With that said I didn't have to deal with my son being a millionaire at 19. It may have been more difficult to keep tabs on him in that scenario. I'd like to think that i'd be more like KP's family cuz that's pretty much how we lived. We did everything together and that's what my kids are used to. It's actually new for them to spend more time with friends now, but they're mature and that makes a huge difference in their decision making. My sons are the ones who mentor their friends. My advice is don't let the streets raise your kids. Keep them close to you and let them see you and how you handle things and they will have better judgement. Of course this assumes that you as a parent are well adjusted and practical yourself.

Jah is getting taunted and poked at constantly. He's been a basketball god since puberty and has won at every level and is really taking it on the chin right now. He will be fine, he has some growing up to do.

I was skiing with buddies once. We were 19-20 range. After skiing some punks in a McDonalds on the road started some crap with us. I punched a dude in the face. I didnt get in trouble.. we bolted. It was stupid teen type behavior. Kid was only saying crap cause he didnt think the skinny kid from NJ would do anything. I could have and should have walked away. Im sure my poor upbringing would have brought up by idiots on the internet also but Im not making NBA millions in an era where every fart is recorded, youtubed, vined, tweeted, shared, instagrammed or viral.

ChuckBuck wrote:

dk7th wrote:

ActionJackson wrote:

ChuckBuck wrote:He doesn't though. Chucky Okafor is in for the bucks. His Auntie Mommie is nowhere to be found or heard from since the draft. Where are his sibling/cousins in his time of need? He doesn't have the support, ActionJackson. OK4 is simply a pawn of the raising of the star athlete system you've seen so many times before....
Where the fuq is Chucky Okafor? Dude done abandoned his "we got money" son. He played ball too...doesn't seem like raised his kid right. Classic exploitation move like you read about.

You mean this dude....seems like a proud supportive father to me.
http://heavy.com/sports/2015/06/chukwudi-okafor-jahlil-okafor-dad-family-nba-draft-duke-basketball/

Chukwudi Okafor, Jahlil’s Dad: 5 Fast Facts You Need to Know
Published 4:06 pm EST, June 25, 2015 Updated 5:01 pm EST, June 25, 2015 Comment By Laura Amato 1.7k

Chukwudi Okafor became one of the biggest names in the stands during this year’s NCAA Tournament, supporting, and sometimes dancing, for his son Jahlil and the Duke men’s basketball team. Okafor drew attention throughout the postseason for his custom-made t-shirts, usually emblazoned with his son’s face, and his vocal support of the Blue Devils standout.

Now, with Jahlil primed to be one of the top selections in this year’s NBA Draft, Chukwudi is back in the spotlight with reports highlighting the long path he and his family took to get to the Association.

Here’s what you need to know about the Chicago native:

1. He’s Been Jahlil’s Biggest Supporter Throughout His Basketball Career

Okafor actually met Jahlil’s mother while he was playing basketball for a junior college in Arkansas. She had played basketball as well, a standout high school athlete with a soft touch on her shot.

When Okafor took over the reigns of raising Jahlil, he became a bigger-than-life presence in the young boy’s life. As the Chicago standout started drawing looks from top-tier colleges, Okafor would make sure coaches posed for a “look away,” shot, a family tradition.

Jahlil talked about his relationship with his father to Fox Sports:

He’s been the greatest father for me. That’s how much he loves me, that he wanted to be a better person for me, so I have somebody to look up to. And a better father figure. That just shows the love that he has for me.

He stood next to Jahlil when he signed his National Letter of Intent to Duke. This past year, Okafor was also in the stands for Duke’s annual Countdown to Craziness and immediately dubbed himself a Cameron Crazy, taking selfies with the Blue Devil mascot and screaming as loud as any long-time fan.

Editor’s note: Can’t wait for the 2015-16 NBA season? OddsShark.com already has a full rundown of betting favorites. Click here to check out the list of contenders.

