After nearly four years away from the NBA, former No. 3 overall draft pick Jahlil Okafor signed a 10-day contract with the Indiana Pacers earlier this month after spending the entire season in the G League with the Mad Ants.
Though he is only expected to be a third-string center behind Myles Turner and Thomas Bryant at best, Okafor still provides a lot of intrigue. Though he never panned out as the star center many thought he could be, it is not too late for the Duke alum to get his career back on track and become a mainstay in the league.
Recently, Okafor broke down the role that head coach Rick Carlisle has mapped out for him. Not only could this help revitalize his NBA career, but if it works out, it will provide the Pacers with a valuable asset that could improve one of their biggest weaknesses.
Jahlil Okafor is becoming a rebound-first big man
Recently, Okafor shed some light on what Carlisle's role for him on the team is. Interestingly, Okafor revealed that Carlisle wants him to "be a big body" and put an emphasis on rebounding.
"Be a big body," Okafor said of Carlisle's message. "He's kind of giving me a specific role, which I appreciate. I really haven't had an opportunity when I've had a coach tell me just to rebound. That's cool, and I'm hoping I get my opportunity."
At 6-foot-10 and 270 pounds, the Chicago native certainly provides a lot of size. However, despite his size, Okafor has never been much of a rebounder. This was even a concern many had when he entered the NBA Draft. His best rebounding season was his rookie year with the Philadelphia 76ers when he averaged 7 rebounds per game. Since then, he never averaged more than 5 rebounds per game (though this could also be because of the reduced roles he had as his career progressed).
Regardless, it is a welcoming sign for Okafor and the Pacers. Okafor is looking to complete his NBA comeback and stay in the league. As the team's third-string center, it will be difficult for him to have a lot of opportunities to prove his value. However, rebounding has long been a legitimate concern for the Pacers, and that trend is continuing this season.
On the year, the Pacers are averaging 41.4 rebounds in the NBA. This is the third-worst in the league and only 1.4 rebounds per game better than the 76ers, who are statistically the worst rebounding team in the NBA. If Okafor can become a rebounding specialist type, this will pay dividends for both parties, especially towards the end of the season.
It is important to acknowledge that Okafor is just on a 10-day contract. However, he has said all the right things so far and could be important to the Pacers' success. His story may not be over yet, and it will be worth it for Pacers fans to continue monitoring it.