Okafor and Noel prepare for a season without Embiid
LAS VEGAS - It was an obvious question, one that most 76ers fans would like to hear answered: How does Joel Embiid's being sidelined change Jahlil Okafor's role heading into the season?
LAS VEGAS - It was an obvious question, one that most 76ers fans would like to hear answered: How does Joel Embiid's being sidelined change Jahlil Okafor's role heading into the season?
"It doesn't," Okafor said. "My role is to dominate. I'm one of the centerpieces of this team. So my role is the same."
Okafor was held out of the team's NBA Summer League game against the Boston Celtics Sunday at the Thomas & Mack Center so he could rest.
He had better cherish his time off. The role for the third overall pick in the NBA draft will be greater than most fans envisioned days ago.
Embiid, selected third in last summer's draft, will have a second surgery on his right foot and is expected to miss all of next season, the team announced Saturday night after The Inquirer reported the news earlier in the day. One source said the franchise is concerned that this setback is career-threatening.
Okafor and Nerlens Noel are determined to become a dominant tandem in his absence, but they won't forget about their injured teammate in the process.
"I know he's definitely disappointed," said Okafor, who said he learned Embiid would miss the season two weeks ago. "So I just want to be here for him. And I want to try to play for him as well."
Said Noel: "Joel's situation is obviously a frustrating one, especially with how good he's looked this summer in the gym. But I'm confident he'll have the best year of his life to get back stronger."
The Sixers have said they selected Okafor because he was the best player available after Karl-Anthony Towns and D'Angelo Russell went first and second in the draft, to Minnesota and the Los Angeles Lakers, respectively.
But its turns out the 6-foot-11, 270-pound center is a welcome stopper for what would have been an enormous hole without the 7-0, 275-pound Embiid.
"I think we can do a lot of great things on the court, especially with [Okafor's] versatility," said Noel, a 6-11, 228-pound power forward who was an all-rookie selection last season. "He can step out. His passing vision is definitely something that's going to be big-time for us."
So far, Okafor has been one of the stars of the summer leagues. The 19-year-old out of Duke had 19 points and a game-high 11 rebounds with three assists and two blocked shots Saturday in a 68-60 setback to the Lakers at Thomas & Mack.
He also played for the Sixers last Monday, Tuesday and Thursday in the Utah Jazz Summer League in Salt Lake City. Okafor averaged 14 points and 8.3 rebounds in the three games.
Even though he's a rookie, Okafor has displayed a refined offensive repertoire. The Chicago native can score in a variety of ways with his back to the basket. The selfless player also has a knack for passing out of double teams.
Noel, 21, is an athletic rim protector who proved after the all-star break that he can score in the NBA. He's an alley-oop highlight waiting to happen in pick-and-rolls and in transition. His shooting has improved.
"I think we can work well together," Okafor said. "We are excited about it. [General manager Sam] Hinkie is excited. We all believe we can work well together. [Noel] is a great player, so it won't be hard playing with him."
Hinkie believes the two will complement each other defensively.
"Offensively, I think both of their ability to pass, whether it's to kick it out to the perimeter to pass to one another as cutters, will be really interesting," the general manager said.
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