Jabari Smith Jr. #1 of the Houston Rockets controls the ball ahead of Darius Bazley #55 of the Oklahoma City Thunder during the first half at Toyota Center on February 01, 2023 in Houston.
Carmen Mandato/Getty ImagesIt hasn't been the smoothest first professional campaign for Houston Rockets rookie Jabari Smith Jr.
The Auburn product and No. 3 pick in the 2022 NBA draft continues to showcase his potential as a defensive anchor for the NBA's second-youngest team, though in total, Smith's rookie season can appropriately be termed a grind. Smith is shooting under 40 percent from the field and just a tick over 30 percent from three this year, and he receives limited usage in Houston's crowded attack. Yet the trials of the NBA appeared to hit Smith before he even arrived at the Toyota Center this summer.
Smith believed he would be selected before the No. 3 spot in last June's draft, according to recent comments from his father and former NBA player Jabari Smith Sr. The elder Smith told Andscape's Marc Spears Wednesday his son believed he was going to Oklahoma City at No. 2 after being bypassed for the top pick, a scenario that was "promised" by Thunder executives.
"So, they called Chet Holmgren's name, and [Jabari] lost it," Smith Sr. said. "Leg went to shaking. I looked at him. He is almost in tears. And I forgot that he told me that OKC [promised to draft him], so I got to keep my mouth closed about that. I talked to him, 'Well, hey, what are you doing? Straighten your face, man. You good, you good, you good.'"
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Houston's rookie has leaned on his father throughout the 2022-23 season, something he noted in early February when speaking with the media at the Toyota Center. Though ultimately, it will take increased production on the floor for Smith to begin feeling more comfortable at the professional level. Houston's scheme is in-part to blame for Smith's modest numbers thus far. Rockets coach Stephen Silas told Spears "I don’t run any plays for Jabari," a situation touched on by Smith's father.
"He spent the first half of his rookie season trying to live up to this No. 3 pick when you the fifth, sixth option on the team," Smith told Spears. "So that ain’t been too fun. In his system, he ain’t have anything drawn up for him. It’s tough to live up to it when you’re not in a position to live up to it."
Smith will next take the floor Thursday night in Oklahoma City, and he will then be featured at NBA All-Star Weekend in Salt Lake City. Smith is set to participate in the Rising Stars event on Friday night, and he will then appear in Saturday's skills challenge alongside fellow rookies Paolo Banchero and Jaden Ivey.