Jahlil Okafor made a three-minute cameo on Feb. 11, his first NBA action since the 2020/21 season. Okafor signed a 10-day contract with the Pacers this month after playing with Indiana’s G League club. Okafor, 29, was the third overall pick of the 2015 draft but found himself on the outside looking in after a stint with Detroit.
“It’s been a surreal feeling,” Okafor told Dustin Dopirak of the Indianapolis Star. “It’s been a long journey trying to get back and something that I’m very appreciative for and something I’ve been able to celebrate with my family. We’re all very happy about it.”
It remains to be seen whether he’ll receive another 10-day offer from Indiana but his excitement over wearing an NBA uniform again has not gone unn0ticed.
“He’s a great guy,” Pacers coach Rick Carlisle said. “He’s highly-skilled. He’s had a very productive year with the Mad Ants. He gives us insurance at the 5 position. I’m really happy for him. It’s been quite a road getting back to the NBA and back in an actual NBA game with some of the things he’s gone through health wise. He’s got a great spirit, a great vibe. He’s just a grateful young man.”
We have more on the Pacers:
- Pascal Siakam made his third All-Star appearance and enjoyed being around star players from other clubs, Dopirak writes. “I missed it because I felt I should’ve been there before a couple more times than I have,” Siakam said. “But it was good being around great players from different teams. I think sometimes it might be a little awkward and you don’t know how to approach them, but some of the guys are just great. Some of the guys you see and play against all the time, I think we have great convos. Just having fun at the end of the day. We do the same job. Obviously, we’re competitive and want to beat each other, but once we’re out there we’re just having fun and enjoying the moment.”
- Dopirak takes a look at six storylines surrounding the team after the All-Star break, including Tyrese Haliburton‘s production and Aaron Nesmith‘s impact on the starting lineup. Dopirak notes that Indiana is 16-2 in games in which Haliburton has scored at least 20 points. The Pacers are 2-8 in games in which he scored fewer than 10 points.
- ICYMI, Myles Turner is expected to play on Thursday against Memphis. He missed the last three games before the All-Star break due to a cervical strain.