Jabari Smtih Jr. was the third overall pick by Houston in the 2022 NBA Draft… entering 2024-25, he started all 155 of his games played while averaging 13.3 ppg, 7.6 rpg and 1.4 apg… Smith was an NBA All-Rookie Second Team selection in 2022-23 and became the youngest player in NBA history to have recorded at least 20 points and 10 rebounds in three straight games (3/9-3/13/23)… he is the first player in NBA history to have reached his totals of points, rebounds, blocks and 3FGM through the first 155 games of a career.

Smith was an early entry candidate for the 2022 NBA Draft following his freshman season at Auburn… he averaged 16.9 ppg, 7.4 rpg, 2.0 apg, 1.1 spg and 1.0 bpg along with 2.3 3FGM on 42.0% shooting… Smith earned consensus second-team All-American honors and was named National Freshman of the Year by the National Association of Basketball Coaches (NABC) and the U.S. Basketball Writers Association (USBWA).

Smith is the son of Jabari Smith Sr. and Taneskia Purnell... his father was the 45th overall pick by Sacramento in the 2000 NBA Draft and played four seasons in the NBA in addition to playing overseas… Smith is the cousin of Kwame Brown, who as the first overall pick in 2001 and played 12 seasons in the NBA… as a senior at Sandy Creek High School outside of Atlanta, Smith was named Mr. Georgia Basketball and Georgia Gatorade Player of the Year… he was a McDonald’s All-American and was selected to both the Jordan Brand Classic and Nike Hoops Summit… Smith won a gold medal playing for the United States at the 2019 FIBA Under-16 Championship… he was selected to the USA Basketball Men’s Select Team to help prepare the national team for the 2024 Paris Olympics.