Jahlil Okafor plays first NBA game in 1,367 days. Pacers reward 'loyalty' with opportunity.

Jahlil Okafor plays first NBA game in 1,367 days. Pacers reward ‘loyalty’ with opportunity.

Posted by author February 12, 2025 NBA

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INDIANAPOLIS — Calling Indiana Pacers center Jahlil Okafor’s path back to the NBA winding would be an understatement.

It’s been 1,367 days since the former No. 3 overall pick appeared in an NBA game. In the nearly four years since his last NBA appearance, Okafor has played in China, Mexico City, Spain, back to China and Puerto Rico, traversing more than 30,000 miles to keep his goal alive of returning back to the highest level.

With starting center Myles Turner (neck) out until after the All-Star break, the Pacers needed a big man. A potential deal with veteran center Alex Len fell through, so the Pacers decided to reward Okafor, a member of the Pacers G League team, the Mad Ants, with a 10-day contract.

“He can rebound. He’s a guy that can score, he can finish. This is a great opportunity for him,” Pacers coach Rick Carlisle said. “We’re taking care of our own here. There were other options, but we elected to bring somebody on board that has been with us for the entirety of the Mad Ants season.

“That’s loyalty to show to someone who’s shown loyalty to us, which is great. And I wish him the best.”

Okafor averaged 18.5 points per game on 70.4% shooting, 8.6 rebounds and 3.5 assists for the Mad Ants during the 15-game tip-off tournament portion of the schedule. In regular season play, he’s averaging 18.6 points per game on 66.9% shooting, 9.5 rebounds and 2.9 assists.

In Okafor, the Pacers are getting a 6-10, pound back-to-the-basket post player. Okafor is shooting 21.1% from 3 on 1.3 attempts per game with the Mad Ants, so his forte is definitely closer to the basket.

Once tipping the scales at 270 pounds, Okafor is noticeably trimmer. The former Duke Blue Devil has transformed his body to play a more up-and-down style. A lighter frame should elevate the lower-body injuries that plagued his professional career as well.

“He’s shown amazing resolve,” Carlisle said. “I know he had two knee surgeries and an Achilles injury. To come back from those and make his way back into the league and be in the kind of condition that he’s in. I mean, he’s really done some amazing things with his body, and I’m just really happy for him.”

Okafor’s first bit of playing time for the Pacers was largely inconsequential. He checked into the game with 3:22 left and the Pacers trailing by 18. He forced a Karl-Anthony Towns turnover on his first possession and contested a KAT 3-pointer on the next. The former national champion continued protecting the rim, altering an Ariel Hukporti driving layup and grabbed a defensive rebound in the final seconds of the game. Okafor finished with one rebound and one assist.

With another game Wednesday and Turner already ruled out, Okafor could see more minutes against the Washington Wizards. The Chicago native hasn’t been with the Pacers long, but his teammates appreciate the determination he’s shown to fight his way back to the NBA.

“He was one of the top players when I came in (the league),” Pacers forward Pascal Siakam said of the 2015 high lottery pick. “He’s so talented and obviously having a tough break and a lot of things, but he just kept fighting and that’s all it’s about.

“It’s amazing that he’s here with us. It’s amazing to see him out there on the floor, just because, for me, I watched his post-ups and things like when he came up… So, I’m happy for him to be able to get that opportunity. It just kind of shows that if you keep working and keep fighting and keep battling, you get your chance.”