Emeka Okafor is a former professional basketball player who played in the National Basketball Association (NBA) for over a decade. He was born on September 28, 1982, in Houston, Texas, and attended the University of Connecticut, where he played college basketball for the Huskies.
Okafor was selected as the second overall pick in the 2004 NBA draft by the Charlotte Bobcats. He made an immediate impact in his rookie season, averaging 15.1 points, 10.9 rebounds, and 1.7 blocks per game. He was named the NBA Rookie of the Year and was also selected to the NBA All-Rookie First Team.
Okafor continued to be a dominant force in the NBA, earning a reputation as one of the league's best defensive players. He was named to the NBA All-Defensive Second Team in 2007 and the NBA All-Defensive First Team in 2008. He also represented the United States in international competition, winning a gold medal at the 2004 FIBA Americas Championship.
In 2009, Okafor was traded to the New Orleans Hornets, where he played for three seasons. He continued to be a consistent performer, averaging a double-double in each of his three seasons with the team. In 2012, he was traded to the Washington Wizards, where he played for one season before being traded to the Phoenix Suns.
Okafor's career was derailed by injuries in the later years of his career. He missed the entire 2013-14 season due to a herniated disc in his neck and was limited to just 26 games in the 2014-15 season due to a herniated disc in his back. He was waived by the Suns in 2015 and did not play in the NBA for the next three seasons.
In 2018, Okafor signed with the Philadelphia 76ers, marking his return to the NBA after a three-year absence. He played in 26 games for the team, averaging 4.4 points and 4.6 rebounds per game. He became a free agent at the end of the season and did not sign with another team.
Throughout his career, Okafor was known for his strong work ethic and his commitment to defense. He finished his NBA career with averages of 12.3 points, 9.9 rebounds, and 1.7 blocks per game. He also had a career field goal percentage of 51.2%.
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