Auburn Tigers in the NBA: Feb. 11 edition 

With Auburn now having several former basketball players playing professionally, we’ve launched a weekly look at the Tigers in the NBA. Here’s a quick overview of how they’re doing this season.

WALKER KESSLER, UTAH

SEASON: Rookie

MARKET WATCH: Stock up

UP-TO-DATE KEY STATS: 8.3 pts., 7.5 rebs., 2.0 blks. (Jan. 14 update: 7.0 pts., 6.7 rebs., 2.0 blks.)

GAMES/STARTS: 54/20

MINUTES PER GAME: 20.8

FIELD GOAL %: 71.6

BEST GAME: 1-16 vs. Minnesota (W): 20 pts., 21 rebs., 2 blks.

WORST GAME: 10-24 vs. Houston (L): 0 pts., on 0-for-1 shooting, 4 fouls in eight minutes.

HIGH POINT TOTAL: 23

BEST REBOUND TOTAL: 21

HIGH BLOCK TOTAL: 7

BEST ASSIST TOTAL: 4

WHAT THEY’RE SAYING: “Last week, Utah Jazz radio play-by-play man David Locke tweeted the following: “If you are starting a franchise tomorrow would you take Rudy Gobert or Walker Kessler?”

Among replies to the tweet, mostly from Jazz fans, this one stuck out: ‘Kessler. Defense seems to have a comparable ceiling but Kessler’s offensive game will far surpass Rudy’s.‘

Despite the reality that any debate starts and ends with Gobert’s $200 million contract, I found this response interesting. Not only does it capture the general tone out of Salt Lake City (at least based on the replies to this one tweet), but it also begs the question: Can Kessler, a rookie, one day surpass what Gobert brought to the Jazz for a decade?

It’s an interesting (and fair) question. Kessler, the 21-year-old, 7-footer who was taken with the 22nd pick (from Auburn) in June and thrown into the Gobert trade over the summer, has emerged as a shot-blocking force for the Jazz. Meanwhile, Gobert has become the avatar for Minnesota’s disappointing season. Needless to say, the vibes around both players are very, very different.” — Real GM

CHUMA OKEKE, ORLANDO

SEASON: Third

MARKET WATCH: Injured (Hasn’t played since Nov. 21)

UP-TO-DATE KEY STATS: 5.4 pts., 4.2 rebs., 1.4 asts. (Jan. 14 update: 5.4 pts., 4.2 rebs., 1.4 asts.)

GAMES/STARTS: 18/7

MINUTES PER GAME: 21.8

FIELD GOAL %: 36.8

BEST GAME: 11-3 vs. Golden State (W): 16 pts., 9 rebs., 3 ast.

WORST GAME: 10-24 vs. New York (L): 0 pts., on 0-for-5 shooting, 1 turnover.

HIGH POINT TOTAL: 16

BEST REBOUND TOTAL: 9

HIGH BLOCK TOTAL: 2

BEST ASSIST TOTAL: 3

WHAT THEY’RE SAYING: “Okeke (knee) won’t be available for Saturday’s game against the Heat while he remains on assignment with the G League’s Lakeland Magic.

(The former Auburn player) appears to be healthy again after requiring arthroscopic left knee surgery, but Orlando is having him regain conditioning in the G League before clearing him to rejoin the NBA squad. Because he’s a young player who may not have a regular spot in the NBA rotation the rest of the season, Okeke could play at least a few more games in the G League before getting called back up to Orlando. After being assigned to the G League on Monday, Okeke made his first appearance for Lakeland in Friday’s 124-115 loss to the Salt Lake City Stars. He played 19 minutes and finished with 10 points (4-9 FG, 2-6 3Pt), two rebounds, one steal and one block.” — CBS Sports

ISAAC OKORO, CLEVELAND

SEASON: Third

MARKET WATCH: Trending up.

