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Okafor scores 20 points in summer-league debut for Sixers

SALT LAKE CITY - When the 76ers drafted Jahlil Okafor on June 25, they hoped that he would blossom into an NBA superstar.

San Antonio Spurs Cady Lalanne (26)  defends against Philadelphia 76ers Jahlil Okafor (8) as he shoots during the second half of an NBA
summer league basketball game Monday, July 6, 2015, in Salt Lake City. (Rick Bowmer/AP)
San Antonio Spurs Cady Lalanne (26) defends against Philadelphia 76ers Jahlil Okafor (8) as he shoots during the second half of an NBA summer league basketball game Monday, July 6, 2015, in Salt Lake City. (Rick Bowmer/AP)Read more

SALT LAKE CITY - When the 76ers drafted Jahlil Okafor on June 25, they hoped that he would blossom into an NBA superstar.

After a while, the 6-foot-11, 270-pounder center showed a few flashes Monday night in the team's Utah Summer League opener against the San Antonio Spurs.

Okafor finished with 20 points, nine rebounds and two blocks in a 74-71 loss at EnergySolutions Arena. But the third overall pick out of Duke had two distinctly different halves in the shooting department. He made just 3 of 11 shots and looked noticeably fatigued in the first half but sank 7 of 11 shots after intermission.

Okafor really took charge in the third quarter, when he missed only one of five shots. His first basket after intermission came on a layup to knot the score at 34 with 8 minutes, 53 seconds left in the third. His next two baskets came on jumpers.

"I just got more comfortable," he said. "I hadn't played a five-on-five since the national championship game [between Duke and Wisconsin]. So it's just getting adjusted, getting some of the rust out. Just talking with my teammates and just figuring it out.

"It's a process, and I'm excited about it."

In the process, the Sixers hope the big man will make quicker decisions than he did at times against the Spurs. He had four turnovers, with his last one coming in the clutch.

With his team down, 73-71, Okafor had a chance to knot the score, but he stepped out of bounds on the Sixers baseline with 6.1 seconds left. The Spurs held on to win by three points.

Okafor gave his performance a C-minus grade.

"I could have played better," said Okafor, who went 0 for 4 from the foul line. "That's all it is. I could have played better."

As his summer-league debut, this game marked a milestone moment for the Chicago native. He didn't let it show in his demeanor after the morning shootaround. The 19-year-old did not look like someone about to play his first summer-league game. He was as calm as a 15-year veteran.

"It's definitely not borderline on arrogance," said Sixers assistant Billy Lange, who coaches the team in Utah. "I think he's solid as a person. So he just doesn't get too up or too down. Then again, I've only been around him for one week.

"Again, [he's] 19 years old. Think about the things that we liked at 19, just wanted to be around our friends and play basketball."

So far, Okafor has been a great fit for the Sixers, even if he is the third center they drafted in three seasons.

His personality and selflessness should enable him to share time without incident with post players Nerlens Noel and Joel Embiid, assuming that Embiid (foot) is healthy enough to play.

"His heart is pure," Lange said of Okafor. "He loves the game. He loves just being around teammates. You can tell he just wants family atmosphere. You can see all that."

Former Sixers reserve point guard Casper Ware started for the Spurs. In October, the Sixers traded Ware to the Brooklyn Nets, who released him shortly afterward.

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