2. He Started Drawing Attention During Duke’s Run in the NCAA Tournament

Okafor, naturally, had been a big-time support of Jahlil throughout his freshman season at Duke but it wasn’t until the postseason, and the Blue Devils’ championship run, that he became a bit of a sideline sensation.

It was the shirts.

Okafor, who was frequently seen at games with his brother and Jahlil’s uncle, Emeka, sported some of the most original and interesting custom-made shirts the fashion-savvy world of basketball had ever seen. Almost all of them centered around Jahlil in some way and were, usually, the hit of social media.

He wore everything from shirts front and back pictures of Jahlil playing to another shirt that actually depicted his son imitating the Notorious B.I.G.

Editor’s note: Are you playing daily fantasy yet? Heavy’s partners at DraftKings are giving away $1 billion in cash prizes with no season-long commitment. Click here to sign up and play today.

3. Okafor Raised Jahlil After His Mother, Dacresha Lanett Benton, Died From a Collapsed Lung
(Twitter)
(Twitter)

Okafor first met Dachresa Benton, who he called Dee, when he was studying at junior college in Fort Smith, Arkansas. But their seven-year, on and off, relationship was not without its troubles and the same day that Dee found out she was pregnant with Jahlil, Okafor found out he had been expelled from school.

Not long after Jahlil was born, Okafor moved back to his hometown in Chicago. Then, tragedy struck. Dee had died, at the age of 29, of a collapsed lung after battling bronchitis and, suddenly, Okafor had to learn how to be a parent; again.

Okafor told Fox Sports:

I couldn’t play (around) any longer. From that point my life was never, ever about me again. And that’s to this day. It has never been about me at all. It’s always been about my children at that point. Any weaknesses that I had growing up – whether it was me following the crowd or getting into trouble, or me as a basketball player and not having a left hand – I didn’t want any of my weaknesses to be his weaknesses.

He flew to Arkansas and stood with a then-nine-year-old Jahlil while he read a poem for his mother at the funeral. He brought his family back to Chicago and, over the next decade became one of the sports world’s most dedicated and present fathers.

4. He Staged a Video Claiming Jahlil Should Have Been National Player of the Year

Never one to shy away from a bit of attention, Chukwudi took questions from a different kind of media member after Duke defeated Michigan State in the Final Four earlier this year. In fact, the questions came from Chukwudi’s brother, Emeka.

The subject matter? Jahlil, of course. Or rather, Jahlil’s alleged slight at not being named National Player of the Year.

The Okafor’s staged their impromtu press conference in front of the Duke locker room after the Blue Devils’ victory and Jahlil can be heard, on video, saying, “Yes, I am the father of Jahlil, who should have been National Player of the Year.”

Wisconsin’s Frank Kaminsky won the award, just days before Okafor and Duke defeated him and the Badgers in the National Championship game.

Deme Morales, Frank Kaminsky’s Girlfriend: 5 Fast Facts You Need to Know
Morales was a standout volleyball player at Wisconsin for four seasons and has dated the Badgers basketball star for over a year.

Click here to read more
5. In April, He Said Jahlil Is the ‘Best Player to Ever Come Out of Chicago’
INDIANAPOLIS, IN - APRIL 06: Jahlil Okafor #15 of the Duke Blue Devils cuts down the net after defeating the Wisconsin Badgers during the NCAA Men's Final Four National Championship at Lucas Oil Stadium on April 6, 2015 in Indianapolis, Indiana. Duke defeated Wisconsin 68-63.(Photo by Streeter Lecka/Getty Images)
(Getty)

The nets had only just recently been cut on Duke’s National Championship when Chukwudi added another headline to the mix, telling TMZ Sports:

Jahlil is the best player to ever come out of Chicago. My son’s absolutely the most decorated player ever from the city. He should go down as a Duke legend. He brought them a banner.

