Rockets take Jabari Smith with third overall pick

By Tyler Tyre, Sports Editor
Posted 6/24/22

The Rockets had the presumed No. 1 pick fall in their laps and took no time pouncing, as Houston took Jamari Smith with the No. 3 pick in the draft, adding to an already exciting young team brewing in Houston.

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Rockets take Jabari Smith with third overall pick

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A big surprise came on draft night for the Houston Rockets.

For months, almost every mock draft had Jabari Smith Jr. going No. 1 overall to the Orlando Magic, but come draft night, the Magic had different plans.

Orlando shocked everyone by passing on Smith, not to take Chet Holmgren, who had been mocked to No. 2 in most drafts, but to take Paolo Banchero, who most Rockets fans expected to fall Houston with the No. 3 pick.

The Rockets had the presumed No. 1 pick fall in their laps and took no time pouncing, as Houston took Jamari Smith with the No. 3 pick in the draft, adding to an already exciting young team brewing in Houston.

Smith, who spent one year at Auburn brings two elite skills that are greatly needed for the Rockets in 3-point shooting and defending on both the perimeter and in the post.

Smith knows what it means to have his name selected in the NBA draft, and is ecstatic to get to Houston and get to work.

“Houston is getting somebody who is a hard worker, who’s going to come in with a chip on their shoulder and compete from day one,” Smith said. “I’m someone who doesn’t care about stats and someone who is going to do anything that the team needs me to do. Whether that’s defend, score, anything they need I’ll be ready. They’re getting a guy who is going to work from day one and they’re getting someone who hates to lose. All I care is that W and I want to help Houston.”

Smith excelled during his time at Auburn, averaging 16.9 points, 7.4 rebounds and over one block and steal per game. He also shot 42% from the three point line, showing his prowess as a catch and shoot player.

He also is coming to Houston with a chip on his shoulder, wanting to prove that he deserved to be a No. 1 pick, the same way that Jalen Green came to Houston a year ago.

“I feel like I have something to prove out there,” Smith said. “But the most important thing for me is to win games, that’s just how I was raised and who I am. I’m just going to come in and try to win games and I know that if I do that and I come in trying to win it, everything will take care of itself. I’m looking forward to a big year.”

Houston followed up the No. 17 pick, selecting Tari Eason out of LSU, who will also add strong defense to the Rockets as he was widely considered one of the best defenders in the draft.

And after Houston traded back from the No. 26 to the No. 29 pick, the Rockets selected Kentucky freshman point guard TyTy Washington.

Washington was a force for the Wildcats early on in the season, shooting 50% from the field and 40% from three while also providing solid defense over his first 19 collegiate games, but after an ankle injury he was not the same for Kentucky and he didn’t have the type of workouts teams liked, causing him to slip from a projected top 10 pick all the way to No. 29.

All three picks are excited to get to Houston, and for Smith, he knows he has the drive to succeed at the next level.

“I’m going to keep being someone who goes the extra mile and someone who always thinks they aren’t working hard enough,” Smith said. “Whether that’s doing extra after the workouts or whatever it is I’m going to do it. I want to have extra left in the tank and always want to be better, that’s the type of person I am.”

Houston Rockets, sports, NBA, basketball, NBA Draft