switch-everything game-breaker on the defensive end, the Hawks can live with those offensive limitations.

The front office should also pay mind to his story. It's a familiar one. The Congolese big man picked up the game of basketball later in life. That explains why his developmental arc has been slower than that of his peers.

And it gives some hope that Bidunga is a late bloomer.

If there's a reason for the Hawks to pass on Bidunga, it's Onyeka Okongwu.

These are comparable players. Arguably, they're redundant. Some Hawks fans will argue that the team needs to bring a more traditional bruiser on board.

Perhaps that's fair. That said, the Hawks wouldn't be drafting Bidunga to be a day-one second-string player. This is about upside. Atlanta could sign another big man, or simply bank on its existing center depth in 2026-27, and develop Bidunga at his own pace.

Who knows? In time, he could surpass Okongwu. If so, the Hawks will have a trade chip on their hands. Alternatively, the same holds if Bidunga falls just short of Okongwu's impact.

There's also a world where they coexist. Okongwu and Bidunga are both versatile defenders. The Hawks could play them together for stretches in modernized twin-tower lineups. It's said that Bidunga is working on his 3-point shot. If it develops, they could be a lethal pairing.

That said, there are no guarantees when it comes to NBA development.

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