Smith believed he would be selected before the No. 3 spot in last June's draft, according to recent comments from his father and former NBA player Jabari Smith Sr. The elder Smith told Andscape's Marc Spears Wednesday his son believed he was going to Oklahoma City at No. 2 after being bypassed for the top pick, a scenario that was "promised" by Thunder executives.
"So, they called Chet Holmgren's name, and [Jabari] lost it," Smith Sr. said. "Leg went to shaking. I looked at him. 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.