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Duke in the NBA: Jahlil Okafor Signs with New Orleans Pelicans

By Kevin Connelly

INDIANAPOLIS, IN - APRIL 04: Jahlil Okafor #15 of the Duke Blue Devils reacts after a play in the second half against the Michigan State Spartans during the NCAA Men's Final Four Semifinal at Lucas Oil Stadium on April 4, 2015 in Indianapolis, Indiana. (Photo by Streeter Lecka/Getty Images)
INDIANAPOLIS, IN - APRIL 04: Jahlil Okafor #15 of the Duke Blue Devils reacts after a play in the second half against the Michigan State Spartans during the NCAA Men's Final Four Semifinal at Lucas Oil Stadium on April 4, 2015 in Indianapolis, Indiana. (Photo by Streeter Lecka/Getty Images) /
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The former Duke Basketball star, Jahlil Okafor, has floated around the NBA for a few years but now hope to have found a home with the New Orleans Pelicans.

The former No. 3 overall selection in the 2015 NBA Draft never seemed to settle into his NBA career.

Once the Los Angeles Lakers took D’Angelo Russell over Jahlil Okafor with the No. 2 selection, the Philadelphia 76ers felt obligated to draft Okafor as an insurance policy for their No. 3 selection in the 2014 NBA Draft, Joel Embiid.

Embiid had a host of injuries dating back to his days at Kansas, which carried into the NBA as he did not see the floor until the 2016-17 season.

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With Embiid off the floor for Okafor’s rookie season in 2015-16, Okafor excelled, averaging 17.5 points and 7.0 rebounds per game. The 2015 National Champion also shot 50.8% from the floor during his rookie campaign, en route to a spot on the 2015-16 NBA All-Rookie team.

Embiid returned to the floor in 2016-17 in limited capacticy and Okafor’s numbers took a dip. The Chicago native only averaged 11.8 points per game and his rebonds dropped to 4.8 rebounds per game.

As Joel Embiid returned to the floor with no restrictions in 2017-18, there was no need for Okafor on the Philadelphia 76ers. Okafor only player in two games for the 76ers last season before they traded him to the Brooklyn Nets, who ircially traded for D’Angelo Russell in that offseason.

The Nets now had the No. 2 and No. 3 picks from the 2015 NBA Draft, but they never saw any use for Okafor in their rotation either.

Despite never getting the time to showcase his skills in Brooklyn, when Okafor was given the chance, he excelled. In 12.5 minutes per game, Okafor averaged 6.4 points per game, while shooting 56.6% from the field.

Now moved on from Philly and Brooklyn, Jahlil Okafor has signed a deal with the New Orleans Pelicans, as ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski reported.

The deal is partially guaranteed for this season and a team option for the 2019-20 season.

Okafor will now be able to team up with former Duke Blue Devil, Frank Jackson, and perennial MVP candidate Anthony Davis.

Okafor will look to fill the void that will be left by DeMarcus Cousins who was injured last season with an Achilles tear and then moved on to the Golden State Warriors.

Playing alongside of Davis will be excellent for Okafor as he looks to jump start his NBA career as Davis is so dominant, the defense will be so focused on him it should free up Okafor to put up some gaudy numbers.

Jahlil Okafor and the New Orleans Pelicans have the potential to be a perfect match and time will tell whether the Pelicans can take the next step in a loaded Western Conference.

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