Fansided

Jahlil Okafor pulled over for driving 108 MPH

By Phil Naegely

Philadelphia 76ers center Jahlil Okafor (8) shoots the ball in front of Cleveland Cavaliers center Sasha Kaun (14) during the first quarter at Wells Fargo Center. Mandatory Credit: Bill Streicher-USA TODAY Sports
Philadelphia 76ers center Jahlil Okafor (8) shoots the ball in front of Cleveland Cavaliers center Sasha Kaun (14) during the first quarter at Wells Fargo Center. Mandatory Credit: Bill Streicher-USA TODAY Sports /
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Jahlil Okafor is starting to make the headlines for all the wrong reasons in his first season with the Philadelphia 76ers.

It’s been a rocky season with the Philadelphia 76ers losing their 27th straight game dating back to the 2014-15 NBA season. However, they have a bigger nightmare with Jahlil Okafor and his actions off the court. First, he was involved with an incident outside a Boston area nightclub and has now allegedly been pulled over for going 108 MPH on the Ben Franklin Bridge as reported by Philly.com.

No one is immune from getting pulled over by police for speeding from time to time. However, most times it’s for going only five or 10 MPH over the speed limit. In Okafor’s case he was going well over the speed limit by being clocked at 108 MPH. Keep in mind that the Ben Franklin Bridge’s speed limit in normal conditions is 45 MPH and that reckless driving is considered anything 40 MPH above the speed limit.

Okafor is off to a great start on the court in his rookie season. He’s been bright spot on the court for the Sixers who are still winless this season. Yet, his off-court incidents are beginning to catch up with the rookie sensation. Both incidents are acts of stupidity and immaturity and things that can be easily fixed so they never happen again. Yet, he will have to face the music on both and there may be consequences to face down the road.

For now, Okafor appears to have issues off the court and needs a veteran to come alongside and mentor him to get through this rocky patch. There’s a clear reason why the Sixers drafted him in the 2015 NBA Draft, but if his off-court issues continue, then they may have not choice but to sever ties with the rookie.

Not winning games looks bad enough, but having a rookie (or any player) dominating the headlines for getting into a club outside a club or allegedly driving recklessly over the Ben Franklin Bridge is worse and needs to be dealt with swiftly. It’s been a season of bad news bears for the Sixers, but it could get even worse if Okafor doesn’t shape up and start acting like a professional in public.

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