Jabari wasn't a bad shooter last season so we just need to hope this has been an extended slump that he breaks out of. The problem is that he doesn't contribute enough when his shot is off and ends up being a huge negative. Amen has less range than Jabari, but finds ways to impact the game. Chuck Hayes had literally zero range, less than even Amen, but was a fan favorite because he was a team leader on the defensive end. People will overlook big weaknesses if players make winning basketball plays. Jabari hasn't been making those plays. He was touted as an elite shooter and defender coming out of college and he's been average in both categories. If he were a taller version of PJ Tucker or Shane Battier I think people would be happy with that, even if the expectations for a #3 pick were higher. It's not about steals or blocks because those guys didn't rack up those stats either. The shot will not always fall, even superstars go through slumps, but defense should be constant. Jabari is what, the 4th or 5th best defender on the team? That doesn't quite cut it.
I don't understand why Jabari is so bad.. dude does not need a post game, he doesn't need a mid range, dude doesn't need to handle the ball or pass. We don't expect him to turn into a star so all he needs to do is be a solid 3&D player but instead dude is shooting 15% on wide open 3s. He literally just needs to focus on two things that he was advertised as elite in college but he struggles with both.
Do you know how bad you have to be to consistently get 25-30 mins and not even fluke yourself into a good performance? Even the worst starters in the league will fool you once every 5-10 games. Jabari can't even do that.
He's not processing anything on offense outside of get the ball and shoot. Missing Sengun on an easy pass is inexcusable.
One Jabari post a game, keeps the doctor away. Jabari so far this season 12 games has a worst 3PT% than both Alperen Sengun and, check notes, Amen Thompson.
NBA Stat @nbastat.bsky.social · 6m Worst 3PT% so far (Min. 50 Total 3PA) : 1. Kentavious Caldwell-Pope — 20.8% 2. Ayo Dosunmu — 22.0% 3. Zaccharie Risachar — 24.6% 4. Corey Kispert — 25.0% 5. Jabari Smith - 25.0%
I think I'd trade Jabari for a 21-year-old Shane Battier. I don't think he has the overall awareness to get to that level. I hope I am dead wrong. Jabari works his butt off.
