In his latest piece, The Oklahoman’s Joe Mussatto was able to speak to some people within Auburn forward Jabari Smith Jr.’s circle. Smith Jr. is projected to go first overall to the Orlando Magic in most mock drafts, so the Oklahoma City Thunder likely won’t get a shot to take him. But his high school coach Jon-Michael Nickerson revealed that Smith Jr. told him he would love to be drafted by the Thunder if given the chance.
“Before the NBA lottery, when the draft order was unknown, Nickerson said he and Smith had a conversation about the Thunder.
“Man, I would love to go there if that’s an option,” Nickerson remembered Smith saying.”
It’s a little eye-popping to read that both Smith Jr. and Gonzaga forward Chet Holmgren would be excited to be drafted by the Thunder. It just goes to show that despite being in Oklahoma City, younger players understand how well structured the Thunder runs its team.
The 2022 NBA draft is scheduled on June 23.
“Some practices I’m just like, ‘Yo, this shit is not normal.’”
We caught up with a few of Jabari Smith’s former coaches, including Auburn’s Bruce Pearl, to learn more about Smith and how he’d fit with the Thunder: https://t.co/ViLTLNiTlQ
— Joe Mussatto (@joe_mussatto) June 5, 2022
