Section 215
Fansided

2015 Flashback: Five Worst Moments in Philadelphia Sports

By Somers Price

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Apr 5, 2015; Indianapolis, IN, USA; Duke Blue Devils center Jahlil Okafor (15) during the team press conference at Lucas Oil Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Bob Donnan-USA TODAY Sports

3.) Jahlil Okafor’s Off-Court Mishaps  

Right up until the night of the 2015 NBA Draft, nearly everyone in the basketball world figured Jahlil Okafor, the prodigal big man out of Duke University, was destined to become a Los Angeles Laker. With the Minnesota Timberwolves having penciled in Kentucky’s Karl-Anthony Towns as their first overall pick, Okafor was seen as the Lakers prize for having leapfrogged the Sixers for the 2nd overall pick. This was of no concern to Sixers fans, as they had set their sights on Ohio State’s D’Angelo Russell as the point guard of the future that was missing from the equation. In a draft night stunner, the Lakers selected Russell with the 2nd overall pick, leaving the Sixers once again in a predicament where their lottery misfortune would affect their decision. Despite reports suggesting that Okafor’s representation did not want Philadelphia to pick him, the Sixers pulled the trigger.

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For some time, it looked as if the Sixers had lucked out with the Lakers taking Russell instead of Okafor. The Duke product’s game was as-advertised throughout the summer league and preseason. His ability to score out of the low block was well beyond his years and he immediately established himself as the team’s top offensive option. There was the looming specter of how to incorporate Okafor’s game with fellow frontcourt mate Nerlens Noel, but his skill level was too advanced to have those types of concerns early on. On the court, aside from his struggles adjusting to the defensive end of the floor, Okafor was far from the reason that the Sixers started the season 0-18. He was their leading scorer and having to do quite a bit without having a legitimate point guard to utilize him effectively. After having never heard anything to suggest Okafor’s biggest issues would come off the court, an avalanche of stories proving otherwise came about.

"The Delaware River Port Authority Police e-mailed a statement to The Inquirer on Monday revealing that Jahlil Okafor received two citations after being pulled over for driving 108 m.p.h. on the Ben Franklin Bridge. He was cited for reckless driving and driving at an excessive rate of speed on Oct. 19, according to the statement. Four sources confirmed to The Inquirer on Sunday that Okafor had been pulled over for speeding. The normal speed limit on the bridge is 45 m.p.h."

The story of Okafor’s speeding incident came from Keith Pompey of the Philadelphia Inquirer.

While the flurry of stories chronicling Okafor’s off-court issues piling up, general manager Sam Hinkie remained silent. It was not until after the team finally won a game that the team decided to suspend Okafor for his indiscretions.

One could make a case that their failure to respond appropriately to the 19-year-olds mishaps was what triggered the league to take action and intervene in how the Sixers organization operates. The structure of the front office has minimized Sam Hinkie’s fingerprint on the team, as Jerry Colangelo has stepped in as chairman of basketball operations.

As it stands, it is more difficult by the day to envision how the Sixers will make Okafor work within the framework of their team. He does not fit the preferred pace-centric mold that Brett Brown is trying to incorporate and the team has looked more effective in its last two games with Okafor on the bench. His issues off the court, however, were a major stain on an already controversial organization and gave a face to the notion that the Sixers had gone about their team-building incorrectly.

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