The Sixer Sense
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5 Ways Jahlil Okafor Refined Philadelphia 76ers Process

By Bret Stuter

Nov 16, 2016; Philadelphia, PA, USA; Philadelphia 76ers center Jahlil Okafor (8) dribbles past Washington Wizards forward Markieff Morris (5) during the second quarter at Wells Fargo Center. The Philadelphia 76ers won 109-102. Mandatory Credit: Bill Streicher-USA TODAY Sports
Nov 16, 2016; Philadelphia, PA, USA; Philadelphia 76ers center Jahlil Okafor (8) dribbles past Washington Wizards forward Markieff Morris (5) during the second quarter at Wells Fargo Center. The Philadelphia 76ers won 109-102. Mandatory Credit: Bill Streicher-USA TODAY Sports /
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Dec 23, 2016; Phoenix, AZ, USA; Philadelphia 76ers center Jahlil Okafor (8) and center Joel Embiid (21) against the Phoenix Suns at Talking Stick Resort Arena. The Suns defeated the 76ers 123-116. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports
Dec 23, 2016; Phoenix, AZ, USA; Philadelphia 76ers center Jahlil Okafor (8) and center Joel Embiid (21) against the Phoenix Suns at Talking Stick Resort Arena. The Suns defeated the 76ers 123-116. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports /

Reason III: He arrived to the team that truly never schemed for him.

Jahlil Okafor spent one year playing for Duke University.  Following the NBA Draft, he was immediately thrust onto a roster with no true point guard.  Beyond that, the Philadelphia 76ers started the 2015-2016 season with multiple players too injured to suit up.  Even the normally calm and cheery head coach Brett Brown was too busy trying to patch together a starting line up, that scheming for Jahlil Okafor was tossed out the window.

Consider This Article:  Jahlil Okafor Trade May Happen Sunday Or Monday

In it’s place, Jahlil Okafor was given the reigns of an NBA team and told to score.  Just…. score.

Not only did he do so as a rookie, but he played well enough to be noticed by the NBA. In two seasons, the young man has played just 90 games.  That is just slightly more than one full season in the NBA.   But he earned a place on the 2016 USA Men’s Select Team, despite playing just 53 games in his rookie season.

More Reading: Jahlil Okafor to Chicago Bulls Or Portland Trailblazers

He tore his meniscus in February 2016, and that injury hindered his return through the beginning of the 2016-2017 basketball season.  Since the team had Joel Embiid, that delay pushed Jahlil Okafor to the back of the line in terms of playing minutes.

Even More Reading: Chicago Bulls May Be Front-Runners For Jahlil Okafor

But despite coming in at ninth in team minutes per game, he remains in the top three in terms of team scoring. And while he is noticeably not a fit in the team’s Space-Pace-Pass scheming, the team has been fairly weak in compensating for his slower tempo.