Whats the difference Between okafor and al jeffreson?

AL, gets his respect as a very good offensive big, but he is what he is, not a franchise player. Okafor, so young, has potential and may become an impact defensive presence in the future. A lot factors into how well a player turns out to be. Not just potential, but the team that gets their hands on him and molds him. With that said, while the Laker organization has had many great centers, most of those were free agent signings, not drafted and developed. I’m including Bynum here bc I do not think he really became a great center and Mikan was back in the 50s???

AL, gets his respect as a very good offensive big, but he is what he is, not a franchise player. Okafor, so young, has potential and may become an impact defensive presence in the future. A lot factors into how well a player turns out to be. Not just potential, but the team that gets their hands on him and molds him. With that said, while the Laker organization has had many great centers, most of those were free agent signings, not drafted and developed. I’m including Bynum here bc I do not think he really became a great center and Mikan was back in the 50s???

Well, the most obvious difference, which has been pointed out a lot of times is that Jahlil Okafor has about 1.5 inches of height and about 3 inches of wingspan on Jefferson. 

Also, you really underrate Jefferson, before his injuries in 2009, the guy was averaging 23 and 11 as a 24 year old. If Okafor can develop his offensive game to become as great as Jefferson’s (mid range jumper, free throw percentage to over 65%), he can probably average 27 ppg on over 50% shooting. I doubt that will happen, but I really hope it will, it would be terrific to watch.

If this does happen and if he doesn’t get much better on defense, his coach will have to find a way to hide him defensively, but he will still be very valuable for his team and I’m sure will be considered a franchise player. 

Well, the most obvious difference, which has been pointed out a lot of times is that Jahlil Okafor has about 1.5 inches of height and about 3 inches of wingspan on Jefferson. 

Also, you really underrate Jefferson, before his injuries in 2009, the guy was averaging 23 and 11 as a 24 year old. If Okafor can develop his offensive game to become as great as Jefferson’s (mid range jumper, free throw percentage to over 65%), he can probably average 27 ppg on over 50% shooting. I doubt that will happen, but I really hope it will, it would be terrific to watch.

If this does happen and if he doesn’t get much better on defense, his coach will have to find a way to hide him defensively, but he will still be very valuable for his team and I’m sure will be considered a franchise player. 

 okafor has much better bb iq, much more feel for the game, more size, better fluidity, more winning mentality…

 okafor has much better bb iq, much more feel for the game, more size, better fluidity, more winning mentality…

 Way better athelete too.

 Way better athelete too.

 Big AL isn’t really big for a center in the NBA. He came in the league 6’9, and likely grew an inch. I think Jefferson works decently hard on his body, he has kinda an akward frame his mid section and back side can get really fat compared to the rest of his body, if lets himself go. He also isn’t a good athlete or quick footed. Offensively his post game, how uses fakes and moves his feet is nasty as it gets. I think he is one of those players who has done the most possible with whats been given him.

Oakfor is underratted as an athlete with quicker feet, and physically can be a brick house. He is a legit 6’11ft with a 7’5 wingspand, and at the Lottery him being next to Towns he was just about as tall him. I was surprised maybe it’s because how big and wide he is makes him look less tall. He needs to work on his positioning on defense and  his jumper, but I don’t so why not that part of his game can really improve. He is one of the best post players I’ve seen coming into the draft.

 Big AL isn’t really big for a center in the NBA. He came in the league 6’9, and likely grew an inch. I think Jefferson works decently hard on his body, he has kinda an akward frame his mid section and back side can get really fat compared to the rest of his body, if lets himself go. He also isn’t a good athlete or quick footed. Offensively his post game, how uses fakes and moves his feet is nasty as it gets. I think he is one of those players who has done the most possible with whats been given him.

Oakfor is underratted as an athlete with quicker feet, and physically can be a brick house. He is a legit 6’11ft with a 7’5 wingspand, and at the Lottery him being next to Towns he was just about as tall him. I was surprised maybe it’s because how big and wide he is makes him look less tall. He needs to work on his positioning on defense and  his jumper, but I don’t so why not that part of his game can really improve. He is one of the best post players I’ve seen coming into the draft.

 Okafor is bigger, longer with a stronger base. I think he’s more agile too as evident in how quick his spins and baseline moves are. But besides that, I think the biggest difference is how they read the game.  Jefferson has never been a good passer.  For the majority of his career he’s been known as a black hole.  Once the ball touches his hands, he puts blinders on.  Okafor has a much better understanding at an earlier age. He assesses where the double is coming from, gets rid of it, reposts, etc. A scorer who knows how to take advantage of the defensive attention that he draws is much more valuable than a player who just looks to score.

 Okafor is bigger, longer with a stronger base. I think he’s more agile too as evident in how quick his spins and baseline moves are. But besides that, I think the biggest difference is how they read the game.  Jefferson has never been a good passer.  For the majority of his career he’s been known as a black hole.  Once the ball touches his hands, he puts blinders on.  Okafor has a much better understanding at an earlier age. He assesses where the double is coming from, gets rid of it, reposts, etc. A scorer who knows how to take advantage of the defensive attention that he draws is much more valuable than a player who just looks to score.

Why does everyone here make it seem like being compared to Al Jefferson is a bad thing?

Al Jefferson has been a good player his whole career, unfortunately hes never been surrounded by winning teams. And its not his fault, every team hes been on has been on rebuilding mode (Boston, Jazz, TWolves, Charlotte). Okafor should consider himself fortunate if he has career average like Jefferson (17ppg 9rpg). If Jefferson would have stayed with Boston and surround him with Pierce and Allen, I believe that team would still have won a championship much like what they did with KG.

Why does everyone here make it seem like being compared to Al Jefferson is a bad thing?

Al Jefferson has been a good player his whole career, unfortunately hes never been surrounded by winning teams. And its not his fault, every team hes been on has been on rebuilding mode (Boston, Jazz, TWolves, Charlotte). Okafor should consider himself fortunate if he has career average like Jefferson (17ppg 9rpg). If Jefferson would have stayed with Boston and surround him with Pierce and Allen, I believe that team would still have won a championship much like what they did with KG.