Age: 23
Years Pro: 3
Contract Status: Guaranteed contract for 2023-24 season with player option for 2024-25.
Key Stats: Averaged 9.4 points, 5.8 rebounds, and 0.9 blocks over 68 games (31 starts). Shot 47.6 percent from the field and 28.3 percent from 3-point range.
In his first full season wearing the Blue & Gold, Jalen Smith was one of the key big men on the roster and a top contributor to the highest-scoring bench in the NBA.
Smith, who is 6-foot-10 and 215 pounds, began the season as the team’s starting power forward, but in the middle of December moved into a backup center role as the Pacers moved to a smaller lineup with Aaron Nesmith and Andrew Nembhard inserted into the first five.
After moving to the bench, Smith, 23, found himself in a minutes battle with teammate Isaiah Jackson, which lasted much of the second half of the season. Daniel Theis, who played in seven games total this past season, also ate into the backup center minutes at times while the late addition of Jordan Nwora, who played at the four, also competed for minutes.
Smith played in 68 games total, starting 31 of them including the first 26, and averaged 18.8 minutes per game, 9.4 points, 5.8 rebounds and 1.0 assists while also totaling 60 blocks. While he shot a solid 47.6 percent from the field and 75.9 percent from the free throw line, he made just 28.3 percent from 3-point range on a team that shot the sixth-most threes in the league.
GALLERY: Jalen Smith's 2022-23 Season in Photos >>
Smith’s advanced stats show he averages 18.1 points, 11.1 rebounds and 1.7 blocks per 36 minutes.
Pacers coach Rick Carlisle complimented Smith and Jackson continually throughout the season on how they handled their varying minutes.
“They've all been great," Carlisle said. "They're all high-level people. High-character, team first guys."
Smith, who has a 7-2 wingspan, was the second-leading rebounder on the Pacers this past season, totaled the third-most blocks, and finished with seven double-doubles. He had a career-high 18 rebounds on Nov. 18 against the Houston Rockets and scored in double figures 59 times, including a personal best 23 points on Nov. 27 against the Los Angeles Clippers.
In the final stretch of the season, Smith saw more playing time like he did in the beginning of the season, averaging 21 minutes, 10.7 points and 6.2 rebounds per game over the last 15 games.
“It was a learning process throughout the whole (season) developing-wise," Smith said. “I’m still young. This was pretty much my first full NBA season so there were still a lot of learning things going on. Everything happens for a reason -- that’s the way I look at it, with an optimistic outlook.”
Compared to the previous season, Smith nearly matched his points and rebounds per game averages – with his games from the Pacers (22) and Phoenix Suns (29) combined – but his field goal percentage dipped to 47.6 percent after shooting 50.3 percent during 2021-2022.
Moving from his natural position at center to playing extended minutes at the four was an adjustment for Smith, and he said much of his time this summer will be working on developing his game to be able to play both positions at a high level.
Smith said he has a “chip on his shoulder,” which will drive him to improve his game.
“Every challenge and every obstacle helped me grow and helped me become a better person and better basketball player,” Smith said.
Jalen Smith 2023 Exit Interview
2023 Pacers.com Player Review Schedule
April 17: Tyrese Haliburton
April 18: Myles Turner
April 19: Andrew Nembhard
April 20: Jordan Nwora
April 21: Aaron Nesmith
April 22: Isaiah Jackson
April 23: James Johnson
April 24: Bennedict Mathurin
April 25: T.J. McConnell
April 26: Oshae Brissett
April 27: Chris Duarte
April 28: Jalen Smith
April 29: Gabe York
April 30: Kendall Brown
May 1: George Hill
May 2: Daniel Theis
May 3: Buddy Hield