DENVER — Brett Brown has been in communication with Jahlil Okafor and doesn't think it will be long before he will return to basketball activities following Tuesday’s arthroscopic procedure to repair a slight tear in his right meniscus.
“He’s good,” Brown said following shootaround Wednesday. “We play text tag. He’s doing fine. I think he’s just looking forward to getting back and getting going on the court. It won’t be that far away.”
Okafor underwent surgery in Florida, performed by surgeon Dr. James Andrews and Sixers head physician Dr. Christopher Dodson. He will go through rehab in Philadelphia with Sixers director of performance research and development, Dr. David Martin.
“I’m not sure of the timeframe when we can get him back on the floor, but everything was positive,” Brown said. “It was a simple procedure, as we said, and obviously he’s not playing any more basketball in the NBA this year. But as far as doing some individual work, I don’t see it being that far away. I don’t know what that timeframe means, but the simplicity of the procedure makes me freely say that.”
The next opportunity for Okafor to play in a game would be summer league in July, but it is too early for Brown to say whether or not Okafor will participate.
“I’m not really sure,” Brown said. “My first reaction would be, I doubt it. I doubt it, but I’m not sure yet. I’m really not sure yet.
“I think I’m not prepared at all to say anything. I don’t want even my ‘I don’t think so’ comment take out of context. I really don’t think so, but I don’t know. We really haven’t given it in-depth thought yet. We’re trying to just get through this part of the year and be wise with how we manage the final 11 games.”
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Okafor averaged 17.5 points, 7.0 rebounds and 1.2 blocks per game in his rookie season.