NBA Draft 2015: Which Rookies Will Start Opening Night?

2. Jahlil Okafor, C, Philadelphia 76ers

When the 2015 NBA Draft order was revealed, many expected that Jahlil Okafor wouldn’t be there when the 76ers would pick, nor did anyone expect Philadelphia, who had taken two big men in the last two drafts, to draft another one. Well as the unpredictable 2015 NBA draft would have it, D’Angelo Russell went to the Los Angeles Lakers and Okafor was there for the 76ers.

Rather than taking another player or someone who might have been more of a fit, the 76ers took the best player available in Okafor and didn’t let him fall into the hands of their division rivals, the New York Knicks.

With the 76ers still stockpiling young talent and needing help in multiple positions, it’s likely that Okafor will start opening night. With Joel Embiid suffering a setback with his foot and his future up in the air, the 76ers could boast a talented front line to start the season with Nerlens Noel and Jahlil Okafor.

While the fans in Philadelphia haven’t had much to be excited about lately, the thought of having two franchise big men leading the way up front for many years to come has to give them a product they will be finally eager to watch on a nightly basis.

Okafor will surely take his bumps going up against the league’s best each game, but having a developing Nerlens Noel next to him to have his back will surely help, and together the two will develop chemistry.

Where Joel Embiid fits in this remains to be seen, but one thing is for sure: the 76ers have a ton of talent up front and Okafor should be a starter from day one.

Next: 3. Mario Hezonja