Jahlil Okafor Improves NBA's Entertainment Value with Unique Skillset

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Getty Images

Things were trending downwards for Jahlil Okafor and his fans this year. Once the consensus No. 1 pick, Okafor fell to No. 2 in pre-draft rankings and ended up with the Philadelphia 76ers at No. 3. Some worried about his conditioning and free throw shooting woes, and doubts circled around that Okafor’s post-up heavy game was becoming obsolete into today’s NBA.

Okafor may not have assuaged all these concerns in Summer League, but he’s on his way there, and the manner in which he’s producing is great for basketball. Where everyone zigs, Okafor zags. The Golden State Warriors set the example this season for where basketball is headed – shooters everywhere, quick ball movement and lots of versatile defenders. Okafor doesn’t shoot from deep, he passes well but not quickly and looks like a pure center on defense.

Tuesday’s game against the New York Knicks put his unique talents on display. There were numerous times where Okafor ended up with the ball in his hands around the free throw line, and what he did from there is simply not something you see these days. In this position, I’d say 50 percent of NBA players go straight up with the shot; the other half go right towards the basket to get a layup, draw a foul or put up a floater. Okafor? He holds the ball for a few moments, surveys the defense, then backs down his defender and goes up for the tricky finish.

It’s great for basketball to have someone like Okafor come into the league, let alone as a top prospect. Variety is the spice of life, and the list of score-first centers in the league is pretty short. If Okafor gets his conditioning up to speed, he’ll be a new puzzle for NBA defenders to solve. Look for him to be firmly in the Rookie of the Year mix as the 76ers’ go-to player.

Casey Sherman is the Toronto Raptors Beat Writer for www.RantSports.com. Follow him on Twitter @shermham

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