The Ringer put out another article on Smith today. They've been hyping him up over the past couple of months. https://www.theringer.com/2022/2/4/22916297/jabari-smith-jr-auburn-nba-draft
His ability to score from anywhere on the court is what sets him apart from his peers. He releases the ball so high it’s nearly impossible to block. “He’s the best jump shooter at his size in college basketball,” Pearl says. One of the first times some members of the coaching staff saw Jabari work out, around 6:30 one morning at Sandy Creek High, they watched the sophomore drill 25 consecutive midrange jumpers. Holy ****, assistant coach Steven Pearl, Bruce’s son, thought. What high-schooler shoots midrange—let alone makes them at that clip? “You could just see that he was special from day one,” Steven says. “Every time he shoots it,” Steven says, “I think it’s going in.” With massive talent come massive expectations. Some scouts have likened parts of his game to Kevin Durant. “The stroke’s the same every time it comes off his hand,” Bruce says. “He reminds me a lot of Kevin Garnett,” says Jon-Michael Nickerson, Jabari’s coach at Sandy Creek High School. “Chris Bosh. A little [Anthony Davis].” Some of his Auburn assistant coaches see more of Khris Middleton. Jabari’s dad thinks about Giannis Antetokounmpo in terms of Jabari’s defensive potential and how much better he can get on that end. He often tells his son: “There’s another level to it.” Smith Sr. remembers Giannis’s progression from skinny teenager, barely able to hold his own on the block, to dominant MVP, bulldozing his way into the paint and blocking shots while relentlessly playing defense. “Body frame, size, but guarding the 1. You seeing that out of Giannis now,” Smith Sr. says. “I’m trying to put that in Jabari as a rookie.” Jabari, now averaging 15.6 points, 6.7 rebounds, and 1.8 assists per game, has added about 20 pounds since he arrived last summer. The weight room has been a focus, as Bruce Pearl says he would ask Jabari what he weighed five times a week in the summer and early fall. “He’s got a frame that’s going to be able to put on another 30 pounds throughout his career,” Pearl says. The coaches are impressed by how receptive he is. How he handles tough love, especially on defense. Maybe he failed to rotate to the right spot. Maybe he didn’t step up to take the charge. When Pearl chews him out, Jabari doesn’t say a word. He just nods, and says, “I got you, Coach. I got you,” and fixes it on the next play. He’ll then continue working on his weaknesses. “He holds himself to a very high standard,” says teammate Walker Kessler.
I was hardcore Chet, then I was hardcore Banchero, now I'm hardcore Jabari. Any one of these would be incredible. Just give me freak please. Someone who's way too big to do what he does.
I've been on the Jabari Smith Jr. train since I first watched him this season. He's better than anyone from last year's draft too. This guy coming out of nowhere seemingly is insane considering his father was in the NBA and he was highly recruited. I have no idea how Chet and Paulo got so much hype leading into this year. Anywhere from Pick 1-3 needs to be Jabari if he's on the board for the Rockets. I hope if it's 2 or 3, the other team doesn't take him.
What are you talking about? Tanking has been destroyed. Basically anywhere bottom 1-4 and your odds for the top pick is flat. The Rockets were the worst team in the NBA last year and got pick 2. https://www.tankathon.com/pick_odds Bottom 1-3, 14% to get pick 1. 4th worst - 12.5% 5th worst - 10.5 % 3.5% difference in getting pick 1 from 5th worst to the absolutel worst. It's luck of the draw. Only benefit to being the absolutely worst is that you only can fall to 5th at worst. Second worst you can fall to 6th, third worst 7th and so on, so forth. Up to 4 teams can jump any team.
I always fall for these articles. Been seeing a lot of talking heads gush about Jabari's personality, so it's cool to see where it comes from. Maaaan, Chet #1 one day, Jabari #1 the next. I need that 2k "sim to offseason" option expeditiously.
For a minute there the Ringer was on the Paolo hype train and then that DWI incident happened and he disappeared. To his credit though, Jabari got his team ranked 1st in the nation so much of the recent attention/airplay is deserved.
Paolo is still getting hyped there. Chet is probably next week. 2/2/22 - https://www.theringer.com/2022/2/2/22913014/paolo-banchero-duke-center-guard-skills
Description alone sounds like a unanimous #1 pick to me. There's certainly some talent in the draft to be excited about
There is 0 doubt in my mind that the Rockets HAVE to take Smith if he's on the board anywhere he lands. He has the highest upside, a very high floor and is the best fit.
Jabari, Chet, AJ are not just physical freaks, they also have super high IQ to go along with insane work ethic. Banchero as well to a lesser extent. His IQ and effort on defense not nearly as good as his offense. Give me the 2 way freak every single time.
Smith has a chance to be a plus defender, but he doesn't have the strength, hands or fluid movements like Leonard has. Defensively he is more like Paul George. A lot of natural ability for Smith, and his offensive upside is higher than some think. He isn't just a three point shooter. He struggles some putting the ball on the floor and breaking guys down but he makes up for it in transition and off screens. He is going in the top 2 picks short of Sharpe looking like Kobe Bryant in personal workouts. The #1 pick is going to be Holmgren, Smith or Sharpe.... Smith is the safest of the three, he is going to be at least a plus starter and possibly a super star.
The Rockets would certainly consider Holmgren at #1 as well...... if the Rockets get the #1 pick they would select one of those two players. I think Smith would possibly be the safer pick, but the analytics would love Holmgren. It is a nice choice to have to make. I would go Holmgren but Smith is even with him. Holmgren just will impact the game more defensively.
I just can't take Holmgren with his frame over Jabari. Holmgren's height is a negative to me and I would debate him over Paolo but that's where my conversation is. Holmgren will never have the two way impact of Smith in my opinion. It's a perimeter game and it's going to keep being a perimeter game. I don't see taking a center although a very intriguing one over a true SF, which we see so few of lately. Mobley's passing and switchability is something I don't see as much from Holmgren personally. Holmgren's shooting is awesome though and if the Rockets draft 2nd I'd be thrilled with him or Paolo. I'm stuck on Smith and it would take a huge change in the tournament for me to leave team Jabari. He is MPJ with defensive ability. The easiest build to fit into any team. My perfect player. Superstar Mikal Bridges. You know how I feel about Wood. The Rockets passed on Allen and Mobley because of Wood basically. If they are really set to give up on him it would be silly. KPJ/Green/Jabari/Wood/Sengun looks very good to me. If the Rockets really want to compete for a play-in spot next year Jabari is the only choice.
Porter is a good comp but I think Smith is a better shooter and Porter has a bit more handle. If Smith is able to guard at a high level on the perimeter he is my #1, that's more valuable than Chet's shot blocking IMO. He reminds also of Derrick McKey a guy who could not put it all together but was very toolsy.
I think if Smith is able to guard at a high level on the perimeter, he will be as impactful as Holmgren and separate himself.
Was really disappointed with Jabari yesterday. Very passive offensively and defensively. My first game watching him so hopefully it was an anomaly. Chet was amazing, but against a really sub-par opponent. Banchero looked really good and more aggressive than I have seen him in the past. If he could get better and more aggressive in the paint both offensively and defensively he would be my pick. Ivey is amazing. If we could trade Green straight up or with our 2nd frp this year for him I would do it in a second. Right now my board would be Chet, Paola, Jabari, Ivey. Don’t know anything about Sharpe.
