Jabari Smith Jr

The rookie from Auburn shared a bit of family history with the 18-time All-Star during an NBA game.

Smith had 14 points, four rebounds and four assists for Houston. James had 48 points, eight rebounds and nine assists for Los Angeles. In 43 starts this season, he has averaged 12.1 points and 7.0 rebounds. ](https://www.al.com/topic/Jabari%20Smith/)crossed paths on an NBA court with LeBron James for the first time on Monday night, and the former [Auburn](//www.al.com/auburnbasketball/) standout had a blast from the past for the 18-time All-Star. [WALKER KESSLER TURNS IN 20/20 GAME FOR JAZZ](https://www.al.com/sports/2023/01/walker-kessler-turns-in-2020-game-for-utah-jazz.html) Now Jabari Smith Jr.

LeBron James and the LA Lakers host Jabari Smith Jr. and the Houston Rockets tonight. It was the first game between the four-time MVP and the rookie from ...

As long as he remains healthy, he could dethrone “The Captain” early next month for one of the most coveted records in basketball. James caused all kinds of problems to the Kings' defense that had Doug Christie and Gerald Wallace as his main defenders. Most of LeBron James’ contemporaries have long moved on to a second career. The massive hype that accompanied the Akron, Ohio native was justified in just his first pro basketball game. LeBron James made his debut in the NBA on October 29, 2003, against the Sacramento Kings, who were led by Vlade Divac and Peja Stojakovic. LeBron James and the LA Lakers host Jabari Smith Jr.

LeBron James had his mind blown when Jabari Smith Jr informed the Los Angeles Lakers superstar he faced Jabari Smith Sr's team in his first NBA game.

[NBA](https://www.mediaite.com/tag/nba/) game on the road against the Sacramento Kings on [Oct. The elder Smith squared off against James the following year as a member of the New Jersey Nets. 29, 2003](https://www.basketball-reference.com/boxscores/200310290SAC.html). [dropping](https://www.espn.com/nba/boxscore/_/gameId/401468819) 48 points en route to a 140-132 Lakers victory. As for Jabari Smith Sr., he was on the bench for the Kings that day and did not get in the game. [](https://www.mediaite.com/sports/jabari-smith-jr-tells-lebron-you-played-against-my-dad-says-you-feel-old-dont-you/#article-nav)

In a quick talk at the middle of the Houston Rockets-Los Angeles Lakers clash, the 19-year-old Jabari Smith Jr. connected with James. The rookie in Smith ...

The rookie in Smith told the future hall of famer that his father faced him during his NBA debut back in 2003-04 season. The Kings went on to outlast the Cavs, 106-92, but James didn’t fail to impress in front of the basketball nation with his 25 markers, nine assists, six boards and four steals in almost 43 minutes of play. In a quick talk at the middle of the Houston Rockets-Los Angeles Lakers clash, the 19-year-old Jabari Smith Jr.

Houston Rockets youngster Jabari Smith Jr. hilariously reminded NBA icon LeBron James of how he played his first NBA game against his dad.

[Kings](https://www.sportsmanor.com/tag/sacramento-kings/) took the win on the night. Smith was on the Kings roster after moving back to Sacramento from Spain, where he played for CB Granada. Currently, [LeBron](https://www.sportsmanor.com/tag/lebron-james/) is in his 20th season in the league, the most for any active player in the current era. James would have wanted his team to win on the night, knowing his mentality. [remarkable evolution](https://www.sportsmanor.com/nba-lebron-james-then-vs-now-comparison-of-the-nba-star-as-a-rookie-and-as-a-4x-champion/) since joining the league in 2003. He proved his critics wrong right with his first-ever NBA game.

LOS ANGELES — Jabari Smith Jr., the Rockets' 19-year-old rookie, could hardly wait to tell LeBron James a piece of family history he only learned on Monday.

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LeBron James and Jabari Smith Jr. had a viral interaction on Monday as the Rockets' youngster reminded the Lakers star of his age.

