Houston Rockets forward Jabari Smith Jr. began Friday by saying he could beat Michael Jordan one-on-one. The former Auburn standout ended the day by scoring five points in the Jordan Rising Stars.

Smith’s claim about Jordan is conditional. The rookie was asked at a press conference for the Rising Stars event if he could beat Jordan one-on-one. After learning Jordan was turning 60 years old on Friday, Smith said he should be able to.

“Happy birthday, M.J.,” Smith said. “I’m beating you at one-on-one right now, for sure. … If a 60-year-old beats me, I need to hang it up.”

Jordan was a 14-time selection for the NBA All-Star Game. Smith is in Salt Lake City, where the 72nd annual NBA All-Star Game will be played on Sunday. But he’s not there to play in that contest.

Smith participated in the Jordan Rising Stars, a showcase for first- and second-year NBA players and NBA G League standouts.

A seven-player G League entry joined three teams of seven NBA players apiece coached by former NBA standouts in the Rising Stars, which featured semifinal games played to 40 points and a final game played to 25.

Playing for Joakim Noah’s team, Smith had four points and one rebound in a 40-32 victory over the G League squad and one point and two rebounds in the final game – a 25-20 loss to the team coached by Pau Gasol.

Gasol’s team had advanced to the final by beating the team coached by Deron Williams 40-25. Former Auburn standout and Utah Jazz rookie Walker Kessler had two points, one rebound, one assist and two blocked shots for the losing team.

Both Smith and Kessler will be back in action on Saturday in the Kia Skills Challenge.

In the three-team event, Kessler will be joined by former Alabama standout Collin Sexton and Jordan Clarkson to represent the Jazz in the competition.

Smith is on an all-rookie team with the Orlando Magic’s Paolo Banchero and Detroit Pistons’ Jaden Ivey.

The third team is comprised of the Antetokounmpo brothers – Giannis and Thanasis of the Milwaukee Bucks and Alex of the G League’s Wisconsin Herd.

The Kia Skills Challenge will be held at 7 p.m. CST Saturday at Vivint Arena in Salt Lake City. TNT will televise the event.

The third player picked in the 2022 NBA Draft, Smith has averaged 12.0 points, 7.0 rebounds, 1.2 assists and 1.0 blocked shots per game in 55 games for the Rockets.

The 22nd player picked in the 2022 NBA Draft, Kessler has averaged 8.2 points, 7.7 rebounds and 2.1 blocked shots in 57 games for the Jazz.

The 72nd NBA All-Star Game will be played at 7:30 p.m. Sunday at Vivint Arena. TNT will televise the game.

Mark Inabinett is a sports reporter for Alabama Media Group. Follow him on Twitter at @AMarkG1.