12 People who turned their backs on the Philadelphia 76ers
By Tyler Watts
8. Jahlil Okafor
The 76ers drafted Okafor with the third overall pick in 2015, despite having Joel Embiid and Nerlens Noel on their roster. Embiid did not play in Okafor’s rookie season because of a foot injury. It allowed the 20-year-old to average 17.5 points, 7.0 rebounds, and 1.2 blocks in 30.0 minutes per game. Okafor finished fifth in Rookie of the Year voting in what would be his best NBA season.
The 6’10 big man struggled to stay healthy and quickly became part of a dying breed. He did not space the floor and played primarily with his back to the basket. Okafor could not defend on the perimeter and had less utility in a league where floor spacing and versatility were taking over.
He spent two and a half seasons in the City of Brotherly Love. His minutes decreased each year, and Okafor was not shy about his trade request. He wanted out, but the Sixers struggled to find a trade before finally dumping him on the Nets in Dec. of 2017.
Jahlil Okafor was a failed draft pick for the Philadelphia 76ers, but he turned his back on the organization by requesting a trade. Things got so bad that the franchise had to give the Nets a second-round draft pick just to take Okafor and Nik Stauskas. Brooklyn got Nicolas Claxton with that selection in just another small sting for the Sixers.