Four years in the making: Emeka Okafor’s journey of perseverance

April 15, 2013.

1765 days.

252 weeks.

57 months.

That’s how long it’s been since the last time 2005 NBA Rookie of the Year Emeka Okafor started an NBA game.

Then a member of the 29-52 Washington Wizards, Okafor started that game alongside Wizards teammates Garrett Temple, Trevor Booker, Cartier Martin and a 22-year-old John Wall.

Wall was only in his third NBA year and had yet to make an All-Star team. Martin was last seen as a member of the 2015 Pistons. Temple and Booker have bounced around the NBA. Only Wall remains with the franchise. On the bench that night for the Wizards: Jan Vesely, Kevin Seraphin, Chris Singleton and A.J. Price. None of the four are still in the league.

Their opponents on that night, the Brooklyn Nets, carried a respectable 48-33 record and were led in scoring by Andray Blatche and Kris Humphries (both had 20). MarShon Brooks , C.J. Watson and Gerald Wallace also started for the Nets. Tornike Shengelia played 25 minutes.

Yeah… it’s been a long time coming for Okafor.

Now 35-years-old, Okafor has had to scratch and claw his way back to the NBA after a four-year absence.

Okafor, a finalist for the inaugural Twyman-Stokes Teammate of the Year Award in his final year with the Wizards, could have held a valuable role on a number of NBA teams as a veteran leader but battled a myriad of injures late in his career.

Once an ironman playing in all 82 games three straight seasons, Okafor became an injury risk. A herniated disc in his neck wiped out his 2013-14 season and the long-term ramifications of the injury meant Okafor would go unsigned for the next three seasons. Okafor opted against neck surgery instead choosing physical therapy with the intention of playing in the league again. Teams and doctors alike were unsure how Okafor’s neck would hold up to the rigors of an intense NBA schedule.

Finally in May 2017, Okafor was given the thumbs up by doctors. The injuries were no longer a concern, now the only worry was finding a team that would take a gamble on someone who hadn’t stepped foot on an NBA floor in years.

Philadelphia took the gamble, signing Okafor on Sept. 25. After only five preseason games, Okafor was once again on the outside looking in as Philadelphia released the 35-year-old before he could return to a regular season NBA game.

Just a few days later, Okafor was given a second chance by the franchise, signing with Philly’s G League affiliate: the Delaware 87ers.

Okafor played well for Delaware averaging 19.9 minutes, 6.8 points and eight rebounds per game. The New Orleans Pelicans took notice and, ironically, when one of their big men — DeMarcus Cousins — was taken away via injury, they called Okafor.

Okafor suited up for the Pelicans on Feb. 3 and finally entered a game on Feb. 5, nearly four years after his last NBA appearance. Okafor played just under nine minutes but added three points and two rebounds in New Orleans loss to Minnesota.

Last night as the Pelicans embarked on the Motor City, Okafor got the nod. He would be starting his first NBA game since April 15, 2013.

To put into context the gap of time between Okafor starts, let’s look at his fellow Pelicans starters from last night: Anthony Davis, Jrue Holiday, Rajon Rondo, E’Twaun Moore.

When Okafor last started an NBA game, Davis was a 19-year-old rookie averaging a meager 13.5 points per game. Holiday was in the midst of his one and only All-Star season as a member of the pre-Process Philadelphia 76ers. Rondo was in the final of his four consecutive All-Star seasons as a member of the Celtics and would be traded to the Mavericks the following season. Moore was just 23-years-old trying to carve out his niche in the NBA.

Pelicans backup center Cheick Diallo was 17. Nikola Mirotic was still playing for Real Madrid.

Now the real kicker: the Pelicans franchise was still the New Orleans Hornets!

It’s been quite the journey for Okafor.

One of perseverance, determination and hard work. Okafor,  had one hell of an accomplished career between college and the pros, he could have called it quits but that wasn’t in his DNA. Okafor rehabbed and worked for four years for that moment last night.

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Even if this run with the Pelicans is brief — he’s presently only signed to a 10-day contract — and even if New Orleans is the last team to sign him and Okafor rides off into the sunset, you’ll never be able to take this moment away from him.

He did it. Even if it was four years in the making.

If you’re interested in learning more about NBA history, check out our NBA history podcast, Over and Back, and the rest of our great podcasts hosted on The Step Back.