I was one of Jahlil Okafor’s biggest critics leading up to the 2015 NBA Draft. A post-oriented big with some clear flaws on the defensive end, Okafor’s game simply didn’t fit the mold of what NBA teams needed. When it was announced that the Philadelphia 76ers, a team that already boasted a glut of talent big men, gambled on him at three, my concerns grew even more.
To save the suspense, we can cut directly to the point where my concerns were entirely valid. Okafor has flamed out of the Sixers’ rotation, failing to hold onto a starting spot alongside Joel Embiid while floundering when asked to come off the bench.