Okafor pulls out of Rookie Challenge

Okafor first suffered the injury against the Los Angeles Lakers on January 30 and was quickly put on the injured list and sidelined for five games.

He then re-injured the ankle against Miami on February 11. It was his first game after being activated. Okafor, who has missed the team’s last three contests, has been out of action for eight of Charlotte’s last nine games overall.

"I’m disappointed that I will be unable to play during the NBA All-Star weekend, but I want to do what’s right for myself and the Charlotte Bobcats," said Okafor. "I want to be completely healthy for the remainder of the regular season to help the team as much as I possibly can."

Okafor, who was taken with the second overall pick in the 2004 draft, is averaging 14.8 points, 11.0 rebounds and 1.5 blocks per game this season. He currently leads all first-year players in scoring, rebounding and minutes played and captured the Eastern Conference’s Rookie of the Month award in both November and December.

The 22-year-old, who helped lead Connecticut to the national championship last season, has 27 double-doubles in 42 games, included a string of 19 straight earlier this year.