Jahlil Okafor: ‘I do not take losing well'

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Jahlil Okafor appeared dressed for success when he sat on a stage next to Sixers president and general manager Sam Hinkie Saturday afternoon at PCOM.

The Sixers introduced the team's most recent draft picks, Okafor, Richaun Holmes and J.P. Tokoto to the Philadelphia media.

Okafor reiterated what he said on draft night: Philadelphia selected a low-post player who is a difference maker on the court and committed to winning at the highest level.

"Winning has always been my main focus," Okafor said. "I have always hated losing. I am a sore loser. I do not take losing well. I have always been about winning because I have been winning my entire life.

"I am excited to be here, and start winning some games. I have already walked around the city. I can see that the fans are so excited and so enthusiastic. It makes you feel really good, and you can't imagine what it will be like when we start winning."

On their way to a National Championship this year, Okafor's Duke team won 35 games and suffered just four losses. The 19-year-old credits coach Mike Krzyzewski for teaching so many things that helped him as a first-year college player, and hopefully as an NBA rookie.

"He was about winning.," Okafor said of Coach K. "He is the face of college basketball, so he helped me get used to being the face of a franchise.

"He has coached USA Basketball with all the NBA greats, LeBron James, and all the guys we watched in the NBA Finals. He was even a part of the Dream Team. He implemented characteristics of those teams to try and make me great, and hopefully I get to that level someday."

Okafor's family was on hand, including his father, Chuck Okafor. Dad said Jahlil's winning ways were a product of his son's commitment to hard work.

"It comes from preparation. He works so hard. I would be taking away from him if I said it [winning characteristics] came from me. He is determined to be the best, whether it is of people or players. He has been a champion at every level, so they [Sixers] got a great one."

Both father and son refuted reports that his agent, Bill Duffy, was one of the agents calling the Sixers Thursday asking they not select his client because he did not want to play here.

The smiles on their faces and enthusiasm in their words were convincing.

"No, we didn't do any of that," Jahlil Okafor said. "We were just trying to figure out where I was going to go. We raised the question that we didn't know which team I was going to end up with, but we knew Philadelphia was one of the possibilities."

"I just wanted him to be happy and go somewhere he was wanted," Chuck Okafor said. "Obviously, Philly wanted him. He's happy, and he was able to fulfill a dream he has had since he was a kid. I am thankful to the organization for helping him do that, and as a father I am just overly proud."

Both Okafors are on the same page when talking about dominant big men in the NBA versus the success of small-ball in the league currently.

"We never really had this conversation about small-ball before," Chuck said. "Think about it; we are in Philly. Wilt; say no more. It is a copycat league whether it is basketball or football, so they say it works for Golden State, and they had a good formula, but I don't think that is the norm."

"Even when I went to Duke everybody asked me, 'Why are you going to Duke?'" Jahlil said. "They don't have big men, and they don't throw the ball in the post.

"When I arrived at Duke University I was the biggest, and it was the same thing; people saying you don't need a big man. But for as long as I can remember big men dominated the NBA. Tim Duncan won it last year.

"People get a little excited because of Steph Curry, and what those guys do is great. It worked for them fantastic. But for as long as I can remember big men have been dominant and the result has been NBA championships."

Thirty-two years ago, the Sixers won a championship in a large part because of a big man. The city was enamored with Moses Malone back then and is ready to embrace such skills now in the 6-foot-11 Okafor.

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