Okafor Humbled In Historic Debut: NBA Game 'Faster, Bigger, Stronger'
PHILADELPHIA (CBS) -- 26 points. It was the second best NBA debut by a center in over 50 years.
So how was Sixers big man Jahlil Okafor feeling the morning after?
"I'm tired right now," Okafor said Thursday on The Dan Patrick Show.
As he should be. Big Jah added seven rebounds and two blocks to go along with his 26 points in 38 minutes on Wednesday night in a loss to the Celtics, marking the best scoring debut of any player in 13 years.
But it wasn't necessarily all hearts and rainbows for Okafor, who committed eight turnovers and struggled down the stretch, shooting 3-9 after making his first five shots. After the game, Sixers coach Brett Brown admitted fatigue came into play for the NBA's third overall pick, as Okafor adapts to the fast-paced NBA game.
Okafor agrees.
"When you put the speed and how much faster the game is---the 24 second shot clock---and then how much bigger and stronger the people you are playing with," Okafor told Patrick. "It's definitely a lot to take in when you're coming straight from college and it can get overwhelming, but that's why you have summer league and preseason to try to adjust as best as you can to get ready for the season opener."
The Sixers' center will, amazingly, turn just 20-years-old on December 15th and the Chicago native has settled into his rented unexciting Philly apartment.
"I have my room, I have a pretty open area for my puppy to let her run around and play," Okafor said. "Then my sister's room---I live with my sister and my niece---and I have a little basketball hoop in my living room that I shoot on. A little arcade game."
