Real-Life Diet is a series in which GQ talks to athletes, celebrities, and everyone in-between about their diets and exercise routines: what's worked, what hasn't, and where they're still improving. Keep in mind, what works for them might not necessarily be healthy for you.

Last summer, after an hour-and-a-half health assessment with personal trainer David Alexander, Jahlil Okafor had a plan to rescue his NBA career. The 6’11” center’s pedigree has never been in question—he was, after all, the third pick in the 2015 NBA Draft after leading the Duke Blue Devils to a national championship. But following a stellar statistical rookie season with the then-miserable Philadelphia 76ers, Okafor fell into basketball purgatory. His defense wasn’t up to par, and his back-to-the-basket game was considered out of style compared to the up-and-down tempos of most other teams. He was traded to the Nets in 2017, then found himself a free agent working out in Miami in 2018. That’s where Alexander gave Okafor some guidance about overhauling his exercise routine.

The goal was to burn fat and significantly improve his athleticism and stamina. Okafor simultaneously experimented with a new diet (he had previously tried going vegan), and he focused on his mental health as much as his physical health. The results were apparent on Okafor’s Instagram, and the New Orleans Pelicans decided to take a chance on him. He delivered, with a more-than-serviceable statline last season of 8.2 points (59 percent shooting) and 4.7 rebounds.

Now, during a wild offseason in which New Orleans traded superstar Anthony Davis for a crew of young talent from the Los Angeles Lakers, the Pelicans also decided to pick up Okafor’s team option for this coming season. On June 20, ESPN’s Malika Andrews reported that the New Orleans staff was “impressed by the way Okafor has reworked his body.”

After finishing an early-afternoon workout in Miami, where he’s training with Alexander again this summer, Okafor spoke to GQ about his career bounce-back, his newfound diet, his fondness for hot yoga, and the one sugary food he can’t totally quit.

GQ: Big men are trying all sorts of things to find a role in the modern NBA game. What’s your strategy?

Jahlil Okafor: The biggest thing is becoming an overall better athlete. Guys are getting more athletic each and every year, so I have to try and find a way to keep up with that. I realized I needed to change my body so I could become faster and stronger. It’s helped me out a lot.

How do you maintain the improvements you make during the offseason once the regular season starts? I assume it’s tough to make improvements fitness-wise once you’re traveling and playing a bunch of games.

You’re right, that’s going to be my challenge for this season. Last season, I fell off with my diet. There’s so much travel. You might get into a city at one, two a.m., and you’re hungry and want to get something in your system, even though eating super late at night isn’t a great idea. Having a consistent, healthy diet on the road, and a consistent routine of workouts while playing 82 games, it’s really hard. You don’t want to wear yourself out for the actual games.

Walk me through your day-to-day routine for this offseason.

Monday through Friday, I do on-court work starting at 10 a.m. At noon, I hit the weight room. Later in the afternoon, I’ll sometimes have a hot yoga session. And I’ve been getting more massages—that’s one thing I’ve really tried to improve on this summer is the recovery aspect after I’ve trained hard.