Jahlil Okafor. Raj Mehta-Imagn Images

Jahlil Okafor still dreams of an NBA return despite setbacks

By Matthew Evans | Last updated 10/17/24

Jahlil Okafor's latest shot at an NBA comeback was brief, as the 28-year-old center was signed by the Indiana Pacers on an Exhibit 10 contract, only to be waived shortly after, according to a team press release.

The move aligns Okafor with the Pacers' G League affiliate, the Indiana Mad Ants, where he hopes to reignite his career and work his way back to the NBA.

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

He briefly signed with the Atlanta Hawks in 2021 but was released before the season began. Since then, Okafor has taken his talents overseas, playing in China, Spain, Mexico and Puerto Rico.

Injuries derailed what was once a promising NBA career, but despite the setbacks, Okafor remains determined to return to the league.

During an appearance on Theo Pinson's "Run Your Race" podcast, the 6-foot-10 center opened up about his career struggles, admitting that at one point, he had grown "tired of the NBA." That led him to pursue opportunities abroad, including a stint in China with the Zhejiang Lions.

It was during his time in China that Okafor rediscovered his passion for the NBA, resulting in him returning stateside and joining the G League to gain exposure in front of NBA scouts.

"While I was in China, that's where the love of the NBA came back for me. Because once I got out of Philly, I didn't like watch any NBA. I just didn't want anything to do with it," Okafor explained.

"When I went to China, that itch came back to want to watch NBA games again. Like 'oh, I miss this.' After China, that's why I ended up doing the G League."

His rekindled desire to play in the NBA brought Okafor to the G League, where he signed with the Mexico City Capitanes. In 16 games, he posted impressive numbers, averaging 19.2 points and 7.5 rebounds on 70.3 percent shooting, only to have his dreams dashed by an Achilles injury that sidelined him for nine months.

Now, with a career spanning several countries and a painful Achilles recovery behind him, Okafor is ready to give the G League another shot with the Indiana Mad Ants. His goal remains clear: to secure an NBA contract.

More must-reads: