Indiana Pacers’ new signing Jahlil Okafor offers insight into what role he will play for the team.
Despite making the 2024 Eastern Conference Finals, not many think of the Indiana Pacers as serious contenders for the NBA Championship this season.
A plethora of fans labeled the run a fluke. However, the Pacers continue to prove their doubters wrong as they hold the fourth seed in the conference.
The organization further bolstered their roster just before the All-Star break by adding 29-year-old center Jahlil Okafor to the roster.
The Pacers signed Okafor on a 10-day contract to bolster their No. 5 position as they need a big man who can rebound well.
Okafor, the former No. 3 overall pick, talked about his first impressions of Pacers head coach Rick Carlisle.
“It was a short practice, short and sweet, but very intense. The guys are very supportive of me, helping me if I didn’t understand anything, but I felt like I had a good practice,” Okafor said.
He further added: “The things he wants me to do is just to rebound and be a big body, that kind of gave me a specific role, which I appreciate.”
So far, Okafor has played one game in Indy, where he finished with 1 rebound and 1 assist to his name in a mere three minutes of playing time.
Prior to making his NBA comeback with the Pacers, Okafor had been out of the league for nearly four years as he last played during the 2020-21 NBA season.
Apart from dealing with injuries, not having a clear role on his previous teams has apparently been a major issue for Okafor.
“I really haven’t had an opportunity, where I just had a role that coach told me ‘just focus on rebounding’, so it’s cool and I’m hoping that its a good opportunity,” Okafor said of Carlisle.
Considering the Pacers are in desperate need of a rebounding big man, Okafor has a real shot at earning a permanent deal with the team.
