Auburn first-rounders earn NBA All-Rookie recognition
Two first-round draft choices from Auburn in June have earned recognition on the Kia NBA All-Rookie teams for the 2022-23 season.
Utah Jazz center Walker Kessler received a spot on the NBA All-Rookie first team, and Houston Rockets forward Jabari Smith Jr. garnered second-team recognition. The NBA announced the All-Rookie honors on Monday afternoon.
Kessler had finished third in the voting for the NBA’s Rookie of the Year Award.
Chosen at No. 22 by the Memphis Grizzlies in the 2022 NBA Draft, Kessler averaged 9.2 points, 8.4 rebounds and 2.3 blocks while playing center in 74 games, with 40 starts, for Utah after being traded twice before his first NBA season.
Kessler started the final 34 games that he played this season and averaged 11.9 points, 10.5 rebounds, 1.3 assists and 2.9 blocks in that span. Kessler missed the final four games of Utah’s season after sustaining a concussion.
Kessler led the NBA’s rookies with 20 games with at least 10 points and 10 rebounds, and his .720 shooting percentage was the second-best in NBA history for a player with at least 400 shots in a season.
Kessler received 95 first-team votes and five second-team votes from the panel of 100 media members making the selections.
Joining Kessler on the NBA All-Rookie first team were Orlando Magic forward Paolo Banchero, Indiana Pacers forward Bennedict Mathurin, Sacramento Kings forward Keegan Murray and Oklahoma City Thunder guard Jalen Williams.
Chosen at No. 3 by the Rockets in the 2022 NBA Draft, Smith averaged 12.8 points, 7.2 rebounds and 1.3 assists while starting 79 games for Houston.
In his final 20 games, Smith averaged 15.8 points, 7.7 rebounds and 1.5 assists and reached his scoring high with 30 points in a 134-125 loss to the Indiana Pacers on March 9.
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Smith received one first-team vote and 70 second-team votes for All-Rookie.
Joining Smith on the All-Rookie second team were Detroit Pistons center Jalen Duren and guard Jaden Ivey, Rockets forward Tari Eason and San Antonio Spurs forward Jeremy Sochan.
Utah Jazz center Walker Kessler scores during an NBA game against the Sacramento Kings on March 20, 2023, at Vivint Arena in Salt Lake City.(Photo by Alex Goodlett/Getty Images)
Mark Inabinett is a sports reporter for Alabama Media Group. Follow him on Twitter at @AMarkG1.