Onyeka Okongwu’s response to Desmond Bain’s spike

The The Atlanta Hawks got a good win against the Orlando Magic for the second time this season, and since last season, it’s obvious that the two don’t like each other very much. This was shown in their last game, when Mr. Okongwu went to lay, and Desmond Bane lowered his hand. In the process, Bane slammed the basketball into Okongwu’s head.

This led to some of the Hawks and Magic players having to be separated after the game. The referees then gave Bane a flagrant foul for his pull on Okongwu and a technical foul for throwing the ball into him, leading to his sending off. Two days after the game, Okongwu was asked about the game and got it a merciless response to Bane’s actions.

“I can already tell he’s frustrated there,” Okongwu said. “He’s not having the best year. You know I’d be frustrated too if I was in the position he’s in there: watching, respectfully, Paolo and Franz filming everything. It’s nothing personal.”

Today after Hawks practice, I asked Onyek Okongwu and Mo Gueye about what happened with the Desmond Bain situation on Tuesday.

“Honestly, I didn’t know he hit the ball on my head until after the game.” – Onieka

“I didn’t like what he did to my teammate…” – Mo pic.twitter.com/ugE21rIk4O

— JJ (@JameelahJNBA) November 7, 2025

Although Okongwu said it was all respect and nothing personal, the response could hit Bain deeply. Bain’s last few games haven’t been the best, and Bain hasn’t shot much, while Paolo Banchero and Franz Wagner control the attack most of the time.

Okongwu may have stoked the fire with those comments, but everyone won’t know until the next time the two teams meet.

Onyeka Okongwu shares his opinion on Desmond Bain’s foul

Okongwu said he didn’t even know Bane made an extra move after taking him down.

“Honestly, I didn’t know he threw the ball at my head until after the game,” Okongwu said. “I went up to the scorer’s table and literally asked him, ‘Did they give (Bane) a technical foul? Really?’

After the play, Mouhamed Gueie was the first Hawks player to get in Bane’s face as he went to protect his teammate. Okongwu appreciated Gueie coming to his defense.

“That’s my guy, honestly. We don’t really like the Magic,” Okongwu said. “Honestly, they don’t really like us. He’s been fighting with them since last year when they hurt our players. I love Mo for that.”

Wit Krejci and Larry Nance Jr. were both injured in a game against the Magic last season, and some would say the Magic were the cause of the injuries. Since then, these two teams have not liked each other very much.