The Indiana Pacers and center Jahlil Okafor have agreed to a training camp contract, marking a potential NBA return for the former third-overall pick.
In a corresponding move, the Indiana Mad Ants, the Pacers’ G League affiliate, acquired Okafor’s Returning Player rights, signaling the Pacers’ interest in keeping the veteran big man within their system should he not make the final NBA roster.
Okafor last appeared in the NBA in 2021 with the Detroit Pistons. Since then, he has spent time playing overseas, with stints in China and Puerto Rico.
While his NBA career has been marked by inconsistency, Okafor has always been recognized for his low-post scoring ability, a skill that made him a standout during his college days at Duke and early in his NBA career.
At just 27 years old, Okafor still has a chance to carve out a role in the league, particularly as teams look for skilled big men who can contribute off the bench.
While he will need to impress in camp to earn a spot on Indiana’s regular-season roster, the training camp deal allows Okafor to showcase his abilities and potentially revitalize his NBA career.
For the Pacers, it’s a low-risk move that could add frontcourt depth if Okafor can rediscover some of the form that once made him a highly-touted prospect.
Jahlil Okafor, Pacers Agree To Training Camp Deal https://t.co/ax73BtvcK5
— RealGM (@RealGM) September 28, 2024
