Former NBA no. 3 pick Jahlil Okafor arrived in Japan to reinforce the B.LEAGUE’s Levanga Hokkaido, which also feature Gilas Pilipinas star Dwight Ramos.
Levanga Hokkaido are bringing in a big gun, literally and figuratively, for the 2025-26 season of Japan’s B.LEAGUE.
Former NBA player Jahlil Okafor arrived in Japan Wednesday, August 20, as the team prepares for the upcoming season.
Okafor will join guys like Gilas Pilipinas star Dwight Ramos and Akatsuki Japan ace Keisei Tominaga as Hokkaido looks to improve on a 21-win campaign last year. The team announced Okafor’s signing in July, and his arrival in Japan coincides with that of Ramos, who is fresh from national team duty.
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The 6-foot-10 cager was drafted third overall pick by the Philadelphia 76ers in the NBA in 2015.
The former Duke star impressed in his rookie season, averaging 17.5 points, 7.0 rebounds, 1.2 assists, and 1.2 blocks in 53 games.
But things went downhill after that as he played he played for four more teams in the NBA before kicking off his overseas journey that brought him to China, Mexico, and Puerto Rico.
Now, the 29-year-old American looks to make the most of his second time in Japan, or since his played at the Tokyo Olympics with Nigeria.
“To all the fans, I’m excited to be here. I’ve hear only good things, about how passionate you guys are. So I can’t wait to be out there in front of you guys and show you what I got,” he said.
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AloJapan.com