Walker Kessler, Jabari Smith Jr. named to NBA All-Rookie teams
AUBURN — Walker Kessler and Jabari Smith Jr. have been named two of the top 10 rookies in the NBA this season.
Kessler earned first-team All-Rookie honors after finishing third in Rookie of the Year voting. Smith Jr. earned second-team All-Rookie honors.
“It’s incredible. I’m so happy for both Walker and Jabari,” Bruce Pearl said of both in February during All-Star festivities. “Everybody expected Jabari to be able to be there … (Kessler) is an untouchable commodity for the Utah Jazz right now.”
Kessler was drafted No. 22 overall by the Memphis Grizzlies last spring, traded to the Minnesota Timberwolves on draft day, then immediately traded to the Utah Jazz. Kessler averaged over nine points, over eight rebounds and over two blocks in his first season. Kessler’s block percentage was fourth best in the league. And Kessler’s 72 percent shooting mark was the best in the NBA. Against the Sacramento Kings, Kessler scored 31 points and grabbed 11 rebounds, making him the first Jazz rookie to record a 30-10 game.
Smith Jr. was drafted No. 3 overall by the Houston Rockets last spring. Smith Jr. averaged over 12 points and seven rebounds per game this season. One of Smith Jr.’s best games was against the Indiana Pacers, scoring 30 points and grabbing 12 rebounds. Smith Jr. was the first rookie in NBA history to score 1,000+ points, grab 500+ rebounds, block 50+ shots and make 100+ threes. Smith Jr. also finished with 16 double-doubles, the most in a season by a teenager in NBA history. The 16 total is four more than Kevin Garnett and five more than Carmelo Anthony recorded during their rookie seasons.
Walker Kessler and Jabari Smith Jr. join former Auburn players Charles Barkley, Chuck Person, Chris Morris, Wesley Person, Marquis Daniels and Isaac Okoro as NBA All-Rookie players.
“Jabari and Walker will be great ambassadors,” Pearl said last June. “They had great experiences on and off the court, with the student body, generally speaking, with the other athletes on campus. They’ve got friends on every team.”
