The Sixer Sense
Fansided

5 reasons why irrelevance of Philadelphia 76ers Jahlil Okafor is exaggerated.

By Bret Stuter

LAS VEGAS, NV - JULY 9: Jahlil Okafor #8 of the Philadelphia 76ers is seen at the game between the Philadelphia 76ers and the San Antonio Spurs during the 2017 Las Vegas Summer League on July 9, 2017 at the Thomas & Mack Center in Las Vegas, Nevada. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2017 NBAE (Photo by Garrett Ellwood/NBAE via Getty Images)
LAS VEGAS, NV - JULY 9: Jahlil Okafor #8 of the Philadelphia 76ers is seen at the game between the Philadelphia 76ers and the San Antonio Spurs during the 2017 Las Vegas Summer League on July 9, 2017 at the Thomas & Mack Center in Las Vegas, Nevada. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2017 NBAE (Photo by Garrett Ellwood/NBAE via Getty Images) /
facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
2 of 8
Next
PHILADELPHIA,PA – MARCH 19: Jahlil Okafor
PHILADELPHIA,PA – MARCH 19: Jahlil Okafor /

Altered states

Okafor is heading to a similar fate. In two NBA seasons, he’s been injured after 50 games. To be honest, I’m not quite certain how healthy he was for his second season. He was forced back into action when Nerlens Noel opted for surgery. Joel Embiid, coming off injury, was on minutes restrictions.  Okafor, himself coming back from injury, may have rushed back a little too quickly.  He clearly struggled more in his second season, and that knee plagued him throughout the year.

More from The Sixer Sense

Now we alternate between two versions of “reality”.  On one hand, Jahlil Okafor is simply not an NBA fit for the Philadelphia 76ers. On the other hand, others claim that Jahlil Okafor is not worthy of the NBA, period. Neither is correct. But ultimately, so many have already concluded that backing up to any version of open mindedness will meet strong resistance.

Raw defense is the new NBA rookie

In the context of Okafor not worthy of a career in the NBA? No. Try harder. I’m not going to validate that trolling with any reasons why it’s not sane.  Let’s just say that there are far worse players contributing mightily on NBA teams who will never face their NBA status questions.  So a young player arrives to the NBA raw on defense.

Shockingly, that happens all the time. And as you place greater and greater importance on recent NBA drafts, you will discover that players are arriving to the NBA even worse prepared for basketball defense.  So it’s not an Okafor thing, it’s an NCAA to NBA thing, and it’s getting worse all the time.