There is some merit to Chukwudi’s claim. After all, at just 19 years old, Jahlil is already an NCAA champion, first-team All-America, 3-time FIBA Gold Medalist and a finalist for National Player of the Year. However, he is also not Michael Jordan whose name is still synonymous with Chicago sports or NBA champions Dwayne Wade or Kevin Garnett, who played high school hoops in the city.

sounds very much like an opportunistic, out of touch stage parent. all the "support" he has provided still smells like exploitation.

Yup. Show a good face, say all the right things...when the chips are down, where the FUQ is Chucky Okafor? Where is he now and why is your 19 year kid going out to clubs and bars when he can't even legally drink?

Chucky Okafor...lead nominee for Bad Parent of the year.

your making presumptions based on your bias and connecting the dots to reach were you want to.
Really, what do you know?

Bad parent? Kid got to duke on a basketball scholarship and seems like he did a good job. Kid got caught speeding stupid, but nothing happened.
Kid got into a fight and perhaps worse it was on TMZ. Nobody said it was a smart thing but your indicting his family.

Of course, compared to our fair haired Latvian god and his super uber family whose family business is called "Kristaps is a Knick and company" how can he even compare?

BTW, where was Spree's parents when he needed them?

Nalod wrote:Kid got caught speeding stupid, but nothing happened.

Explain to me the line between something happening and something not happening that reflect positively on him?

If he loses control, which is easy to do driving 120, THEN is he just misunderstood?

The difference between being an okay guy and a murderer is good driving skills?

fishmike wrote:

bigbasketballs wrote:

Nalod wrote:Kid got caught speeding stupid, but nothing happened.

Explain to me the line between something happening and something not happening that reflect positively on him?

If he loses control, which is easy to do driving 120, THEN is he just misunderstood?

The difference between being an okay guy and a murderer is good driving skills?

wow... somehow translating a 19 year old's hot dogging in his sportscar to murder is an epic stretch. Its reckless driving. Wasnt it like 2am?

If he lost control and slammed into another car at 120, what would I be mischaracterizing?

When we first heard Porzingis and heard him speak pretty darn near perfect English, I knew he was something special as a person. Can't explain in detail why mastery of a foreign language is important, but figure it out, it is.

Nalod wrote:

ChuckBuck wrote:

dk7th wrote:

ActionJackson wrote:

ChuckBuck wrote:He doesn't though. Chucky Okafor is in for the bucks. His Auntie Mommie is nowhere to be found or heard from since the draft. Where are his sibling/cousins in his time of need? He doesn't have the support, ActionJackson. OK4 is simply a pawn of the raising of the star athlete system you've seen so many times before....
Where the fuq is Chucky Okafor? Dude done abandoned his "we got money" son. He played ball too...doesn't seem like raised his kid right. Classic exploitation move like you read about.

You mean this dude....seems like a proud supportive father to me.
http://heavy.com/sports/2015/06/chukwudi-okafor-jahlil-okafor-dad-family-nba-draft-duke-basketball/

Chukwudi Okafor, Jahlil’s Dad: 5 Fast Facts You Need to Know
Published 4:06 pm EST, June 25, 2015 Updated 5:01 pm EST, June 25, 2015 Comment By Laura Amato 1.7k

Chukwudi Okafor became one of the biggest names in the stands during this year’s NCAA Tournament, supporting, and sometimes dancing, for his son Jahlil and the Duke men’s basketball team. Okafor drew attention throughout the postseason for his custom-made t-shirts, usually emblazoned with his son’s face, and his vocal support of the Blue Devils standout.

Now, with Jahlil primed to be one of the top selections in this year’s NBA Draft, Chukwudi is back in the spotlight with reports highlighting the long path he and his family took to get to the Association.

Here’s what you need to know about the Chicago native:

1. He’s Been Jahlil’s Biggest Supporter Throughout His Basketball Career

Okafor actually met Jahlil’s mother while he was playing basketball for a junior college in Arkansas. She had played basketball as well, a standout high school athlete with a soft touch on her shot.

When Okafor took over the reigns of raising Jahlil, he became a bigger-than-life presence in the young boy’s life. As the Chicago standout started drawing looks from top-tier colleges, Okafor would make sure coaches posed for a “look away,” shot, a family tradition.

