Auburn in the NBA: January Rundown

Auburn in the NBA: January RundownAuburn in the NBA: January Rundown

AUBURN, Ala. – Rookies Jabari Smith and Walker Kessler were both named to the rosters for the 2023 Jordan Rising Stars game this week, giving Auburn two former players in the NBA's annual showcase of premier young talent.


"It's wonderful," head coach Bruce Pearl said. "I am so happy for both Walker and Jabari. Everybody expected Jabari to be able to be there because of the place where he was drafted. And I think those of us that knew that Walker Kessler was one of the best players in basketball in the air at any level – he is an untouchable commodity for the Utah Jazz right now. 

"I just think it's great. There were a couple reasons why were the best team in the country for a month and a half last year."

Smith and Kessler continued to play well in the month of January, especially Kessler who became the first rookie in Utah Jazz history to record at least 20 points and 20 rebounds in a game and the first rookie in the NBA to post a 20-20 game while shooting 65 percent from the field since Alonzo Mourning in 1993. 

See how all the notable Auburn alum are doing in the latest edition of Auburn in the NBA, a monthly series highlighting those in the NBA, G-League and overseas. 

NBA

Walker Kessler, Utah Jazz
It's going to be hard for Kessler to top his 20-point, 21-rebound performance against the Minnesota Timberwolves, especially considering it was against the team that originally drafted him, but the rookie has turned into a consistent force for the Jazz. It was one of four double-doubles in January for Kessler who started the last nine games and averaged 10 points and 9.5 rebounds per game for the month. He also blocked 30 shots in January and is currently tops among all rookies and fifth among players with 103 blocks. 


Chuma Okeke, Orlando Magic
Okeke has not played since Nov. 21 after undergoing arthroscopic knee surgery at the end of November. There's no timetable on his return.  

Isaac Okoro, Cleveland Cavaliers
After coming off the bench to begin the season, Okoro started 15 of 16 games in the month of January and enjoyed his best month to date with 7.8 points and 3.4 rebounds per game. He scored a season-high 17 points against the Memphis Grizzles on Jan. 18 and did not miss a shot, going 6-of-6 from the field and 4-of-4 from beyond the arc. It was one of four games where Okoro scored in double figures in January. For the months, he shot 52.9 percent from the field and 47.6 percent on 3-point attempts (20-of-42). 

Jabari Smith Jr., Houston Rockets
For the third straight month, Smith averaged at least 11 points and 7 rebounds per game in January. The third overall pick in the 2022 NBA Draft had six games in double figures, including a career-high 27 points against the Sacramento Kings on Jan. 13 where he shot 11 of 20 from the field and pulled down eight rebounds. Smith, a fixture in the Rockets' starting lineup since opening night, is currently sixth among all NBA rookies with 11.8 points per game and third among rookies with 7.0 rebounds per game. 


JT Thor, Charlotte Hornets
After splitting time between the NBA and G-League last season, Thor has stayed on the NBA roster for the most part this season and saw the most action of his career in the month of January as he played in 15 games and averaged 12 minutes per game. He played 17 minutes against the Milwaukee Bucks on Jan. 6 and responded with 10 points and six rebounds. For the month, he averaged 3.1 points per game and shot 41.5 percent from the field. 

G-LEAGUE

Sharife Cooper, Cleveland Charge
Just past the midway point of the G-League season, Cooper is currently leading the league with 26.8 points per game. In January, he earned G-League Player of the Month honors for the second time this season after posting 27.1 points and 6.1 assists per game and leading the Charge to a 7-1 record. Cooper, who scored a career-high 43 points on Jan. 8, became the fastest player in Charge history to reach 600 points in a season, doing so in just 26 games.