Houston Rockets forward Jabari Smith Jr. caused a stir during last year’s NBA All-Star Weekend by saying he could beat Michael Jordan one-on-one.

Back for the Rising Stars event this year, the former Auburn standout didn’t back down from last year’s statement – with the same caveat: He gets to play the current Michael Jordan, who turned 61 years old on Saturday.

“Michael Jordan is not beating me one-on-one at 61 years old,” Smith said. “No way. …

“I’m going to crowd his space. I don’t think he’s getting around me. I think he’ll score a bucket, just out of respect for him. I’ve seen him still play. I’m sure he could probably sneak one in, me being generous.”

Jordan was a 14-time selection for the NBA All-Star Game, 10-time NBA scoring champion, six-time NBA champion and five-time NBA MVP.

Smith was more generous to his father, who played 108 NBA games in five seasons.

“He could score on me right now – on the block,” Smith said about Jabari Smith Sr., who is 47 years old. “He’s bigger than me, so, like, he could score on the block.”

Smith Jr. was in Indianapolis for the NBA All-Star Weekend to play in the Panini Rising Stars event, which featured the league’s top first- and second-year players in a Friday night tournament.

In his second season, Smith has averaged 13.2 points, 8.4 rebounds and 1.4 assists in 49 games.

After joining the Rockets as the third pick in the 2022 NBA Draft, Smith averaged 12.8 points, 7.2 rebounds and 1.3 assists in 79 games as a rookie.

At 24-30, Houston reached the all-star break with more victories than the Rockets had in the 2022-23 season, when they finished 22-60.

Houston’s record still leaves it outside the current playoff standings – 3.5 games behind the Golden State Warriors for the final spot in the play-in tournament.

The Rockets return to the court at 6 p.m. CST Thursday, when Houston visits the New Orleans Pelicans. Houston’s next 11 games will come against Western Conference rivals, with eight against teams ahead of the Rockets in the standings, including the first six.

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