The last time we saw Emeka Okafor on an NBA court it was April 15, 2013. He had four points and two rebounds for the Wizards in an end-of-season loss. He missed all of the 2013-14 season with a neck injury and has never bounced back.
Now the former No. 2 pick wants to make a comeback. Again. He talked about it last season and jumping on board with a contender, except none of them really needed him (and there was the whole “can he still play?” question).
Now Okafor is going to try to prove he can fit by starting back in the G-League and working his way up, reports Ian Begley of ESPN.
Emeka Okafor will play for Sixers' G league team with hopes of signing with an NBA team over the next few months, league sources told ESPN.
— Ian Begley (@IanBegley) October 14, 2017
Emeka Okafor, 35, was the No. 2 pick in the 2004 Draft & won Rookie of the Year. Hasn't played since the start of the 2013-14 season. https://t.co/RDApvnmpH5
— Ian Begley (@IanBegley) October 14, 2017
If Okafor is serious, this is the way he had to go. He has to prove he still can get around the court and make plays at age 35. He has to shake off a lot of rust and get his conditioning back up. A lot of things need to go right.
But if he can, there will be injuries, and there will be teams looking for front line depth. Maybe Okafor can have a role in the NBA again. I’m skeptical, but he’ll get the chance to prove himself.