Jahlil talked about his relationship with his father to Fox Sports:

He’s been the greatest father for me. That’s how much he loves me, that he wanted to be a better person for me, so I have somebody to look up to. And a better father figure. That just shows the love that he has for me.

He stood next to Jahlil when he signed his National Letter of Intent to Duke. This past year, Okafor was also in the stands for Duke’s annual Countdown to Craziness and immediately dubbed himself a Cameron Crazy, taking selfies with the Blue Devil mascot and screaming as loud as any long-time fan.

Editor’s note: Can’t wait for the 2015-16 NBA season? OddsShark.com already has a full rundown of betting favorites. Click here to check out the list of contenders.

2. He Started Drawing Attention During Duke’s Run in the NCAA Tournament

Okafor, naturally, had been a big-time support of Jahlil throughout his freshman season at Duke but it wasn’t until the postseason, and the Blue Devils’ championship run, that he became a bit of a sideline sensation.

It was the shirts.

Okafor, who was frequently seen at games with his brother and Jahlil’s uncle, Emeka, sported some of the most original and interesting custom-made shirts the fashion-savvy world of basketball had ever seen. Almost all of them centered around Jahlil in some way and were, usually, the hit of social media.

He wore everything from shirts front and back pictures of Jahlil playing to another shirt that actually depicted his son imitating the Notorious B.I.G.

Editor’s note: Are you playing daily fantasy yet? Heavy’s partners at DraftKings are giving away $1 billion in cash prizes with no season-long commitment. Click here to sign up and play today.

3. Okafor Raised Jahlil After His Mother, Dacresha Lanett Benton, Died From a Collapsed Lung
(Twitter)
(Twitter)

Okafor first met Dachresa Benton, who he called Dee, when he was studying at junior college in Fort Smith, Arkansas. But their seven-year, on and off, relationship was not without its troubles and the same day that Dee found out she was pregnant with Jahlil, Okafor found out he had been expelled from school.

Not long after Jahlil was born, Okafor moved back to his hometown in Chicago. Then, tragedy struck. Dee had died, at the age of 29, of a collapsed lung after battling bronchitis and, suddenly, Okafor had to learn how to be a parent; again.

Okafor told Fox Sports:

I couldn’t play (around) any longer. From that point my life was never, ever about me again. And that’s to this day. It has never been about me at all. It’s always been about my children at that point. Any weaknesses that I had growing up – whether it was me following the crowd or getting into trouble, or me as a basketball player and not having a left hand – I didn’t want any of my weaknesses to be his weaknesses.

He flew to Arkansas and stood with a then-nine-year-old Jahlil while he read a poem for his mother at the funeral. He brought his family back to Chicago and, over the next decade became one of the sports world’s most dedicated and present fathers.

4. He Staged a Video Claiming Jahlil Should Have Been National Player of the Year

Never one to shy away from a bit of attention, Chukwudi took questions from a different kind of media member after Duke defeated Michigan State in the Final Four earlier this year. In fact, the questions came from Chukwudi’s brother, Emeka.

The subject matter? Jahlil, of course. Or rather, Jahlil’s alleged slight at not being named National Player of the Year.

The Okafor’s staged their impromtu press conference in front of the Duke locker room after the Blue Devils’ victory and Jahlil can be heard, on video, saying, “Yes, I am the father of Jahlil, who should have been National Player of the Year.”

Wisconsin’s Frank Kaminsky won the award, just days before Okafor and Duke defeated him and the Badgers in the National Championship game.

Deme Morales, Frank Kaminsky’s Girlfriend: 5 Fast Facts You Need to Know
Morales was a standout volleyball player at Wisconsin for four seasons and has dated the Badgers basketball star for over a year.

