I love Jahlil Okafor’s game, and everything about the kid — with that being said — his father, Chukwudi Okafor, is cleary inaccurate with this statement about his son.
The elder Okafor told TMZ Sports that “Jahlil is the best player to ever come out of Chicago.” I’m a Philly guy, but I’m clearly aware that such a list of candidates would include: D-Wade, D-Rose, Kevin Garnett, Isiah Thomas, Ben Wilson, Nick Anderson, Jabari Parker, Mark Aguirre, Quinn Buckner, Maurice Cheeks, Terry Cummings, Anthony Davis, Michael Finley, Anthony Davis, Tim Hardaway, Juwan Howard and Antoine Walker.
Those were names that I came up with just off the strength of my basketball knowledge. Imagine if I had researched all those great players.
Here’s is what Chukwudi said:
“Jahlil is the best player to ever come out of Chicago. My son’s absolutely the most decorated player ever from the city.”
J. Okafor — who’s only 19 — is already an NCAA Champion, 1st team All-American, 3x FIBA Gold Medalist, and has been the MVP of almost every game he’s ever played.
“Not many people can say that,” Chukwudi tells us, “actually, not one other person can say that.”
A few bonus thoughts from Chukwudi Okafor:
On his son’s college legacy: “He should go down as a legend at Duke. He brought them a banner.”
On which NBA team should draft his son: “We really have no control over where he ends up, but I’ll say this, I love New York and L.A.”