Just read through how Jahlil Okafor did last night in the Summer League. I'm not concerned about the score, just on HOW WELL HE DID. And so far so good!;
Jahlil Okafor outshines D’Angelo Russell, but Sixers fall to Lakers
July 12, 2015, 1:15 am
Jahlil Okafor had 19 points, 11 rebounds, three assists and two blocks in the Sixers' loss to the Lakers on Saturday night. (USA Today Images)
LAS VEGAS — Before NBA draft night in June, it was widely thought Jahlil Okafor would be selected second overall by the Los Angeles Lakers and D’Angelo Russell would be picked at No. 3 by the 76ers.
As fate would have it, the Lakers wanted a guard and got Russell second, and Okafor landed with the Sixers.
The two potential future superstars met Saturday evening in the second day of the Las Vegas Summer League in front of nearly 10,000 — mostly Lakers — fans at the Thomas & Mack Center.
Okafor had the better stats, even though Russell’s Lakers won, 68-60.
Okafor finished with 19 points, 11 rebounds, three assists and two blocks. He was 6 of 14 from the field and 7 of 12 at the free-throw line. This was his fourth summer league game and first in Las Vegas after playing three at the Utah Jazz Summer League in Salt Lake City earlier this week.
But Okafor wasn’t thinking about playing against Russell.
“He’s a point guard and he’s a big man, you really can’t compare the two,” Okafor said. “I am getting more comfortable. Not playing at that [Utah] altitude, I feel I had a lot more energy.
"I like it here in Vegas. Playing at this altitude is better. Playing in the altitude [in Utah] got me in better shape."
Russell had 14 points, eight rebounds and only three assists. He went 4 of 15 from the field and 6 of 9 from the charity stripe.
After playing in the Utah Summer League, Okafor had a turnover problem. It still seems to be a minor problem after he committed five turnovers on Saturday. Meanwhile, Russell had seven.
As for his overall performance, Okafor said he gave himself a B-minus.
“It’s a long process. I’m only 19,” he said. “I don’t know if it was big progress or small progress. It was progress. Any progress is good.
"I'm trusting the process. Any progress I can make, I will take it."
At times, he and his jump shot looked flat. But he also looked NBA-ready making two turnaround bank hook shots with under 45 seconds left in the third quarter.
Sixers summer league coach Llyod Pierce was happy with Okafor’s performance.
“I thought he was efficient. We did a great job getting him the ball in some good positions,” Pierce said. “He was just aggressive going to the basket. He went 7 of 12 with the free throws and had 12 free-throw attempts. That was great for him. We love to see him get to the line. That will improve his confidence.”
The Sixers' first three points of the game were Okafor free throws as he went 3 of 6 in his first three trips.
“I went back to my high school routine and started dribbling before [shooting],” Okafor said. “I talked to my trainer and he said try going back to what worked in high school.”
Welcome back, Pierre
Even though Okafor and Russell were making headlines Saturday, the Sixers’ Pierre Jackson deserved praise. Jackson played in his first game in over a year after suffering a ruptured right Achilles in a summer league game last July in Orlando.
Even though Okafor and Russell were making headlines Saturday, the Sixers’ Pierre Jackson deserved praise. Jackson played in his first game in over a year after suffering a ruptured right Achilles in a summer league game last July in Orlando.
Jackson, who had a homecoming, too, had 15 points after not playing the entire season — add to that the Utah Summer League.
Jackson grew up in Las Vegas and went to nearby Desert Pines High School northeast of the Las Vegas Strip.
“I was nervous as heck,” Jackson said playing back home in Las Vegas. “I got over it. I had a lot of family and friends here. I was forcing it a little in the first quarter. I loosened up a bit. Tonight was real fun.”
Jackson had a personal 8-0 run in the second quarter in a span of less than a minute. It was part of an 18-2 second-quarter run by the Sixers.
“I was feeling it,” he said. “I made a shots and Coach gave me a few more calls to do my thing. I was trying to spread the ball, that’s my job”
His coach also complimented his play as well.
“Pierre played great,” Pierce said. “You have to realize, he hadn’t played in over a year. He got it going in the second quarter.”
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