TJ McConnell is playing for a ring and it appears Jahlil Okafor might get one too — See you on the Ben Franklin Bridge

First we have TJ McConnell and now you can officially add Jahlil Okafor to Former-Sixers Ring Watch.

Last week, I wrote that I was officially dead inside because TJ McConnell is playing in the NBA Finals before Joel Embiid, Ben Simmons, or Markelle Fultz.

If you missed it, here’s that sad little piece of writing >>

The man is about to suit up for a ring before any of The Process “crown jewels” — Embiid, Simmons, Fultz — ever sniffed the Finals. If that doesn’t sum up this miserable era of Sixers basketball, I truly don’t know what does.

TJ’s doing his thing too — 8 points, 3 rebounds, 3 assists off the bench, scrappy as hell, diving for loose balls, energizing the Pacers crowd. It’s exactly what he did here during the dark days of The Process, except now he’s doing it for a legit Finals team and not for Brett Brown and a bunch of G League call-ups.

Meanwhile in Philly, we’re still stuck in the same Groundhog Day loop of second-round exits, offseason excuses, and “new voices” trying to fix the unfixable.

Watching TJ thrive on this stage is pure torture at this point. Just another reminder of how much time we’ve wasted.

Just when you thought it couldn’t get worse… it does. Jahlil Okafor is now four wins away from getting an NBA championship ring. You read that correctly.

Future NBA Champion Jahlil Okafor?!

DID YOU KNOW?!?!?

Jahlil Okafor is now just 5 wins away from an NBA championship ring.

Okafor played 3 minutes for the Pacers this season on February 11 against the Knicks. He had one rebound and one assist. pic.twitter.com/Twf3K61qXL

— Average Basketball Players (@avgbballplayers) May 28, 2025

Jahlil Okafor played a grand total of 3 minutes for the Pacers this season — February 11th against the Knicks. His stat line was a garbage-time rebound and one assist.

That’s it.

Now, if the Pacers take down OKC, Jahlil Okafor is getting a ring. Apparently, whether Okafor gets an official ring comes down to an organizational decision, but if the Pacers somehow beat the Thunder, I would bet my life he’s getting one.

The Pacers played 22 different guys this season and Jahlil Okafor is down there at the bottom of that list with James Wiseman (5 minutes), Tristen Newton (8 minutes), and James Johnson (37 minutes).

Doesn’t matter. Rings for all.

Jahlil Okafor apparently came back to the U.S. after his worldwide basketball tour. He had a quick Pistons stint, then stops in China, Mexico, Spain, Puerto Rico, only to end up back with the Indiana Mad Ants in Fort Wayne earlier this year.

Next thing you know, he signs a 10-day with the Pacers, gets 3 token minutes in a loss to the Knicks, and now… ring watch.

So yeah, if you need me, I’ll be on the Ben Franklin Bridge around midnight.

I’ve seen enough.

Join The Chase