Born in Fayetteville, Georgia, to former professional basketball player Jabari Smith Sr., Smith began playing basketball at a young age under his father's mentorship. Smith attended Sandy Creek High School, where in his senior year the team made a state championship appearance. In high school, Smith was named a McDonald's All-American and Mr. Georgia Basketball. A five star prospect ranked the nation's number seven overall recruit, he committed to Auburn University to play college basketball. As a freshman at Auburn, Smith helped the team achieve their first ever AP poll number one ranking and an SEC regular season championship. At the conclusion of his freshman year, Smith was named an All-American, and won the USBWA National Freshman of the Year Award. Following his freshman season, Smith would declare for the 2022 NBA draft and was selected by the Rockets with the third overall pick. He is also a distant cousin of NBA player Kwame Brown.
Smith was a consensus five-star recruit and one of the top players in the 2021 class.[10][11][12] On October 9, 2020, he announced his commitment to play college basketball for Auburn University over offers from Tennessee, Georgia, LSU, Georgia Tech and North Carolina. Upon his commitment he became the highest ranked player to commit to Auburn in the modern recruiting era.[13] Smith has said that he committed to Auburn due to his fit within the teams play style under head coach Bruce Pearl, the school's relatively close proximity to his hometown and because the school could provide him a more traditional college experience than he would get elsewhere.[1][13]
Smith entered his freshman season with high expectations due to his recruiting ranking.[14] Smith emerged as a leader in preseason practice with coach Bruce Pearl describing him as "the hardest working player on the team."[14] He made his college debut against Morehead State in a 77–54 victory for the Tigers.[15] On January 11, 2022, on the road against fierce rival Alabama Smith scored a then career-high 25 points to help the Tigers avoid an upset in an 81–77 victory.[16] On February 16, 2022, Smith recorded a career-high 31 points on just 16 shots in an 94–80 victory over Vanderbilt.[17] As a freshman, he averaged 16.9 points, 7.4 rebounds, and two assists per game while helping lead the Tigers to an SEC regular season championship and the programs first ever #1 ranking in the AP poll.[18] In his NCAA Tournament debut against Jacksonville State, Smith recorded his 6th double-double of the season scoring 20 points and grabbing 14 rebounds.[19] In the second round of the tournament Smith would record another double-double but would also have his worst shooting performance of the season going 3-of-16 from the field as the #2 seeded Tigers were upset by #10 seeded Miami 79–62, ending the Tigers season.[20] At the conclusion of his freshman season, Smith was awarded many honors including being named the USBWA Freshman of the Year, a member of the All-SEC first team and a second-team All American, the Tigers first All American selection since Chris Porter in 1999.[21][22] On April 5, 2022, Smith declared for the 2022 NBA draft, forgoing his remaining college eligibility.[23] Smith was projected as a top-three selection in the 2022 NBA draft and the potential first pick.[23]
Professional career
2022–23 season: Rookie season
Prior to the 2022 NBA draft, Smith was believed by many analysts and insiders to be the number one overall pick, with Smith even saying that he would be surprised not to be picked number one by the Orlando Magic with ESPN'sAdrian Wojnarowski on the morning off the draft on Orlando plan's to finalize selecting Smith first overall .[24][25][26][27] However the Magic ended up selecting Paolo Banchero and Smith ending up being selected with third overall pick by the Houston Rockets, making him the highest drafted player to ever come out of Auburn, surpassing Chris Morris and Chuck Person whom were drafted 4th overall.[28][29] The Oklahoma City Thunder promised if he was available Smith would be selected 2nd overall but they selected Chet Holmgren .[30]
He made his summer league debut with 10 points, seven rebounds, three assists, and a steal in a 91–77 loss against the Orlando Magic.[31] On October 2, 2022, Smith made his preseason debut, scoring 21 points with 5-of-8 shooting from three along with eight rebounds and two assists in a 134–96 win against the San Antonio Spurs.[32][33][34] On October 19, Smith made his regular season debut, scoring 17 points along with seven rebounds and an assist in a 117–107 loss to the Atlanta Hawks.[35] On October 24, Smith recorded his first 20+ point game with free 21 points by shooting 6-to-10 from the field with nine rebounds in a 114–106 victory over the Utah Jazz, the Rockets first victory of the season.[36] On December 2, Smith scored 17 points with six rebounds, one steal, and one blocked shot in a 122–121 victory against the Phoenix Suns. He finished by shooting 7-of-12 from the field, including 3-of-5 from three-point range. The outing was the sixth straight game in which Smith made at least three 3-pointers, the second-longest streak in history by a rookie.[37] On December 23, He recorded his sixth double-double with 24 points by shooting 58.8% from the field and 3-of-8 from three with 10 rebounds in a loss against the Dallas Mavericks.[38]
On January 13, 2023, Smith scored a then career-high 27 points with three blocks and eight rebounds in a game loss against the Sacramento Kings.[39] On March 9, Smith grabbed 12 rebounds and set a then career-high 30 points in a 134–125 overtime loss to the Indiana Pacers.[40] On March 14, Smith scored 24 points by shooting 83.8 percent from the field with 5 threes made and 11 rebounds in a game win against the Boston Celtics. In doing so, he became the first player in Rockets franchise to average 20-plus points and 10-plus rebounds in three straight games since Hakeem Olajuwon in 1985.[41] On March 17, Smith made a game-winning three-pointer in a 114–112 win over the New Orleans Pelicans.[42] At the conclusion of his rookie season he was voted to the All-Rookie second team.[43]
2023–24 season
On December 11, 2023, Smith scored a career high 34 points along with 13 rebounds in a 134–127 loss to the Atlanta Hawks.[44] On March 24, 2024, Smith was suspended one game after being involved in an altercation with Utah Jazz guard Kris Dunn.[45]
Player profile
Standing at 6 feet and 10 inches (2.08 meters) with a 7–1 feet wingspan and weighing 220 pounds (100 kilograms), Smith predominately plays the power forward position. Smith's length makes him a versatile player on both offense and defense. He often utilizes jab-steps to help create space for his jump shot and has range out to the three-point line, shooting 42% from three-point range in college. On defense, he is mobile on the perimeter and physical inside, making him a candidate to defend big men but also switch comfortably onto guards. Smith was noted for his defensive instincts and quick hands, averaging a block and a steal per game in college. Many sources and scouts have compared his play making style to other big men such as Rashard Lewis, Chris Bosh, Michael Porter Jr. and Kevin Durant.[1][46][47]
Scouts noted that Smith's main weakness on offense entering the draft is his ball handling, as he oftentimes struggles to generate offense off of the dribble.[48]
Smith's father, Jabari, played in the NBA for four seasons and competed professionally overseas. He has one older brother, named A.J.[3] Smith's distant cousin, Kwame Brown, was the first overall pick in the 2001 NBA draft and played in the NBA for 13 seasons.[4]
