The Philadelphia Sixers are reportedly assigning security detail to their prized rookie center, this after Jahlil Okafor was recently involved in some embarrassing and dangerous off-the-court incidents.
Okafor’s camp is said to have made the request for a security guard to follow the big guy around.
The 19-year-old leading Rookie of the Year candidate is putting up 17.5 points and 8.2 rebounds for the 0-18 Sixers.
Per ESPN:
The request for security came from Okafor’s handlers, who asked the 76ers to make a security guard available to their first-round draft pick out of Duke. The Sixers did not return a phone call seeking comment, but two sources said the club will honor the request.
“A lot of teams do that for their players anyway,” a source close to Okafor said. “So from now on, the Sixers are going to have someone at his disposal full-time.”
Okafor, who leads all NBA rookies with an average of 17.5 points, took responsibility for his misbehavior in a series of tweets Sunday. Those close to Okafor have let him know in no uncertain terms that he cannot keep putting himself in positions where negative things can occur. […] “We’re all over him,” one person said. “It’s tough love and support. We’re telling him he has to learn from these things.”
