Jabari Smith opens up on following his father's footsteps after going No. 3 in NBA Draft

The Houston Rockets top pick in the 2022 NBA Draft, former Auburn Tigers forward Jabari Smith finally completed his journey to the NBA, following in his father’s footsteps. And during the Rockets rookie introductory press conference, Smith opens up and explains just what it means to him to live out this dream finally.

“It feels good, you know what I mean,” said Smith. “Knowing what my dad has done with this game of basketball, knowing my family has done this game of basketball, it’s good to know that I’m here. I created a name for myself, and I’m just happy to live on with that Smith on my back; just make it more known and just keep it going.”

Smith is the highest draft pick in the history of the Auburn program. Chuck Person and Chris Morris were previously Auburn’s highest-ever NBA Draft picks. Both were selected No. 4 in 1986 and 1988 respectively. Charles Barkley and Isaac Okoro were selected No. 5 in 1984 and 2020. His father’s journey to the NBA, on the other hand, was a bit different. The elder Smith was a second-round pick made by the Sacramento Kings in the 2000 NBA Draft. His professional career spanned ten years. But of those ten years, four were spent in the NBA.

Regardless of their journeys, the Smiths become another father-son duo to play at the highest level professionally. And that is great for the Smith family, no matter which way you look at it.

Jabari Smith reveals which NBA players he models his game after

Growing up, every young basketball player models their game after someone playing in the NBA. And the former Auburn Tigers forward Jabari Smith is no different. During the Houston Rockets rookie introductory press conference, Smith revealed which past and present NBA players he patents his game after.

“I think it’s a mixture of a lot of people. I don’t like to single out one person ’cause there’s just so many good players in league and so many people who can do so many things,” said Smith.

Heading into the draft, Smith was a consensus top-three pick after bursting onto the scene for Auburn this past season. He 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, he was named the National Freshman of the Year by the National Association of Basketball Coaches and was a second-team All-American.

Smith was a big piece for Auburn in 2021-22, 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.