2022 NBA Draft Profile: Jabari Smith Jr.

Jabari Smith Jr. leapt up draft boards this year with his elite shooting as a big man, but could his lack of inside game hold him back in the NBA?

Position: Big wing/power forward, Auburn

Age: 19

Height: 6 ft 10 in

Wingspan: 7 ft 1 in

Weight: 220 lbs

The Sales Pitch: Jabari Smith Jr. doesn’t care how textbook your closeout was, or how you somehow managed to contest his skyscraping release point: he’ll hit a dagger in your grill anyway. He’s a traditional nuclear shooter in a not-so-traditional 6-foot-10 frame, able to rise up from well beyond the arc and hit threes off the catch, off the dribble, and even off movement at times. He’ll enter the NBA as one of the better big-sized shooters in the league, and should dominate that conversation (along with KAT) for the next decade. Not only is Jabari poised to make a Day 1 impact on the offensive end, but he has a unique athletic profile that could see him excel as a defender if utilized correctly. His average wingspan and mediocre vertical pop will probably stop him from ever becoming a true rim protector, but he offers excellent foot speed and silky smooth hips to mirror wings on the perimeter. He offers the cookie-cutter complementary wing/forward skillset that every team craves, with a 6-foot-10 frame and plenty of time to work out the kinks (he’s still 18 for a few more days!) to boot. 

Elite Traits/Skills: 3-point shooting, perimeter defense 

The Devil’s Advocate Argument: Yeah, Jabari can shoot the lights out — unfortunately, he doesn’t have any other replacement-level offensive skills at this point. His handle is extremely loose, he’s an underwhelming distributor, and his finishing numbers as a 6-foot-10 college player are a red flag nuclear alarm for a supposed top-3 pick. When tasked with creating his own shot, Jabari’s efforts ended in one of two ways: 1) a few unthreatening jab steps followed by a 17-footer, and 2) an out-of-control drive to the basket that exposed his incredibly stiff upper body and lack of finishing craft. There aren’t many NBA stars who can’t dribble the ball; as rudimentary as that sounds, it’s the No. 1 obstacle in Jabari’s path to a max contract one day. It’s unlikely that he’s a bad NBA player, but it’s equally unlikely that he becomes something truly special. 

The Misconceptions: Just like every single wiry 6-foot-10 or bigger prospect with a jump shot in existence, Jabari has been slapped with the KD comparison. Durant is one of the most fluid players of his size in NBA history, and while Jabari can slide his feet exceptionally well, he struggles to create space with the ball in his hands due to his tight shoulders and upward gait. Unlike Durant, he doesn’t project as an on-ball creator — think Jaren Jackson Jr.’s role with less rim protection duties. Jabari is a reminder that all athletic profiles are nuanced and cannot be boiled down to being a “good” or “bad” athlete. Just because a player can jump doesn’t mean he can run, or change directions, or get low, or decelerate quickly. Every player has relative athletic strengths and weaknesses, and Jabari’s weaknesses happen to cap his offensive ceiling as a creator. 

Important Numbers: 

19: The age Jabari turns on May 13. He’s young!

42%: What Jabari shot on threes as a freshman at Auburn this season

10.7: Jabari’s threes attempted per 100 possessions, a ludicrous number for a college big man

80%: Jabari’s FT% this season, another one of his positive shooting indicators

52%: What Jabari shot at the rim, a really concerning number

0.9: Jabari’s points per possession out of isolations, a good number given…

14%:  …the frequency with which he had isolation plays. Higher than all the lotto prospects except Paolo

23.5%: Jabari’s defensive rebound percentage, a point higher than Obi’s college percentage and a point lower than Randle’s college percentage 

Knicks Fit: Jabari would fit well with the current Knicks core, sliding in as the small forward and pushing RJ to the 2. His best position long-term might be at power forward, where the Knicks have a bit of a logjam right now, but he’s versatile enough to play either forward spot and defend his position admirably. Jabari would offer spacing and defensive versatility (not to mention someone to defend taller stars) while on his rookie contract, and if his ball skills eventually come around, he’d be a lethal second option to whatever big fish the Knicks will have (hopefully) reeled in by then.