Jahlil Okafor has been struggling, and the former third overall pick of the 2015 NBA Draft is trying to turn things around. His latest resort is to trim down, something that carries positive and negative repercussions.
So far, Okafor has not lived up to expectations. The former Duke standout has shown promise on the offensive end, but his defense leaves a lot to be desired. At 6-foot-11, he could be a great rim protector if he were not a step slow. Heading into the 2017-18 NBA season, he hopes to improve on that by losing some pounds.
Will the Vegan Diet work?
Weight plays a crucial role in the agility of any NBA big man. For the 21-year-old center, shedding off some fat could help him in faster positioning or swatting shots on the defensive end. Timing will still be essential for Jahlil Okafor, something that he may need to get used to.
Aside from being a rim protector, Okafor's rebounding needs some work as well. Last season, Jahlil averaged 4.8 rebounds per game, a dip from his rookie season which stood at 7.0 rebounds per game. But looking at his other stats, even his scoring took a dip. His playing time dropped as well, likely because the Sixers had a plethora of big men to use.
Lighter to push around
While there are positives seen with a more agile Jahlil Okafor on the defensive side of the ball, such a move could backfire on the offensive end.
Jahlil remains known for his frontcourt skills so losing weight may be a problem when he tries to bully his way inside the paint.
He could offset that by developing a better jump shot. Right now, most of his points come from the inside so a lighter weight may affect his efficiency in that department.
Period of adjustment
Trimming down does have its positive and negative impacts, meaning it all boils down to how Jahlil Okafor can adjust.
The 20 pounds he lost may not be much though it factors in heavily for a frontcourt player like him. Will it produce a better-playing big man this season?
The future of Okafor remains murky with NBA trade rumors still up in the air. The Sixers have not pulled anything yet though it may depend on a lot of factors.
That includes the state of health of Joel Embiid and the other guys up front.
There is also the game plan that head coach Brett Brown plans to use, one that may or may not include Okafor. A lot of factors come into play so Jahlil Okafor will just have to continue working on his body and his game and hope for the best.
Jahlil Okafor has shown promise and can evolve into a good player and be of use to any team. His maturity has been often questioned though his decision to look out for his weight could be one of many wiser moves ahead.
