Jalen Smith facts for kids
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Smith with the Indiana Pacers in 2022
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| No. 7 – Chicago Bulls | |
|---|---|
| Center / power forward | |
| Personal information | |
| Born | March 16, 2000 Portsmouth, Virginia, U.S. |
| High school | Mount Saint Joseph (Baltimore, Maryland) |
| Listed height | 6 ft 9 in (2.06 m) |
| Listed weight | 215 lb (98 kg) |
| Career information | |
| College | Maryland (2018–2020) |
| NBA Draft | 2020 / Round: 1 / Pick: 10th overall |
| Selected by the Phoenix Suns | |
| Pro career | 2020–present |
| League | NBA |
| Career history | |
| 2020–2022 | Phoenix Suns |
| 2021 | →Agua Caliente Clippers |
| 2022–2024 | Indiana Pacers |
| 2024–present | Chicago Bulls |
| Career highlights and awards | |
Jalen Rasheed Smith (born March 16, 2000) is an American professional basketball player. He plays for the Chicago Bulls in the National Basketball Association (NBA). People sometimes call him "Stix". Before joining the NBA, he played college basketball for the Maryland Terrapins.
Jalen was chosen 10th overall in the 2020 NBA draft by the Phoenix Suns. He even made it to the NBA Finals with the Suns during his first year. In February 2022, he moved to the Indiana Pacers.
Contents
Jalen Smith's Early Life
Jalen Smith was born in Portsmouth, Virginia. His parents are Charles and Orletha Smith. He went to Mount Saint Joseph High School in Baltimore, Maryland. In his senior year, he was a star player. He scored about 22 points, grabbed 12 rebounds, and blocked 4 shots per game.
Jalen won many awards in high school. He was named the Gatorade Maryland Boys Basketball Player of the Year twice. He was also chosen for the McDonald's All-American team in 2018. This team features the best high school basketball players in the country. Experts like Rivals, 247Sports, and ESPN ranked him as one of the top 25 players in his age group.
College Basketball Career
On November 8, 2017, Jalen officially decided to play for Maryland. He had chosen Maryland over other big schools like Villanova and Virginia.
Freshman Season at Maryland
As a freshman, Jalen played very well. He averaged 11.7 points, 6.8 rebounds, and 1.2 blocks per game. In the NCAA Tournament, he scored 19 points and had 12 rebounds against Belmont. In the next game, he got 15 points, 8 rebounds, and a personal best of 5 blocks against LSU.
Sophomore Season at Maryland
Jalen continued to shine in his second year. On December 4, 2019, he scored 15 points and grabbed a career-high 16 rebounds against Notre Dame. On January 21, 2020, he scored his career-high of 25 points and had 11 rebounds against Northwestern.
At the end of the season, Jalen was recognized as one of the best players. He was named to the First Team All-Big Ten. He also made the Big Ten All-Defensive Team. The Associated Press and The Sporting News named him a Third Team All-American. As a sophomore, he averaged 15.5 points, 10.5 rebounds, and 2.4 blocks per game. After this great season, Jalen decided to enter the 2020 NBA draft.
Jalen Smith's Professional Career
Playing for the Phoenix Suns (2020–2022)
The Phoenix Suns picked Jalen Smith as the 10th overall player in the 2020 NBA draft. On November 24, 2020, he officially signed with the Suns.
During his first year, Jalen didn't play much for the Suns. So, on February 15, 2021, he was sent to the Agua Caliente Clippers in the NBA G League to get more playing time. He was called back to the Suns on February 26, 2021. Jalen's rookie season ended with the Suns reaching the NBA Finals. However, they lost to the Milwaukee Bucks in 6 games.
Playing for the Indiana Pacers (2022–2024)
On February 10, 2022, Jalen was traded to the Indiana Pacers. He moved to the Pacers along with a future draft pick, in exchange for another player.
On July 1, 2022, Jalen signed a new two-year deal with the Pacers. The team's coach, Rick Carlisle, said Jalen would be a starter and an "important part of our future." On November 18, Jalen had a career-high 18 rebounds against the Houston Rockets. On November 27, he scored a career-high 23 points against the Los Angeles Clippers. For the rest of the 2022–23 season, Jalen often moved in and out of the starting lineup.
For the 2023–24 season, Jalen became the main backup player for the center position behind Myles Turner. On November 8, 2023, he had his first "double-double" of the season. This means he got double digits in two different stats (16 points and 11 rebounds) in a win against the Utah Jazz.
Playing for the Chicago Bulls (2024–Present)
On July 8, 2024, Jalen Smith signed a three-year contract with the Chicago Bulls.
Personal Life
Jalen's father, Charles, used to be a Chief in the Navy. Jalen is known by his nickname, "Stix." However, after he gained more muscle for the 2019–20 college season, his coach Mark Turgeon started calling him "Logs."
See also
In Spanish: Jalen Smith para niños
