Nets' Okafor expected to play Wednesday
The "Free Jah" movement may finally get its wish after a rough stretch.
Early this season, third-year center Jahlil Okafor vented his frustration with his lack of playing time as a member of the Philadelphia 76ers, after he logged a combined 25 minutes over two games.
Since he was traded to the Nets on Dec. 7, it's been much of the same, as he has appeared in just one game since his arrival in Brooklyn. The difference is, he's carried a more positive approach to his new situation, and Nets head coach Kenny Atkinson will soon reward him for his efforts.
"He's close. I'd expect to see him against Minnesota (on Wednesday)," Atkinson said of Okafor, according to Bryan Fonseca of SB Nation. "I think we'll start to get him some minutes. He's been doing a phenomenal job getting ready physically with our assistant coaches, learning what we're doing. Collectively, we feel like he's ready to get some minutes."
Having played a combined 48 minutes in three games this season, the biggest question mark with Okafor is his conditioning.
"It's not going to be 48 minutes right off the bat," Atkinson said. "We'll build him up and evaluate where he is physically and game-wise. Like anybody, you've got to earn it with play. Let's see it in small doses and hopefully build him up to bigger minutes."
Okafor is in the final year of his contract after having the fourth-year option on his rookie-scale deal declined by the 76ers, and will be an unrestricted free agent at the end of the season.
In his first two years in Philadelphia, he averaged 14.7 points and six rebounds in 26.5 minutes per game across 103 contests.