This man may welll be among the top ten players in the NBA today and if you take a look at his stats from last night’s 80-72 win over the Washington Wizards you will get a feel for what I am talking about.
Okafor had 29 points on 10-15 shooting from the field and he was 9-17 at the foul line to go along with his huge 18 rebounds. This guy is unreal and he’s only been in the league for four years…..Part of that time was spent on the injured list. Give this young man a full 84 game season and I can’t see why every GM in the NBA wouldn’t be knocking his door down to get him to come over to their team.
Okafor is a real talent and you can take my word for it or just look at his overall 2008 numbers courtesy of the Bobcats web site:
2008-09 Statistics
PPG 13.1
RPG 10.90
APG 0.5
Born: Sep 28, 1982
Height: 6-10
Weight: 255 lbs.
College: Connecticut
Years Pro: 4
I listened to last night’s Bobcats game against the Wizards and I couldn’t leave this game because the ‘Cats were going to get another win. They are now (10-19) and after the terrible start, maybe they are going to get it rolling now with some of that defense that NotJimMelvin was talking about.
I know that Okafor will have to work on his free throws, the 9-17 won’t cut it in the big games or if they were to make the playoffs, but this team may ready to do something with Okafor leading the way.
I know they just beat the (4-22) Wizards, but every win is a must when you are watching the standings and trying to get back to the .500 mark. This could be a fun team to watch and especially to listen to from your car while riding down the road or while stopped at an intersection or while parked in your driveway.
You have to listen, that’s how teams win while you are tuned in and hanging on their every move. It worked for the old Charlotte Hornets, the 1983 N.C. State Wolfpack and for the Carolina Cougars of the old ABA. The local outlet for the Bobcats is 98.3FM, best heard while in your car. The Hornets were on 1400AM, the Cougars on 1470 and N.C. State was on 1400…..
Check out the Bobcats and Okafor, if his contract comes up for renewal again any time soon, this man is going to go for NY Yankee money. I think the ‘Cats were able to sign him to a short extension last summer when they re-hooked-up Gearld Wallace.
Okafor is the man, get ready for it and enjoy his time in our home state of North Carolina.
*****I must be on to something, here’s what the Charlotte Observer newspaper was saying on-line:(charlotteobserver.com)
Okafor shines in Bobcats victory
Big man finishes with 29 points and 18 rebounds.
Gerald Wallace scored 16 points Tuesday for the Bobcats, who overcame 42 percent shooting and 18 turnovers.
The Bobcats (10-19) mucked their way to an 80-72 victory, despite shooting that 42 percent for the game and 17 percent (3-of-18) in the second quarter.
The Bobcats finally freed themselves in the last 31/2 minutes, when the Wizards scored off one of their last five possessions.
If there was a saving grace in this one, it was Bobcats center Emeka Okafor. He finished with 29 points, 18 rebounds, four assists and three blocks.
Ever the diplomat, Okafor described the middle two quarters as “a bit choppy.â€
“Wasn’t necessarily the prettiest thing,†Okafor said, “but we got it done.â€
UConn pumps out NBA Talent/1st round draft picks almost every year. Emeka Okafor and Ben Gordon were the leaders of the 2004 National Championship team for the Huskies.