Click here to read more
5. In April, He Said Jahlil Is the ‘Best Player to Ever Come Out of Chicago’
INDIANAPOLIS, IN - APRIL 06: Jahlil Okafor #15 of the Duke Blue Devils cuts down the net after defeating the Wisconsin Badgers during the NCAA Men's Final Four National Championship at Lucas Oil Stadium on April 6, 2015 in Indianapolis, Indiana. Duke defeated Wisconsin 68-63.(Photo by Streeter Lecka/Getty Images)
(Getty)

The nets had only just recently been cut on Duke’s National Championship when Chukwudi added another headline to the mix, telling TMZ Sports:

Jahlil is the best player to ever come out of Chicago. My son’s absolutely the most decorated player ever from the city. He should go down as a Duke legend. He brought them a banner.

There is some merit to Chukwudi’s claim. After all, at just 19 years old, Jahlil is already an NCAA champion, first-team All-America, 3-time FIBA Gold Medalist and a finalist for National Player of the Year. However, he is also not Michael Jordan whose name is still synonymous with Chicago sports or NBA champions Dwayne Wade or Kevin Garnett, who played high school hoops in the city.

sounds very much like an opportunistic, out of touch stage parent. all the "support" he has provided still smells like exploitation.

Yup. Show a good face, say all the right things...when the chips are down, where the FUQ is Chucky Okafor? Where is he now and why is your 19 year kid going out to clubs and bars when he can't even legally drink?

Chucky Okafor...lead nominee for Bad Parent of the year.

your making presumptions based on your bias and connecting the dots to reach were you want to.
Really, what do you know?

Bad parent? Kid got to duke on a basketball scholarship and seems like he did a good job. Kid got caught speeding stupid, but nothing happened.
Kid got into a fight and perhaps worse it was on TMZ. Nobody said it was a smart thing but your indicting his family.

Of course, compared to our fair haired Latvian god and his super uber family whose family business is called "Kristaps is a Knick and company" how can he even compare?

BTW, where was Spree's parents when he needed them?

It's not presumptions. At least 4 incidents involving police or criminal activity. Where is Chucky Okafor when his 19 year old son is needed?

bigbasketballs wrote:

Nalod wrote:Kid got caught speeding stupid, but nothing happened.

Explain to me the line between something happening and something not happening that reflect positively on him?

If he loses control, which is easy to do driving 120, THEN is he just misunderstood?

The difference between being an okay guy and a murderer is good driving skills?

The line? its thin but its all important. Nothiong happened.
Lots of guys show off their shot guns, but few end up shooting the driver like Jason Williams did. It was an accident but the coverup landed him in jail.
ever back out of the driveway and "Not" see the car, but didn't hit it? Usually odds are with you.

I used to drive fast and did some stupid shyt. But nothing happened. Then I matured and became more careful. Had some close calls. Its called growing up.
Maybe we don't let these kids become professionals at age 19?

Nalod wrote:

bigbasketballs wrote:

Nalod wrote:Kid got caught speeding stupid, but nothing happened.

Explain to me the line between something happening and something not happening that reflect positively on him?

If he loses control, which is easy to do driving 120, THEN is he just misunderstood?

The difference between being an okay guy and a murderer is good driving skills?

The line? its thin but its all important. Nothiong happened.
Lots of guys show off their shot guns, but few end up shooting the driver like Jason Williams did. It was an accident but the coverup landed him in jail.
ever back out of the driveway and "Not" see the car, but didn't hit it? Usually odds are with you.

I used to drive fast and did some stupid shyt. But nothing happened. Then I matured and became more careful. Had some close calls. Its called growing up.
Maybe we don't let these kids become professionals at age 19?

Sorry, that's not a line. That's circumstance.

Do you take a sporting firearm like a hunting rife, go out in the street at 2am, look really carefully to make sure you don't see anyone and then fire down the dark street? Is that just hijinks?

Nobody is picking on Okafor. The major sports make millionaires of teenagers every year. Most handle it just fine. The knuckleheads get called out. Why the excuse making?

Towns, Russell, KP, etc are doing just fine.