Emeka Okafor, who has been away from the league for five years, has returned to the NBA.
Just before that, the Pelicans officially announced that the team officially signed a short 10-day contract with center Emeka Okafor.
After the fall of team center Cousins, their situation was precarious in the highly competitive West. In order to maintain the current ranking, but also to avoid Anthony Davis to fight against the risk of injury borne by meat shields. Thus, Emeka-Okafor became their target. Pelicans coach Gentry was blunt: "We just need to get bigger. Obviously, Okafor is big enough and can fight for the inside. ”
The 2004 show has returned to people's vision by chance. Power monsters, cappers, two pairs of machines, these keywords are the labels on Emeka Okafor.'s body. You may still have some impressions of him, but in the passage of time, more bits about him have long been blurred in people's memories.
In the 2004 draft, Emeka Okafor was selected by the Charlotte Bobcats with the second pick in the first round.
Before the draft, Tracy McGrady strongly suggested that the team choose Emeka Okafor with the top pick in his hand, but in the end, the Magic management picked out Dwight Howard, a high school student. This move made Maddy very dissatisfied, and made him more determined to run away.
This wasn't just Maddie's personal opinion, during that time, the vast majority of people believed that Okafor, who had more mature offensive and defensive skills, was a better choice than Howard. Because, Emeka-Okafor had a brilliant college career.
In his freshman year, Okafor broke Donyer Marshall's single-season block record with 138 blocks, and he became the first newcomer in the history of the University of Connecticut to rebound more than 300 rebounds in a single season. In his sophomore season, Okafor averaged 15 points, 11.2 rebounds and 4.73 blocks per game, threatening the box. In his junior year, Okafor led the team to a successful NCAA title. With 24 points, 15 rebounds and 2 blocks, Okafor uncontroversially scored the NCAA final four mop.
Ken commented on Okafor in scouting reports: excellent defensively, terrifying blocking ability, full of energy, positive attitude, and a reliable team player.
Saddled with expectations, Okafor began his rookie season. Okafor found his form in November 2004 and in less than two months he scored two-doubles in 19 consecutive games and 47 times a season. In November, December 2004 and April 2005, he won the title of Rookie of the Month for three times.
At the end of the season, Emeka Okafor played 73 games for the Bobcats, averaging 15.1 points, 10.9 rebounds and 1.71 blocks in 32.6 minutes per game, while Dwight Howard averaged 32.6 minutes per game, delivering 12 points, 10 rebounds and 1.66 blocks. Emeka Okafor did not disappoint those who supported him, and he deservedly became the best rookie of the 2004-2005 season with the data that surrounded the opponents with dwelt Dwight Howard.
That year, Emeka-Okafor was 22 years old. He became the star of the Fish Belly Team, the cornerstone of the interior line, and he was fanatically sought after by Bobcat fans, tasting endless scenery. But he couldn't imagine that the first successful season of his career, and the last one that would be his last, was concentrated in that year, and nothing was achieved since.
In the second season of his career, Okafor, who had gained weight, began to suffer from an ankle injury and missed most of the season. This became a turning point in his fate, and he deviated from Howard's growth trajectory.
On January 12, 2007, the Charlotte Bobcats beat the New York Knicks 126-110 away from home, and Emeka Okafor ruled the penalty area with 10 blocks, setting a single-game block record for Madison Square Garden. In the 2006–2007 season, he averaged 2.57 blocks per game in the Wei zhen penalty area. But throughout the season, he handed over 14.4 points and 11.3 rebounds, which is a small improvement from his rookie season.
In the summer of 2008, Larry Brown took over the Charlotte Bobcats' coaching seal. His first priority in office was to help the team renew Emeka Okafor on a six-year, $72 million contract. In the past four years, he has been the only three big men in the league's interior who have averaged two-doubles per game. However, the good times did not last long, and the Bobcats, eager to change after a season, sought to trade Okafor, and Larry Brown, who was unable to keep the tough man.
In July 2009, Okafor was traded to the Hornets. Okafor ended his best years, when the Bobcats were able to average two double-doubles per game, but he couldn't translate that into the strength to help the team rise.
In the 2010–2011 season, Okafor played in the playoffs for the first time in his career with the Hornets. In the series with the Lakers, in the face of the Lakers' front-line rush, Emeka Okafor's average rebounds per game fell from 9.5 in the regular season to 5.5, which was not enough.
