The Indiana Pacers are signing center Jahlil Okafor to a 10-day contract, according to NBA insider Chris Haynes on Monday.
Okafor’s last NBA action came during the 2020-21 season, in which he suited up for 27 appearances for the Detroit Pistons. He recorded 5.4 points and 2.4 rebounds in 12.9 minutes per game.
The 29-year-old will finally make his return to the NBA. He will look to give the Pacers some depth at center behind Myles Turner and Thomas Bryant. Turner is currently listed as day-to-day with a cervical strain.
While with the Pacers’ G League affiliate, the Indiana Mad Ants, Okafor averaged 18.6 points and 9.0 rebounds per game.
Okafor was selected with the third overall pick in the 2015 NBA Draft by the Philadelphia 76ers. He spent two and a half seasons with the franchise, averaging 14.6 points, 5.9 rebounds and 1.1 blocks.
In December 2017, the 6-foot-10 big man was traded to the Brooklyn Nets. Across 26 games, he averaged a meager 12.6 minutes.
From 2018 to 2020, he spent two seasons with the New Orleans Pelicans, appearing in 89 games. During that span, he averaged 8.2 points and 4.6 rebounds, primarily in a bench role.
–Field Level Media
