newYou can now listen to Fox News articles!
Auburn’s Jabari Smith Jr. Could Potentially Be No. 1 Pick In Thursday’s NBA Draft,
But if you ask him, he will say that when orlando magic Get on the clock
Former Auburn player Jabari Smith talks to the media after a pre-draft workout with the Orlando Magic at Amway Center on June 9, 2022.
(Ricardo Ramirez Buxeda / Orlando Sentinel / Tribune News Service via Getty Images)
“I’d be surprised if I’m not taken No. 1,” Smith told Yahoo Sports on Thursday. “It’s just my competitive nature with my selflessness and my ability to shoot the ball, defend multiple positions and care about winning.
“I don’t care about stats. I think I can help any team right away. But I think I’m the No. 1 pick.”
CLICK HERE FOR MORE SPORTS COVERAGE ON FOXNEWS.COM
Smith, Chet Holmgren and Paolo Banchero are among the three players who could be the No. 1 player overall. But ESPN reported that the NBA draft was “increasingly firm” with Smith, Holmgren and Banchero 1-2-3.
“The city of Orlando was really nice,” Smith told Yahoo. “They’re heading in the right direction. They’ve got a new head coach, Jamahal Mosley. It was great talking to them. It was nice talking to the GM, and you can tell they’re headed in the right direction and the future is bright.” I want to be a part of it. I can’t wait.”
NBA Draft 2022: Johnny Davis ‘excited’ to start, won’t be close to his family
A behind-the-scenes photo of NBA Draft prospect Jabari Smith Jr. posing for a portrait during media availability as part of the 2022 NBA Draft June 22, 2022 at Westin Times Square in New York City.
(Mike Lawrence/NBAE via Getty Images)
Smith averaged 16.9 points in his game and 7.4 rebounds per game Lonely Years with the Tigers, He was named SEC Freshman of the Year and won the Wayman Tisdale Award for being the top men’s freshman basketball player in the country.
Smith was a star his high school years.
He helped America clinch a gold medal at the FIBA Americas Under-16 Championship in Brazil in 2019. He was also a McDonald’s All-American and Mr. Georgia Basketball in 2021.
Magic will be the No. 1 pick in this year’s draft. This will be the fourth time in their history that they will have a top pick. In 2004, the last time he picked No. 1, he picked Dwight Howard.
Jabari Smith of the Auburn Tigers reacts in the final seconds of the second half against the Miami Hurricanes during the second round of the 2022 NCAA Tournament at Bon Secours Wellness Arena on March 20, 2022 in Greenville, SC.
(Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)
Click here to get Fox News App
Orlando finished with a 22-60 record in 2021-22.