Huge NBA Draft Bust Finds New Team

As the No. 3 overall pick by the Philadelphia 76ers in the 2015 NBA Draft, great things were expected of center Jahlil Okafor. But after a solid rookie season, it never panned out for him in the NBA, and he became one of the biggest draft busts of this century. 

Out of the NBA since 2021, Okafor will likely be continuing his basketball career with Spanish side Zaragoza, who are close to signing the 6'10" big man to a contract, according to Eurohoops.net. 

🏀 #MercadoACB El Casademont Zaragoza está tratando de cerrar el fichaje del pívot Jahlil Okafor (nigeriano)

— Olga Lorente (@OlguitaLorente) July 15, 2023

Now 27, Okafor followed his two+ years in Philly by also playing for the Brooklyn Nets, New Orleans Pelicans, and finally the Detroit Pistons in 2020-21. He tried his hand in China with the Zhejiang Lions in 2021-2022, where he averaged 14.9 points and 9.1 rebounds in 24 minutes per game in 10 contests. 

He arrived back in the Americas this past season, where he played for the Capitanes de Ciudad de Mexico in the G League, looking pretty dominant, averaging 20.5 points and 7.9 rebounds. Unfortunately, that wasn't enough to earn him a look with any NBA teams.

In his six NBA seasons, he averaged 10.4 points and 4.7 rebounds in 19.5 minutes over 247 games.

Photo: Rick Osentoski-USA TODAY Sports