Nets news: Jahlil Okafor admits that his situation presents an alien feeling

The Nets' newly-acquired center in Jahlil Okafor is excited for the opprtunity to play with a chip on his shoulder for first time in his career.

The Brooklyn Nets have finally freed their newly-acquired center Jahlil Okafor from the clutches of his former team in the Philadelphia 76ers. Now Okafor has essentially been given a second chance to establish his career with a building franchise in the Nets.

Furthermore, it gives him the opportunity to answer any questions regarding whether or not he can be a legitimate payer in this league. According to Zach Braziller of the New York Post, Okafor is embracing the opportunity to get to play with a chip on his shoulder for the first time in his basketball career:

“I have a chip on my shoulder,” he said. “This is the first time where people are against me in a sense because I’ve always been the hyped-up guy. It’s something new for me to experience, so I’m glad that I am experiencing it.”

There is certainly some truth in Jahlil Okafor's new approach to the game. He had been one of the most highly-touted prospects from high school all the way up until he was taken with the third overall pick in the 2015 NBA Draft.

However, with all the hype seemingly gone, it is now on Okafor to prove there was a reason he had been one of the top picks in his draft class. That said, the situation with the Nets certainly presents him with an opportunity to do just that.