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 2022 NBA Draft, some draft experts compared Smith’s offensive game to that of Brooklyn Nets superstar forward Kevin Durant. And although he didn’t single out anyone when it came to who he patents his game after, Durant’s name did come up in the list of players he enjoys to watch.

“I would have to say guys like Kevin Durant, Jayson Tatum, Bam (Adebayo) you know people who could just affect the game on both ends are the people I like to watch. That’s kind of what I like to look at and try to see myself being.”

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.

Jabari Smith reveals how not going No. 1 will give motivate him in NBA

The Rockets third overall pick in the 2022 NBA Draft out of Auburn, Jabari Smith, was not expected to still be on the board when it came time for Houston to select. Smith was the odds-on favorite to be the top pick in the draft taken by the Orlando Magic. However, Orlando had other things in mind and selected Duke Blue Devils forward Paolo Banchero with a top pick. During the Rockets introductory press conference, Smith revealed how not going No. 1 will be used to motivate him throughout his NBA career.

“It’s a mixture of both you know what I mean,” said Jabari Smith when asked whether he was happy or upset at not going No. 1. “Like I just got drafted to the NBA, so I’m excited. I don’t care if I was picked third or if I was picked 52, either way I’m happy. I’m happy to be here happy to be with this organization and of course I’ll use it as a chip on my shoulder. But at the end of the day, all of that is behind me and none of that really matters no more. I’m happy to be where I’m am.”