Sixers rookie Jahlil Okafor has found himself in a media firestorm lately after a string of troubling offcourt incidences became public. It all started on Friday when a video surfaced on TMZ allegedly showing Okafor punching a man outside a Boston nightclub who had been heckling him about the Sixers’ loss to the Celtics last Wednesday night.
Later that day, the Philadelphia Inquirer reported that Okafor had been involved in a previous altercation back in October during which another heckler allegedly pull a gun on Okafor after the two had been arguing in a Philadelphia nightclub. Then, on Sunday, the Inquirer dug up a more recent incident from earlier this month when Okafor was pulled over for reckless driving for allegedly going 104 mph on the Ben Franklin Bridge.
Okafor had apologized over the weekend for his part in the first reported altercation, but now that the other incidences have come to light, he decided to address them head-on via Twitter on Sunday afternoon.
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 No. 3 pick in the 2015 NBA Draft was considered by many one of the favorites to take home the Rookie of the Year award, but as the 76ers’ win-loss trajectory not only keeps moving steadily in the wrong direction and could ultimately land them on the wrong side of history, tensions have begun to boil over. Some critics have also suggested that a lack of veteran presence on one of the league’s youngest teams is at least partially to blame.
Sports Illustrated has reported that his fight in Boston will not be investigated any further by police, but it remains unclear whether he will face any further legal ramifications for the other incidents. It’s also unclear whether the Sixers organization has any disciplinary action planned for their prized rookie.
Regardless, it’s good to see Okafor taking responsibility for himself and expressing regret publicly, but he might also want to take it a step further and avoid the club circuit for a while and/or hire himself a personal driver. After all, as he told one of his hecklers, he’s got money. The Sixers are in Memphis to face the Grizzlies in a Sunday afternoon matinee matchup.
