Walker Kessler, Jabari Smith trade jabs following NBA Draft selections

Walker Kessler had some fun with Auburn teammate Jabari Smith following Kessler’s first round NBA Draft selection to the Minnesota Timberwolves, who sent Kessler a congratulations video following the pick.

“I just want to say congratulations to my man, my friend, my brother, Walker Kessler,” Smith, who was drafted No. 3 to the Houston Rockets earlier in the night, said. “Congratulations. I can’t wait to compete against you at the next level, man. The future’s bright.”

Kessler and Smith both played their high school basketball in Georgia, where Kessler was the No. 1 senior in the state during his final year at Woodward Academy (ranked as a four-star recruit, per the On3 Consensus). Smith was ranked as the No. 1 junior that same year, and the two duked it out in a playoff game that Kessler made sure to rub in Smith’s face.

“I just want to say – you’re talking about playing me – I just want you to remember, Elite Eight my senior year state playoffs,” Kessler responded. “Who won that game? I’ll just leave it at that.”

Jokes aside, the two former Auburn stars led the Tigers to one of the most successful seasons in program history during the 2021-2022 season, helping lead the Tigers to a 28-6 overall record, a 15-3 record in SEC play and, at one point, the program’s first-ever No. 1 ranking during the regular season. Auburn wound up as a No. 2 seed in the NCAA Tournament field, eventually falling to Miami in the round of 32.

As a sophomore, Kessler was one of their premier post players in the SEC with 11.4 points, 8.1 rebounds per game – not to mention his impressive 4.6 blocks per game. Smith on the other hand, averaged 16.9 points and 7.4 rebounds per game while shooting 42.9% from the field, including 42% from three-point territory, as a freshman in 2021-22.

As a result, Smith was named the National Freshman of the Year by the National Association of Basketball Coaches and was a second team All-American.

Now, both will take to the NBA’s Western Conference in the hopes to lead their teams as Smith will look to avenge his high school loss to Kessler down the road during their NBA careers.