The Sixer Sense
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Playing Jahlil Okafor’s Injury Smart is No-Brainer

By Josh Wilson

Feb 23, 2016; Philadelphia, PA, USA; Philadelphia 76ers center Jahlil Okafor (8) attempts to drive past the defense of Orlando Magic center Nikola Vucevic (9) during the first half at Wells Fargo Center. Mandatory Credit: Bill Streicher-USA TODAY Sports
Feb 23, 2016; Philadelphia, PA, USA; Philadelphia 76ers center Jahlil Okafor (8) attempts to drive past the defense of Orlando Magic center Nikola Vucevic (9) during the first half at Wells Fargo Center. Mandatory Credit: Bill Streicher-USA TODAY Sports /
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Jahlil Okafor has been sat the past two games due to a right shin contusion. That’s the only way the Philadelphia 76ers should be playing his injury.

The Philadelphia 76ers, like any NBA team, are subject to scrapes and bruises throughout the season. There are very few players in the NBA that can make it through a full 82 games without having to sit a few out do to minor, or even perhaps major injuries.

The Sixers started this season without Robert Covington, Nik Stauskas, Tony Wroten, and of course, Joel Embiid, all due to injuries. Throughout the year Jerami Grant, Nerlens Noel, and Robert Covington have all been players that have had to sit for a few games due to injuries. Just recently, even T.J. McConnell, the last Sixer standing who had appeared in all games, had to sit due to an injury of his own.

Jahlil Okafor collided with a player while setting a screen during a game, and suffered a shin contusion because of it. Okafor has sat out of the two recent games, against the Washington Wizards and Charlotte Hornets, due to this injury.

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A shin contusion is really no big deal in the NBA world. Before the days of being super serious about injuries in sports, any player probably would have played through something like this. But in today’s NBA, contusions like this can turn into something else easily if you put the player on the court too soon, and teams have picked up on that. Could Okafor (or any player) play through this? Probably, yes. But playing it safe should be the only option that the Sixers consider, especially given their big men’s past with injuries.

Philly is all to familiar with big men who are possible cornerstones of their future having to sit out for prolonged periods of time. Nerlens Noel missed all of his first NBA eligible season, and Joel Embiid, who is supposed to be one of the most talented big men in recent history, is now missing his second straight full season.

Yes, it’s just a shin contusion now, but what happens if the Sixers play Okafor through it and it gets worse, and turns into something that needs surgery? Obviously that’s a long shot, and being a little dramatic about the situation, but I have no problem with the team taking Okafor out and sitting him, especially when the team has already been eliminated from playoff contention, in March.

The Sixers had a premature return from injury turn on them earlier this season. Robert Covington came back from an injury to make his season debut, played one game, and then sustained the same exact injury the next day in practice, after it was likely aggravated in the game the night before.

Okafor, although expressing that he wishes he could be playing, agreed with playing things safe. “The medical staff is telling me not to play. If you know anything about the Sixers, and the medical staff, they’re super cautious and super careful about us playing with any injuries or any types of pain. With 20 games left, I’m just being super careful,” is what he told Brian Seltzer.

Next: Sixers Going Out Like a Lamb

They’ve got to play it smart with Okafor. There should be no other option.