People finally recognized Emeka-Okafor, and in a few years, he was no longer the man who could suppress the Magic Beast. During the Hornets' years, his playing time decreased and his stats declined. Emeka Okafor is just a blue-collar player with more than enough stability and insufficient outbreaks. In a system that doesn't have him at its core, his weaknesses on the offensive end can't make up for his strengths.
The accusations against Emeka-Okafor are too harsh, and he does not have Howard's enviable talent, but his professionalism is unquestionable. Okafor has always been diligent in contributing to the defensive end, conscientiously completing his own tasks. Once upon a time, he was also a well-known iron man, in the jungle of muscle fighting, and did not miss a game for three consecutive years. Until injuries destroyed him.
In the 2011-2012 season, Emeca Okafor began to suffer from injuries in his left knee, playing in only 27 games, averaging 9.9 points, 7.9 rebounds and 1.0 blocks in 28.9 minutes per game. At the end of the season, Okafor was sent by the team to the Washington Wizards.
The 2012–2013 season was Emeca Okafor's last relatively complete season. In 79 games for the Wizards, Emeka Okafor contributed 9.7 points, 8.8 rebounds and a block in just 26 minutes.
On October 26, 2013, Emeka Okafor was once again abandoned by the team and went to Phoenix alone. However, due to the problem of cervical disc herniation, before he could complete the contract with the Suns, Okafor was reimbursed for the season. He hasn't been able to get back on the field since...
From 2004 to 2013, he played in 590 games in nine years, averaging 31.7 minutes per game, delivering a record of 12.3 points, 9.9 rebounds and 1.71 blocks. The 31-year-old Emeka Okafor hastily disappeared from people's sight. Many people even really thought he had retired.
At some point, when the Bobcats, whose name has long been erased, Emeka-Okafor's name will pop up on the lips of old fans.
Where was that two-pair machine, cap maniac?
Did he retire from injury?
These questions are accompanied by a sigh, which makes people feel the ruthlessness of the years.
The world gave up on Okafor, but he himself did not give up on himself. In days when people are out of sight, Emeka-Okafor is actively battling injuries, training hard and racing against time. He didn't want his career to end in such a way.
In May 2017, after a long recovery period of more than four years, Okafor was ready and began contacting teams to try to return to the league.
On September 26, 2017, Emeka-Okafor's tireless efforts finally paid off for him. The Philadelphia 76ers gave him a chance to get into training camp.
In the youthful 76ers, Emeka Okafor is a full-fledged veteran, but he actually mingled with these children. On September 29, Emeka Okafor's 35th birthday, all the players celebrated for him. Okafor joked: "I'm 35, but I feel like I'm only 25." "He infects his juniors with his optimism, providing his own experience to help them grow. But of all the young people, he cared most about Jalil Okafor.
In fact, many people don't know that Emeka-Okafor is Jalil-Okafor's uncle. Watching his young nephew lax on the defensive end, the rigorous veteran was anxious. During the training camp, he supervised Jalil Okafor's defense and led by example to convey to him a message: the center can lack autonomous offensive ability, but must have enough deterrence on the defensive end to have the capital to base itself on the league.
In the face of Jalil Okafor's pain of gradually losing the opportunity to play, he also sent comfort. Along the way, Emeka-Okafor, who has tasted the warmth of human feelings, uses his way to relieve the anxieties of the younger generations.
Unsatisfactory was that before the start of the season, Emeka Okafor was still cut by the Philadelphia 76ers. But Okafor's belief remained firm, and after learning the news of the cut, he immediately joined the NBA Development League's Delaware 87ers to ensure his competitive form.
Finally on this day, the New Orleans Pelicans opened their arms to him. After five years, Emeka Okafor returned to the NBA.
Emeka Okafor, about to turn 36. The scenery that once overwhelmed the Magic Beast was an old thing thirteen years ago. Those cheers and applause, as if a beautiful dream of youth had long since dissipated in the journey of time. In five years, the environment of the alliance has changed dramatically. The glitz of the past is like a cloud of smoke, which makes his state of mind slowly calm down. Despite only getting a short 10-day contract, Emeka Okafor is thrilled that he finally has an account of his career.
Maybe in ten days Okafor will leave the league again, but at this point it doesn't matter. When the veterans of the long-neglected battle team overcome all difficulties and re-enter the arena, the legend has long exceeded the data and the victory and defeat itself.
Run on, Emeka-Okafor. This time, everyone applauds you!
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