Houston Rockets rookie Jabari Smith appeared to have one of the more straightforward projections of any lottery pick in the 2022 NBA draft.
The Auburn forward jockeyed with Gonzaga big man Chet Holmgren and Duke forward Paolo Banchero for the top slot in this year's draft, and while both Holmgren and Banchero blended major upside with notable questions marks, Smith projected to be a near-guaranteed plus player on both ends of the floor. Smith's defensive acumen has been evident since his first weeks in Houston. He's a quality mover in space and an impressive rotational defender, bringing a veteran's instincts that make him, in Stephen Silas' words, "a joy to coach.