Jahlil Okafor issues an apology

It has been a rough few days for Big Jah and the Sixers, but the former Duke Blue Devil seems ready to acknowledge his missteps, and put his focus back on the basketball court.

He issued an apology, via his Twitter account, on Sunday:

It is important to remember that Okafor is still a teenager; one that is suddenly flush with millions of dollars and a constant spotlight. While that is not an excuse for his actions, it is also important to keep such things in perspective.

Hopefully, he is indeed able to channel his energy into a positive manner on the court, and avoid putting himself in precarious position off-court going forward.

Jahlil Okafor has a nice pass fake

Jahlil Okafor came into the NBA with extremely advanced footwork, and a plethora of polished post moves. One of his many moves is a pass fake from established post position on the low block. Okafor has pulled this move out a couple times recently, and it has proven effective.

Jordan Hill wasn't ready https://t.co/oZiv2OfK2F

— Max Rappaport (@MaxRappaport) November 19, 2015

Jordan Hill is still looking for the ball. Then, two nights later, Miami's Hasaan Whiteside fell victim to the move.

Okafor with that pass fake on Whiteside https://t.co/da9KruSCD3

— Michael K-B (@therealmikekb) November 22, 2015

You can see Whiteside pause for a split second as he thinks the ball has been passed to the perimeter. That split second is enough for Okafor to take advantage of, as he pivots in the opposite direction of where Whiteside is looking and gets a tough basket on the league's leading shot blocker.

Post defenders would be wise to keep the pass fake in mind when guarding Okafor on the block. Otherwise they might end up on the wrong side of a Vine.

When will the Sixers win a game?

This narrative seems familiar. The Sixers have started the season 0-12, and suddenly there is national speculation as to when, and if, Philadelphia's professional basketball will win a game.

The Sixers are six games away from tying the record for the worst ever start to a season, and it is becoming easier to picture them breaking that record with each passing performance. It is difficult to see where a win will come with the way the team has been playing, especially when considering that all of the team's next six games are on the road, which doesn't make the task of achieving a win any easier.

Via ESPN

You would think that the game in Minnesota gives them their best chance, but the young Wolves have been playing promising basketball led by almost-Sixers Andrew Wiggins and Karl Anthony Towns. Unless the Sixers can put together a consistent, four-quarter long effort in one of the upcoming road games, they may very well end up on the wrong end of the history books.

Barack Obama would like to own an NBA team

With his days in the Oval Office coming to a close, Barack Obama will soon need to consider L.A.P. (Life After Presidency), and figure how he wants to fill his days when he's no longer, you know, running a country.

It turns out that Barack already has some ideas.

"I have fantasized about being able to put together an [NBA] team, and how much fun that would be. I think that would be terrific," Obama told Bill Simmons in a recent GQ interview about owning an NBA team.

A lot of people want to see Jamal Murray on the Sixers

The Sixers badly need to add a franchise-caliber point guard to their rebuilt roster. Jamal Murray is a point guard. He seems to be pretty good, and a lot of people are already calling for him to be a Sixer.

The Sixers have up to four potential first round picks in the 2016 NBA Draft, so the team may very well have an opportunity to acquire Murray through the draft.

Jahlil Okafor is already the NBA's most productive post player

Jahlil Okafor wasted little time in establishing himself as one of the league's premier high-usage post players.

No one in the NBA has scored more points than Okafor off of offensive post-up opportunities this season, and similarly, no one has had more attempts out of post-up opportunities.

Sixers are the NBA's lone winless team

And then there was one.

The Philadelphia 76ers are officially the lone winless team remaining in the NBA.

The Sixers currently sit at 0-8, and with an upcoming stretch of games that includes the Thunder, Spurs, Mavericks, and Heat, there is no real relief in sight.

76ers Report: Jahlil Okafor's hot start

With the season underway, Jeff McMenamin and Michael Kaskey-Blomain also aim to get into regular season form with a new 76ers Report. This week, Jeff and Michael discuss the Sixers' slow start to the season, and share early impressions of Jahlil Okafor (Hint: they're good).

Listen to the new episode below, via blogtalkradio:






Catch up on past episodes of the 76ers Report here.

James Harden motivated by Allen Iverson

Like so many other kids growing up in the early 2000's, James Harden idolized and emulated Allen Iverson. Harden is now arguably the league's most dynamic, and best, shooting guard, just as Iverson once was, but 'The Beard' still draws motivation from 'The Answer'.

Jahlil Okafor has been very effective early on

Just four games into his young career, Jahlil Okafor is off to a solid start. The former Duke Blue Devil has been double-teamed in every single game he has played in with the Sixers so far (wonder if that is a first in NBA history), yet he has still managed to average over twenty points per game, and do so while shooting over 50% from the field. That production has put him in some pretty elite company. Only a handful of other players in NBA history averaged over twenty a game over their first three contests while still shooting 50% from the floor.

Image via CSNPhilly.com

The 19-year old has displayed advanced footwork, a solid touch, and even an adept ball-handling ability. Dude can lead a fast break:

Okafor running the break https://t.co/ddNqYQvH1M

— Michael K-B (@therealmikekb) November 5, 2015

Okafor is scoring at a historic rate for a teenager. In fact, only Kevin Durant scored more points over his first four career games as a teenager than Okafor did. That's not bad company.

(Click to enlarge)

I figured that Okafor would develop into a twenty-point scorer in the league, I just didn't figure it would happen so quickly. The way he scores twenty with what seems to be such ease as a nineteen year old now makes me wonder what his scoring ceiling could be. He has the potential to develop into a perennial 25 points per game post scorer, which is rarer than a Sixers win these days.

Jahlil Okafor is already a problem

Jahlil Okafor was doubled-teamed in the first half of his first game as a professional. Three games in, he is already providing match-up problems for some of the game's established frontcourt players. He employs a rare combination of footwork and  size, and he really know how to utilize his body to his advantage. He is a handful to defend one-on-one, and as he continues to develop there will be very few players across the league that will be able to do so without help.