Police will not investigate Jahlil Okafor for fight with Boston man
Boston police will not investigate a fight Wednesday night involving Philadelphia 76ers center Jahlil Okafor unless someone involved comes forward to say they were the victim of a crime, according to the Associated Press.
Okafor is playing against the Rockets on Friday night.
“It was definitely dumb on my part,” Okafor said, according to Keith Pompey of The Philadelphia Inquirer. “It’s something that I am embarrassed about." Pompey added that Okafor said he was “still dealing with the league and the team. But I’m not happy about it at all. But we are still going through the process of what we are going to do.”
“We are aware of the report and we are currently working to gather additional information,” the Sixers said in a statement. “Until that time, we will have no further comment.”
In a video acquired by TMZ Sports, the rookie was seen pushing one man and hitting another while someone attempted to hold him back. The fight started after someone told Okafor, “the 76ers suck,” according to the report.
Okafor also previously exchanged words with a heckler while out with teammates at a Philadelphia club in Oct., according to the Philadelphia Inquirer. As Okafor left, the critic pointed a gun to Okafor's head outside the club. No police report was filed but federal officers may have witnessed the incident.
According to the AP report, officer James Kenneally said that police responded to reports of a fight outside a Boston nightclub hours after the Sixers fell to 0–16 with a loss to the Boston Celtics on Wednesday. No one was arrested or charged because the participants were gone by the time officers arrived.
Okafor is 19 years old and each incident has ties to venues that serve alcohol, which he is not legally allowed to consume until he is 21.
Okafor was the third overall pick in this year’s NBA draft. He is averaging 18.4 points and 8.1 rebounds per game this season.
- Kenny Ducey
