The off-court incidents have been piling up for Jahlil Okafor over the past month: first, an incident captured on video that showed Okafor getting into a fight with a heckler early Thanksgiving morning; then, a report that Okafor had a gun pulled on him in a previous incident; and finally, this morning’s report that the Sixers’ No. 3 overall pick in this June’s draft had been pulled over in recent weeks for driving 108 miles per hour in Philadelphia. Together, they aren’t a good look for the rookie.
On Sunday afternoon, Okafor apologized for his recent behavior in a series of tweets:
I hold myself to a higher standard than anyone else ever could and I'm not proud of some of my decisions over the last few months.
— Jahlil Okafor (@JahlilOkafor) November 29, 2015
I own my choices both personally and now publicly. At this point I am cooperating and respecting the process I have to go through.
— Jahlil Okafor (@JahlilOkafor) November 29, 2015
Going forward I don't want to be a distraction for my team and am grateful for the support and guidance those close to me are giving.
— Jahlil Okafor (@JahlilOkafor) November 29, 2015
I am 100% focused on my responsibility to the League, my teammates and fans.
— Jahlil Okafor (@JahlilOkafor) November 29, 2015
The recent incidents involving Okafor are surprising—going into the draft, he never had any red flags for maturity or off-the-court issues. He’s certainly saying the right things after the fact, and he’s only 19, so hopefully this is nothing more than a small rough patch where he’s made some bad decisions, and not an indicator of things to come.