Check out Jabari Smith’s first NBA basket

[aubiefifty 18,250]

 

Check out Jabari Smith’s first NBA basket

Updated: Oct. 19, 2022, 11:24 p.m.|Published: Oct. 19, 2022, 7:49 p.m.

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Houston Rockets forward Jabari Smith Jr. shoots during an NBA game against the Atlanta Hawks on Wednesday, Oct. 19, 2022, at State Farm Arena in Atlanta. , Georgia.(Photo by Todd Kirkland/Getty Images)

By

• Mark Inabinett | minabinett@al.com

Former Auburn standout Jabari Smith Jr. scored the first basket of his NBA career on Wednesday night.

The third player picked in the 2022 NBA Draft, Smith started at power forward for the Houston Rockets in their 2022-23 season-opening game against the Atlanta Hawks.

Smith’s first basket came on a 25-foot pullup with 8:06 left in the first half. The 3-pointer trimmed the Hawks’ lead to 36-35 at State Farm Arena in Atlanta, not far from where Smith was a prep star at Sandy Creek High School in Tyrone, Georgia.

The basket didn’t account for Smith’s first NBA points, though.

He had made two free throws with 8:52 left in the second quarter after being fouled on a shot under the basket.

Smith averaged 16.9 points, 7.4 rebounds, 2.0 assists, 1.1 steals and 1.0 blocks per game in his only season with Auburn, during which the Tigers posted a 28-6 record, won the SEC regular-season title and reached the second round of the NCAA tourney.

Mark Inabinett is a sports reporter for Alabama Media Group. Follow him on Twitter at @AMarkG1.

 

Edited October 20, 2022 by aubiefifty

[Dunndone414 474]

Powerful example of the difference in top college guys and the NBA here - Giannis makes Jabari look like a child. In fairness, he does that to almost everyone 😂 

 

[AuburnNTexas 7,317]

Through three games Jabari is averaging 13.3 points a game, 6.3 Rebounds, 1 Assist, 1.3 blocks while playing just under 32 minutes a game. These are solid numbers but his FG% on both 2 Pt and 3 Pt shots is just above 30%. This is an area he will need to improve on.

[AUApostle 7,762]

Watching the Jazz Rockets game…This team will be much better when Jabari steps up as a leader and becomes the go-to guy when they need points.  The rest of his team drives and puts up so much trash while he gets lost in the background too often.

[gravejd 3,304]

Jabari is going to so much fun to follow in the NBA. Dude is on another level. His state sheet is unreal and if he the other young rocket players can figure out how to play together that team has potential for a big turnaround this season. 

[AuburnNTexas 7,317]

Jabari had his best NBA game against Kessler's team and Kessler had his worst as he got into foul trouble.  

Jabari played 34 minutes, 21 points, 6-10 FG, 3-5 3 PT FG, 9 rebounds, 2 assists, 3 blocks

Kessler played 8 Minutes , 0 Points, 0-1 FG, 1 rebound, 1 steal, 1 block 4 fouls.