Call it a desperate measure if you'd like, but the 76ers are out to protect their investment.
Philadelphia has hired a security guard to accompany rookie Jahlil Okafor whenever he ventures out, according to ESPN.com. The No. 3 overall draft pick was involved in a pair of recent off-the-court incidents, including a street fight with a heckler in Boston and driving 108 mph on a Philadelphia bridge.
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"A lot of teams do that for their players anyway,'' a source close to Okafor told ESPN. "So from now on, the Sixers are going to have someone at his disposal full time.''
Okafor took responsibility for the incidents in a series of tweets Monday.
I hold myself to a higher standard than anyone else ever could and I'm not proud of some of my decisions over the last few months.
— Jahlil Okafor (@JahlilOkafor) November 29, 2015I own my choices both personally and now publicly. At this point I am cooperating and respecting the process I have to go through.
— Jahlil Okafor (@JahlilOkafor) November 29, 2015Going forward I don't want to be a distraction for my team and am grateful for the support and guidance those close to me are giving.
— Jahlil Okafor (@JahlilOkafor) November 29, 2015I am 100% focused on my responsibility to the League, my teammates and fans.
— Jahlil Okafor (@JahlilOkafor) November 29, 2015The 19-year-old rookie leads all first-year players with an average of 17.5 points per game.
"We're all over him,'' one person said. "It's tough love and support. We're telling him he has to learn from these things.''