Welcome to SB Nation Reacts, a survey of fans across the NBA. Throughout the year we ask questions of the most plugged-in Rockets fans and fans across the country.
There’s been a couple lists making their rounds on social media discussing some of the biggest NBA Draft busts of the last 20 years. One of the names that stood out to me was Jabari Smith Jr.
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Smith fell to third overall with the Rockets in the 2022 NBA Draft after the Orlando Magic ran a feint and took Paolo Banchero first overall, and then infamously, Smith had not a single play run for him during the Stephen Silas years in Houston. He’s been more involved since Ime Udoka came over, with Smith’s defensive effort and versatility earning him some top minutes for Udoka, but he’s still carrying career averages of just 13.7 points, 7.3 rebounds and 1 block per game. That being said, he’s coming off of the best season of his career, averaging 15.8 points, 6.9 rebounds, and 1 block. He had a career-high 36.3 percent shooting from deep.
Do you consider Smith a draft bust being that he was regarded as possibly the best player in the draft coming into it in 2022?
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