The Philadelphia 76ers coaching staff did plenty for Jahlil Okafor. Don’t let him convince you otherwise.
One of this week’s more disappointing storylines came from Brooklyn, where former No. 3 pick Jahlil Okafor bashed Brett Brown and the Philadelphia 76ers‘ coaching staff. Here’s the quote, something that sparked some backlash from Brown himself:
"“That’s why I’m happy I’m here with the actual NBA coaching staff that’s taking care of me every day. When I was in Philly I was figuring it out on my own. I had my own trainer [Rick Lewis] that I’ve been working with since eighth grade working me out. But it’s a different level when you’re actually working with an NBA staff. — The New York Post"
Aside from taking petty shots at a team you didn’t like playing for, there’s a lot wrong with making a comment like that. We obviously aren’t inside the organization, but every indication is that Okafor is flat-out lying here.
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The Sixers’ coaching staff has been largely regarded as one of the best developmental staffs in the country. They turned T.J. McConnell, Jerami Grant and Robert Covington into everyday NBA players while keeping Joel Embiid on the superstar track despite missing two years of action.
Players tend to get better when they go to Philly, and the notion that Jah was left to fend for himself seems far-fetched.
The Sixers were also heavily committed to Okafor when they drafted him. They didn’t have much, but the entire offense was centered around getting him touches and letting him go to work during his rookie year. The coaching staff did everything they could to set Jah up for success, all while supporting him through multiple off-court issues.
His drop in playing time was squarely on him, to boot. Embiid is clearly a better talent, while Nerlens Noel, Richaun Holmes, Amir Johnson, and now Trevor Booker have all played at a higher level during their tenures in Philly.
Related Story: Sixers moved on from Okafor two years too late
Okafor got benched because he was the worst center on the depth chart, not because Brett Brown wanted to screw him over.
The root of Okafor’s comment, however, ties back to his conditioning. From knee issues to the general concerns that followed him out of Duke, that was always his biggest problem area. It’s also a problem area the Sixers addressed across the board.
Richaun Holmes and Justin Anderson were in the training facility all offseason trimming weight and adding muscle, something Okafor joined in on. He showed up to preseason in his best shape yet, and the Sixers had always made a concerted effort to help him slim down while he was dealing with knee troubles.
Okafor was clearly unhappy with his situation, and it’s fair to say the Sixers should have made an effort to trade him sooner. That doesn’t take away from the simple fact that these comments were spiteful — not informative.