People watch Jahlil Okafor’s preternatural post game and think he just wasn’t made for these times.

That’s of course true and not true.

Outside shooting has never been more important with more and more teams playing outside-in, but low post scorers that command a double team can be transformative to an offense.

Okafor shot an incredible 66.4 percent from the floor despite a usage rating of 27.5 percent as the focal point of Duke’s offense. Okafor has counters for counters with his back to the basket in the post with a sophistication of footwork that some 20-plus points per night frontcourt veterans never develop over a lifetime.

There is a domino effect to the value of a low-post scorer in the NBA, but that effect typically stops if the player cannot and will not pass. Okafor is a willing and sophisticated passer and that’s what opens up high percentage looks in playing inside-out.

Okafor rarely was put into pick-and-roll situations at Duke, but his ability to put the floor on the deck and pass should offset the major deficiencies in his shot. Okafor shot just 51.0 percent on 194 free throw attempts. 

Okafor’s scoring and shooting compares statistically to Greg Oden’s season at Ohio State. Oden was more of a pure physical force and less nuanced than Okafor, but he memorably dominated both Joakim Noah and Al Hoford in the 2007 National Championship Game in the low post. Oden’s efficiency came in a far lesser degree of difficulty way, so these numbers from Okafor while creating for himself are outstanding. 

The style and assist rate for Okafor is closer to DeMarcus Cousins.

Unfortunately for Okafor, the defensive end of the floor makes him resemble Cody Zeller’s freshman season at Indiana. The metrics and eye-test on Okafor’s ability on defense is the largest concern for Okafor’s future.

Low post centers who can’t protect the rim force GMs to go into a situation in which they need to draw an inside straight in finding a rim-protector at power forward who can also stretch the floor. Those players are rare gold with Serge Ibaka being their patron saint.

There’s a belief and hope that Okafor will turn into an above average defensive player when his conditioning improves and that he simply learns savvy ways of using the physical tools of his wide frame, long reach and huge hands.

Unlike so many 7-footers who have so little barrier to entry to the NBA as a result of being a 7-footer that can reasonably run 94 feet, Okafor has a genuine love for the game. Okafor wants to get better and I would always prefer to bet on that over someone who blocks shots like Tyrus Thomas with his approach to the game.

Similarly, we’ve seen basketball savants like Stephen Curry and Kevin Love maximize their physical capacities once they’re in the full time, professional training environment of the NBA. Okafor is starting from a much better place than either of those players with his height and reach that compares to Dwight Howard. Okafor doesn’t have the measurable athleticism of 18-year-old Dwight, but there is a quickness and agility in his game on offense that should eventually manifest in a meaningful way on defense to at least become a net positive.