Jabari Smith reveals how not going No. 1 will 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 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.”

Before the draft could get underway, the odds in Vegas switched from Smith going number one to the Magic to Banchero. The odds makers clearly knew something that we didn’t, as their switch proved to be correct. However, despite not going No. 1 to Orlando, Smith appears to be relatively unfazed by it. And that is a good thing to hear for rockets fans since now he and the Rockets top selection from the 2021 NBA draft Jalen Green are set to get the ball rolling on turning the franchise around.

Smith reacts to selection by Houston Rockets

“What’s up H-Town? I’m here. I’m excited to be a Rocket. And y’all won’t regret it. I’m ready to get there and get to work! Let’s get it!” Jabari Smith said in the video after his pick at No. 3 overall.

Reporters asked the former Tiger if he was surprised that he didn’t go No. 1 after all the rumors.

“Definitely added a chip, but God makes no mistakes, so I’m happy to be here,” Smith said. “I’m happy to be where I’m wanted. I’m happy to get to Houston and just show them, give them what they picked. Just happy to be here.”

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.

Out of high school, Jabari Smith was a five-star recruit and the No. 6 prospect in the nation from the class of 2021, according to the On3 Consensus, a complete and equally weighted industry-generated average that utilizes all four major recruiting media companies.