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Report: Jahlil Okafor Will Sign 10-Day Pacers Contract; Last Played in NBA in 2020-21

Taylyn HadleyFebruary 11, 2025

INDIANAPOLIS, IN - FEBRUARY 4: Jahill Okafor #15 of the Indiana Mad Ants shoots over Ulrich Chomche  #22 of the Raptors 905 on February 4, 2025 at Gainbridge Fieldhouse in Indianapolis, Indiana. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2025 NBAE  (Photo by Ron Hoskins/NBAE via Getty Images)
Ron Hoskins/NBAE via Getty Images

Jahlil Okafor, who has not played in the league since the 2020-21 season, will sign a 10-day contract with the Indiana Pacers, according to NBA insider Chris Haynes.

Chris Haynes @ChrisBHaynes

Perseverance Update: Former lottery pick Jahlil Okafor — who hasn't played in the NBA in nearly four years — will sign a 10-day contract with the Indiana Pacers, league sources tell me. <a href="https://t.co/TuI74XMinH">pic.twitter.com/TuI74XMinH</a>

Okafor, the No. 3 overall pick in the 2015 NBA Draft, was selected by the Philadelphia 76ers. During his three seasons in Philly, he averaged 14.6 points, 5.9 rebounds and 1.2 assists per game while shooting 51 percent from the field.

He finished fifth in Rookie of the Year voting behind notable names like Devin Booker, Nikola Jokić, Kristaps Porziņģis and winner Karl-Anthony Towns.

The former Duke Blue Devil spent just one season in Durham before declaring for the NBA Draft.

Okafor started his career strong, averaging 26.2 minutes per game with the 76ers before being traded to the Brooklyn Nets in the middle of his third season. In Brooklyn, his playing time dropped to a career-low 12.6 minutes per game over 26 games.

Following his stint with the Nets, Okafor signed with the New Orleans Pelicans in free agency, where he played for two seasons and started 33 games. In 2020, he signed with the Detroit Pistons, who traded him back to the Nets the following year. However, Brooklyn waived him just five days later.

He was waived again by the Atlanta Hawks less than a month after signing with them in 2021.

In his final year with Detroit, he played in 27 games, shooting .618 from the field while averaging 5.4 points and 2.4 rebounds.

The 29-year-old has been playing for Indiana's G-League affiliate, the Mad Ants, where he was averaging 18.6 points, 9.0 rebounds and 3.3 assists per game.