UP-TO-DATE KEY STATS: 6.4 pts., 2.6 rebs., 0.4 blks., 1.2 asts. (Jan. 14 update: 5.3 pts., 2.4 rebs., 0.4 blks., 0.8 asts. )

GAMES/STARTS: 58/28

MINUTES PER GAME: 20.9

FIELD GOAL %: 49.8

BEST GAME: 2-5 vs. Indiana (W): 20 pts., 3 rebs.

WORST GAME: 10-19 vs. Toronto (L): 0 pts., 4 fouls

HIGH POINT TOTAL: 20

BEST REBOUND TOTAL: 7

HIGH BLOCK TOTAL: 2

BEST ASSIST TOTAL: 5

WHAT THEY’RE SAYING: “The question wasn’t even directed at him. But Cleveland Cavaliers All-Star center Jarrett Allen couldn’t hold back. Allen leaned forward, grabbed the microphone and praised teammate Isaac Okoro — a youngster (from Auburn) prematurely labeled a draft bust and one chided for his vast offensive shortcomings.

‘A lot of people don’t know, but Ice is one of the hardest workers when it comes to shooting the 3-ball,’ Allen said. ‘Anytime we go to shootaround or practice, Ice is the first one in and the last one out. This is just the example of how much that work is paying off. I wanted to say that one. Ice deserves it.’

Since the calendar flipped to 2023, no one has been better from 3-point range than Okoro. At least, when counting everyday players who have attempted more than one triple per game.

Not Buddy Hield. Not Desmond Bane. Or Stephen Curry. Not prolific snipers Lauri Markkanen, Kentavious Caldwell-Pope, Bojan Bogdanovic, Doug McDermott or Kevin Huerter. Not even accomplished teammates Darius Garland or Donovan Mitchell.

No one.” –– Cleveland.com

JABARI SMITH JR., HOUSTON

SEASON: Rookie

MARKET WATCH: Holding steady but still not shooting well.

UP-TO-DATE KEY STATS: 12.0 pts., 6.9 rebs., 1.0 blks., 1.2 asts. (Jan. 14 update: 12.1 pts., 7.1 rebs., 1.0 blks., 0.9 asts.)

GAMES/STARTS: 53/53

MINUTES PER GAME: 29.8

FIELD GOAL %: 39.2

BEST GAME: 12-23 vs. Dallas (L): 24 pts., 10 rebs., 1 blk., 3 asts.

WORST GAME: 11-2 vs. LA Clippers (L): 2 pts., on 1-for-10 shooting, 2 turnovers.

HIGH POINT TOTAL: 27

BEST REBOUND TOTAL: 15

HIGH BLOCK TOTAL: 3

BEST ASSIST TOTAL: 4

WHAT THEY’RE SAYING: “Fans of the team hope that adding a player of top-five quality and magnitude can immediately be ready to compete against the types of teams who made deep runs in the playoffs the previous season.

Unfortunately, it often doesn’t work that way, as it takes time to adapt to the playing style of the NBA. You cannot rush the process. If a player tries to do that, he will be adding stress onto himself, which will also hinder his developmental process.

That is what 19-year-old Houston Rockets rookie Jabari Smith Jr. (of Auburn) is going through right now, as he tries to figure out his role on a team with four starters under age 23.” — Yahoo

JT THOR, CHARLOTTE

SEASON: Second

MARKET WATCH: Holding steady

UP-TO-DATE KEY STATS: 2.7 pts., 1.7 rebs., 0.4 blks. (Jan. 14 update: 2.9 pts., 1.8 rebs., 0.3 blks)

GAMES/STARTS: 44/0

MINUTES PER GAME: 10.8

FIELD GOAL %: 37.1

BEST GAME: 11-4 vs. Memphis (L): 11 pts., 5 rebs., 2 asts., 1 blk.

WORST GAME: 10-28 vs. Orlando (L): 0 pts., 1 turnover

HIGH POINT TOTAL: 11

HIGH REBOUND TOTAL: 6

BEST BLOCK TOTAL: 2

WHAT THEY’RE SAYING: “(Former Auburn player) JT Thor looks like he could spend some more time in Greensboro because he’s not there yet.” — Sports Illustrated