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Jabari Smith has been among several NBA players in attendance for the Adidas Eurocamp 2023 in Treviso, Italy, the only officially sanctioned NBA pre-draft camp outside the United States.
Smith, 20, finished his first season in the NBA averaging 12.8 points and 7.2 rebounds per game while also making the All-Rookie Second Team.
The young star caught up with HoopsHype to talk about his experience at the Eurocamp, his first season in the league, the 2023-24 Houston Rockets, James Harden and more.
What do you make of the EuroCamp experience so far?
Many former and current NBA players have attended Eurocamp in the past. Talk a bit about the prestige of the event.
JS: Just the style of play. Being in high school, you don’t get to play with a 24-second shot clock and be coached by professional basketball players. They’re learning the game of basketball, playing a real pro style of play, and it’s good to see at a young age.
Anything that has surprised you?
Seventy-nine games, All-Rookie 2nd Team… How would you rate your year looking back?
JS: I would say it was very inconsistent. It was a good experience overall. I felt like I learned a lot, and I’m heading to my second year with confidence in how I finished the year. I’m ready for next season. But I would say it was okay. Definitely under my standards.
Do you feel like you should’ve made the All-Rookie 1st Team? Will you use it as fuel, extra motivation for the upcoming season?
JS: I definitely felt like that was a goal heading into the season, but I don’t think I did enough to make it. Everyone that was on the first team deserved to be on it. I don’t think there were any wrong selections. But yeah, I’ll definitely use it as motivation for next year.
What’s the key for you to make a leap in your second season?
JS: Getting stronger. Picking my spots better, shot selection, and ball handling. But overall, I think me getting stronger will help all aspects of my game. That’s been my main focus, and I’m ready to show it.
What was your ‘welcome to the NBA’ moment this past season?
JS: It was around my second or third game of the season. We played the Bucks, and…
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Author : Hoops Hype
Publish date : 2023-06-11 21:09:44
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