Noel, Okafor join forces for first time on Tuesday

GALLOWAY TWP, N.J. - The 76ers will finally get an opportunity to see what happens when they deploy Nerlens Noel and Jahlil Okafor side-by-side.

The two big men will become the franchise's most important tandem on Tuesday morning at Stockton University. That's when the Sixers begin the first of eight training camp practices that conclude on Saturday.

The pairing of the two 6-foot-11 post players was among the biggest topics Monday when the team met with the media at Stockton Seaview Hotel & Golf Club.

"I'm definitely excited about it," said Okafor, the third overall pick in the NBA draft out of Duke. "I was able to watch Nerlens last year [and see] how much he improved. So he's definitely going to make me better at practice alone just playing against him.

"I think we will make each other better on the floor."

But that wasn't always the plan.

Noel was expected to be paired with 7-foot center Joel Embiid. The thought was that the Sixers would use their first-round pick in June on DeAngelo Russell out of Ohio State in complement Noel and Embiid. But the Los Angeles Lakers took Russell with the second overall pick, leaving Okafor for the taking.

As it turns out, the 275-pound center fills a huge need.

Embiid had bone-graft surgery in August to repair the navicular bone in his right foot. He will miss the entire season. That came after the former Kansas standout, selected third overall in 2014, missed what would have been his rookie season after surgery in June 2014 to repair a stress fracture in the same bone. A setback in his recovery process led to the second operation.

So instead of the much-anticipated Noel and Embiid Show, the Sixers will unveil the Noel and Okafor Combo.

"Jahlil is a great kid from the first time I met him, and he just has a great spirit," said Noel, who will start at power forward and be the backup center. "Just off that, you can feel there can be a lot of chemistry, just the way he plays the game. He's very unselfish and he will pass the ball to any young player and that will help this young team go."

Okafor is among the favorites to win rookie of the year. He averaged 18.5 points, 8.5 rebounds, 1.5 assists and 1 block in two games for the Sixers in the NBA Summer League in Las Vegas in July. A week earlier, the 19-year-old averaged 14 points, 8.3 rebounds and 1.3 assists in three games in the Utah Jazz Summer League.

Even though he's a rookie, Okafor has displayed a refined offensive repertoire. The Chicago native can score in a variety of ways with his back to the basket. He also has a knack for passing out of double teams.

He wants to "assert myself right away as one of the better guys in the league," Okafor said. "I don't want to wait and take a backseat to anybody and play the rookie card."

Noel, 21, is an athletic rim protector who proved after the all-star break that he can score in the NBA. He's an alley-oop highlight waiting to happen in pick-and-rolls and in transition. His shooting improved over the summer.

"The way he plays defense, that's going to help me out a lot," Okafor said. "I can learn a lot from him. Then on the offensive end, I demand a lot of attention. I think that will help him out a lot."

Noel's individual goals include averaging a double-double in points and rebounds and representing the Eastern Conference in the NBA All-Star Game this February in Toronto.

But the second-year standout believes chemistry and the passing ability he and Okafor both have will allow them to become a talented tandem.

kpompey@phillynews.com

@PompeyOnSixers

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