Insights As Elite Star Still Eyes Dream of an NBA Return Despite Major Setbacks

Jahlil Okafor’s recent attempt to make a comeback in the NBA was short-lived, as the 28-year-old center was signed by the Indiana Pacers on an Exhibit 10 contract but was waived shortly thereafter, according to a team press release.

This move allows Okafor to join the Pacers’ G League affiliate, the Indiana Mad Ants, where he aims to revive his career and earn a spot back in the NBA.

Once a top draft pick, Okafor has been out of the league since the 2020-21 season, during which he played 27 games for the Detroit Pistons before being traded to the Brooklyn Nets, who subsequently waived him.

He briefly signed with the Atlanta Hawks in 2021 but was released before the season started. Since then, Okafor has played overseas in countries like China, Spain, Mexico, and Puerto Rico.

Injuries have hindered what started as a promising NBA career, but Okafor remains determined to make a return to the league. In an appearance on Theo Pinson’s “Run Your Race” podcast, the 6-foot-10 center shared insights about his struggles, revealing that he had once become “tired of the NBA,” which led him to seek opportunities abroad, including a role with the Zhejiang Lions in China.

During his stint in China, Okafor rediscovered his love for the NBA, prompting him to return to the U.S. and join the G League to showcase his skills in front of NBA scouts.

“While I was in China, that’s when my passion for the NBA came back. After I left Philly, I stopped following the league entirely—I wanted nothing to do with it,” Okafor shared.

“But in China, I started to feel that desire to watch NBA games again. I realized how much I missed it. That’s why I decided to pursue the G League after my time there.”

His renewed aspiration to play in the NBA led Okafor to the G League, where he signed with the Mexico City Capitanes. In 16 games, he delivered impressive stats, averaging 19.2 points and 7.5 rebounds with a remarkable shooting percentage of 70.3%. Unfortunately, his ambitions were hampered by an Achilles injury that kept him out for nine months.

Now, with a career that has taken him across various countries and a challenging Achilles recovery behind him, Okafor is eager to take another shot in the G League with the Indiana Mad Ants. His goal remains clear: to earn an NBA contract.