"Holy s**t this random" - NBA fans abuzz over 6'11" Jahlil Okafor joining Pacers' training camp ahead of 2024-25 season

NBA fans were abuzz on social media upon learning that the Indiana Pacers signed former No. 3 overall pick Jahlil Okafor to a training camp deal ahead of the 2024-25 season. The move garnered mixed reactions since the 6'11" big man has not been on an NBA roster since the 2020-21 campaign.

As per NBA insider Shams Charania of The Athletic, Pacers officials were impressed with the former Duke standout in workouts this offseason and decided to give him an opportunity to earn a roster spot.

Fans picked up the development and shared their varying takes on Jahlil Okafor's Pacers deal. Below are what some of them wrote on X, formerly Twitter.

One fan considered the move very left field, writing:

"Holy s**t this random."

"'Damn I completely forgot about him!' another one chimed in."

"'Am I reading this right,' a user wrote to make sure."

Some fans, meanwhile, expressed their excitement and were actually rooting for him to succeed.

"'Big Jah working his way back. Love to see it,' one comment said.

"'Hope he does well he deserves a chance,' a fan wrote as support."

Then there were some who actually liked the move and see the Pacers benefitting from it.

"'Low risk potential high reward. I like it,' a user underscored."

"'I really like this move, and I hope he can find ways to contribute. I remember thinking he's dominate the league back in the day, but injuries and a lack of athleticism really took their toll on him,' another one wrote."

"Still another from a fan, 'The Pacers knew to jump fast for him. I think he could had help the Knicks.'"

Jahlil Okafor was selected in the top 3 by the Philadelphia 76ers in the 2015 NBA Draft out of Duke. He had a solid rookie season, averaging 17.5 points, seven rebounds and 1.2 blocks, earning NBA All-Rookie First Team selection in the process.

Inconsistencies and injuries, however, hampered his progressed after, leaving him bouncing around the league, with stops in Brooklyn, New Orleans and Detroit. In his last year with the Pistons in the 2020-21 campaign, he played 27 games and averaged 5.4 points and 2.4 rebounds.

Jahlil Okafor was last in action with the Capitanes de Arecibo squad in the Puerto Rican league.

Jahlil Okafor angling to make the cut for Pacers' center rotation

By signing a training camp deal with the Indiana Pacers, Jahlil Okafor is angling to make the cut for the team center rotation behind starter Myles Turner and backup Isaiah Jackson.

Interestingly, the Pacers added former No. 2 overall pick James Wiseman this offseason to a two-year deal from the Detroit Pistons, leaving Okafor's situation a bit tricky.

The Pacers finished with a 47-35 record last season, good for sixth place, and reached the Eastern Conference finals against eventual NBA champions Boston Celtics