When Chet Holmgren was picked up with the second pick in the 2022 NBA Draft, it was to the delight of Thunder fans all across the globe. Holmgren, who was coming off an amazing run at Gonzaga, was projected to fall in the top three and showed a lot of promise as a stretch big man and future star.
But when the Thunder selected Holmgren that night, it apparently cut a deep wound for Jabari Smith Jr., who was promised by the organization that he’d be drafted instead.
Of course, Jabari went 3rd to Houston, and that story is still being written today. Looking back, however, OKC’s broken promise to Jabari was a moment neither he nor his father will ever forget.
Jabari Smith Jr. Freaks Out On Draft Night
Smith Sr. recently spoke about the moment in an interview with Andscape and revealed his reaction after remembering what the Thunder had told him ahead of the big day.
“They called Chet Holmgren’s name, and he lost it. He is almost in tears. And I forgot that he told me that OKC promised to draft him, so I got to keep my mouth closed about that. I talked to him, ‘Well, hey, what are you doing? Straighten your face, man. You good.’ You know the camera was right at the table.”
Jabari had trouble keeping it together until his father spoke up and explained to his son the reality of his situation.
While rookies don’t always end up where they think or want to go, it’s important not to lose sight of how special it is to make the league in the first place. Smith Jr. quickly came to realize this fact and came to recognize it as a moment to celebrate.
“First of all, you’re a millionaire. Second of all, I don’t think he understand the numbers of how many people in the world that play basketball who would love to just be in this room. It’s a blessing.”
Jabari’s career is still a work in progress, and the jury is still out on what kind of player he is going to be in the NBA, but it’s hard not to think about how different things might be for him had he been drafted by the Thunder.
In Houston, his play is going largely unnoticed on a team with no purpose or plan. Despite being deep in a rebuild, the Rockets haven’t developed any of their young players over the years and aren’t showing the signs of improvement that fans have been hoping for.
Meanwhile, in Oklahoma City, they’ve been the Cinderella story of the year so far… and it’s been all without Holmgren who has missed the entire season with a foot injury.
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