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TMZ Sports interrupted Thanksgiving afternoon, releasing a 37-second video detailing Philadelphia 76ers rookie center Jahlil Okafor engaged in a street fight in Boston late Wednesday night. The footage is nothing short of disturbing.
The events in the video reportedly occurred following the Sixers' late-minute loss to the Celtics at TD Garden. Okafor finished thee contest with 19 points and 9 rebounds.
TMZ is also reporting an Okafor representative told the website, "he was being heckled from the moment he left the club and felt threatened because people swarmed him on the street." The representative continued, saying Okafor was with a teammate he would not name and "someone got physical with the teammate ... so Jahlil did what he felt he needed to do to protect himself and his friend."
It's an unfortunate incident many will link as a reaction to the Sixers' current interminable losing streak. In a graver reality, Okafor could plausibly face legal ramifications and will very likely be suspended for "conduct detrimental to the team."
Liberty Ballers will keep you updated if and when the NBA or the Sixers respond to the events.
UPDATE (11/27): The Boston Police Department are now investigating the incident involving Jahlil Okafor after a man filed a police report, ESPN is reporting.
According to the statement, a man filed a police report Friday morning stating he was the victim of assault and battery outside the Storyville nightclub on Exeter Street in Boston at around 2 a.m. on Thursday. The man said that Okafor and another man approached his group and asked some of the women for their phone numbers. When the women declined, a verbal altercation ensued, followed by a physical scuffle. The man said Okafor pushed him and punched him, knocking him to the ground and causing a cut over his eye that later required stitches.
The previously unidentified teammate also with Okafor at the time of the altercation has now been discovered to be Christian Wood, the Philadelphia Inquirer reported earlier.