Hoops Habit
Fansided

NBA: Rookies Who Appear Destined for Stardom

By Maxwell Ogden

Feb 20, 2016; Minneapolis, MN, USA; New York Knicks forward Kristaps Porzingis (6) greets Minnesota Timberwolves center Karl-Anthony Towns (32) prior to the game at Target Center. The Knicks defeated the Timberwolves 103-95. Mandatory Credit: Brace Hemmelgarn-USA TODAY Sports
Feb 20, 2016; Minneapolis, MN, USA; New York Knicks forward Kristaps Porzingis (6) greets Minnesota Timberwolves center Karl-Anthony Towns (32) prior to the game at Target Center. The Knicks defeated the Timberwolves 103-95. Mandatory Credit: Brace Hemmelgarn-USA TODAY Sports /
facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
6 of 9
Next
Feb 26, 2016; Philadelphia, PA, USA; Philadelphia 76ers center Jahlil Okafor (8) holds the ball away from Washington Wizards forward Jared Dudley (1) during the second quarter at Wells Fargo Center. Mandatory Credit: Bill Streicher-USA TODAY Sports
Feb 26, 2016; Philadelphia, PA, USA; Philadelphia 76ers center Jahlil Okafor (8) holds the ball away from Washington Wizards forward Jared Dudley (1) during the second quarter at Wells Fargo Center. Mandatory Credit: Bill Streicher-USA TODAY Sports /

Jahlil Okafor, Philadelphia 76ers

Position: Center

Age: 20

Drafted: Round 1, Pick 3

Slash Line: .508/.167/.686

Season Averages: 30.0 MPG, 17.5 PPG, 7.0 RPG, 2.3 ORPG, 1.2 APG, 1.2 BPG

Jahlil Okafor very surprisingly slipped to No. 3 overall in the 2015 NBA Draft. While their respective rookie seasons suggest Karl-Anthony Towns is the gem of this class, Okafor entered the selection process with what could only be described as a safe skill set.

Unfortunately, Okafor is expected to miss the remainder of the 2015-16 season after undergoing surgery on his torn right meniscus.

That doesn’t change the fact that Okafor has already proven capable of scoring at will, and protecting the rim at a decent level in the NBA.

Okafor is playing at a level comparable to Brooklyn Nets center and 2013 All-Star Brook Lopez. He’s putting up points in an efficient hurry, crashing the offensive glass, blocking shots, and protecting the rim at an underrated level, but fails to produce ideal numbers on the defensive glass.

The good news for Okafor and the Sixers is that he’s overachieved at the free throw line and on defense. He’s limiting opponents to a respectable 49.9 percent shooting at the rim, which is No. 3 amongst rookies, and helps to disprove the notion that he’s a liability on that end.

For what it’s worth, Okafor and Towns are the first rookies to average at least 17.0 points on 50.0 percent shooting or better since Blake Griffin in 2010-11, Pau Gasol in 2001-02, and Tim Duncan in 1997-98.

Next: The Phenom