Okafor noted that Bryant made an impact on Okafor as a 19-year-old Philadelphia rookie, after Okafor had a well-publicized run-in with a fan in Boston after a loss to the Celtics. The 76ers were 0-16 to open that 2015-16 season. “I went through an incident my rookie season and had a lot of bad publicity,” Okafor said. “(Bryant) talked to me and told me not to worry about the outside noise, and let me realize that everybody makes mistakes. Just hearing that from Kobe Bryant at the time, because it was the first time for me being in a negative spotlight, it really meant a lot and took a lot of pressure off my back, having Kobe Bryant tell you that.”
Jahlil Okafor Rumors
All NBA Players
Position: C
Born: 12/15/95
Height: 6-10 / 2.08
Weight:270 lbs. / 122.5 kg.
Salary: $1,702,486
Born: 12/15/95
Height: 6-10 / 2.08
Weight:270 lbs. / 122.5 kg.
Salary: $1,702,486
Shams Charania: More tributes to Kobe Bryant’s jersey number(s): Denver’s Mason Plumlee from No. 24 to No. 7 — New Orleans’ Jahlil Okafor from No. 8 to No. 9, sources tell @The Athletic @Stadium.
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Will Guillory: I’ve been told Jahlil Okafor plans on changing his number in the near future to pay respect to Kobe Bryant. He currently wears No. 8. Not sure what his new number will be.
Will Guillory: Pelicans officially upgrade Zion Williamson, Derrick Favors and Jahlil Okafor to probable. JJ Redick has been downgraded to questionable.
