76ers rookie Jahlil Okafor to miss rest of season after knee surgery

Philadelphia 76ers rookie center Jahlil Okafor will have season-ending surgery on his right knee.

The team said Friday it will soon announce when he will have surgery for the small cartilage tear. He is expected to resume basketball activities in about six weeks.

Okafor, the No. 3 overall pick of the 2015 draft, led the NBA-worst Sixers with 17.5 points and averaged 7 rebounds in 53 games.

“When you study what’s going on, it’s only going to be a 10-minute procedure,” Sixers head Coach Brett Brown said before Friday night’s game against Brooklyn. “It’s going to restrict him from playing for six weeks. Because of the timing, it sounds more dramatic than it should. The impact it has on someone moving forward is negligible.”

He has not played since he was hit hard in the shin on his right leg Feb. 28 game against Orlando. The Sixers have lost 13 consecutive entering Friday night’s game against Brooklyn.

Okafor had been one of the NBA’s top rookies. But his season has been marred by off-court trouble and served a two-game suspension for his role in a Boston street fight.

Williams to sit out rest of season

Thunder assistant coach Monty Williams will not return to the team this season as he continues to help his family heal following the death of his wife, Ingrid.

The Thunder made the announcement Friday.

On Feb. 9, an oncoming car crossed the center line and hit Ingrid Williams’ SUV near downtown Oklahoma City. Ingrid Williams died the next day, and Monty Williams has not coached since. Thunder general manager Sam Presti said in a statement that the most important things are for Williams to be with his family and for the Thunder to support him.

Williams is in his first season as an assistant for Billy Donovan. He was head coach of the New Orleans Pelicans last season, when he led the franchise to the playoffs.