James has definitely had a unique NBA journey, with his longevity allowing him to match up against several father-son duos in the league. The four-time champ will be around for a few more seasons, so it wouldn't be surprising to see him face off against other such duos. Instead, a likely reason for the oversight is that the elder Smith was a DNP in that game and didn't technically face off against James. James finished the evening with a season-high 48 points to go along with eight rebounds, nine assists, and three makes from beyond the arc. [LeBron James](https://www.basketballnetwork.net/tag/lebron-james) and Jabari Smith Jr. Prior to the matchup, the Houston Rockets rookie approached the 38-year-old superstar, telling him that he played against Jabari Smith Sr.

Having been reminded by Rockets rookie Jabari Smith Jr. that he played against Smith's father in his first NBA game, LeBron James went on to have one of his ...

and [Gary Trent Jr](https://www.espn.com/nba/player/_/id/4277843/gary-trent-jr). James' first nationally televised game in high school featured [Bill Walton](https://www.espn.com/nba/player/_/id/4127/bill-walton) as an analyst, and during his first season in L.A., James was coached by Walton's son Luke. James played on the same team with Shannon Brown at the start of his career in Cleveland as well as with his little brother, [Sterling Brown](https://www.espn.com/nba/player/_/id/3057187/sterling-brown), whose 10-day contract with the Lakers just expired over the weekend. 3 selection in the league's most recent draft -- [Houston Rockets](/nba/team/_/name/hou/houston-rockets) forward [Jabari Smith Jr.](https://www.espn.com/nba/player/_/id/4432639/jabari-smith-jr) -- told the [Los Angeles Lakers](/nba/team/_/name/lal/los-angeles-lakers) star something to make him feel his age. "Body was sore from the battle that we had yesterday versus [Gary Payton](https://www.espn.com/nba/player/_/id/640/gary-payton) and [Gary Payton II](https://www.espn.com/nba/player/_/id/3134903/gary-payton-ii); Rick Brunson and his son, [Jalen Brunson](https://www.espn.com/nba/player/_/id/3934672/jalen-brunson); and Gary Trent Sr. Making that connection even wilder? 1 overall pick in the NBA draft, the No. [Memphis Grizzlies](/nba/team/_/name/mem/memphis-grizzlies)' [Ziaire Williams](https://www.espn.com/nba/player/_/id/4433137/ziaire-williams), one of Bronny's high school teammates, and he plays with another of Bronny's former teammates, [Scotty Pippen Jr.](https://www.espn.com/nba/player/_/id/4431785/scotty-pippen-jr), on this season's Lakers. That's just a great stat." "I think he even said it like, 'You probably feel old.'" [LeBron James](https://www.espn.com/nba/player/_/id/1966/lebron-james) was the No.

Houston Rockets forward Jabari Smith Jr. was one of the most heralded prospects in the 2022 NBA draft.

This made for an entertaining moment between James and Smith Jr. Nonetheless, the story still represents a testament to James’ longevity over his legendary 20-year career. may not have been a big factor in James’ debut. Jabari Smith Sr.’s NBA career may have been brief, but he crossed paths with a young LeBron James in 2003. However, Smith only appeared in a total of 108 career games. [Cleveland Cavaliers](https://www.sportskeeda.com/basketball/cleveland-cavaliers) faced off against Smith’s Sacramento Kings on Oct. was a second-round pick who was selected 45th by the Sacramento Kings in the 2000 NBA draft. James finished with 25 points, six rebounds, nine assists and four steals on 60.0% shooting. The third-overall pick has since shown flashes of stardom in his rookie season, despite his inconsistencies, and looks poised to have a long career. was one of the most heralded prospects in the 2022 NBA draft. Smith Sr. Jabari Smith Jr.

Jabari Smith and the Houston Rockets took on the Los Angeles Lakers, which led to a special moment for him and LeBron James. James has been in the league ...

Let's take a look at the moment shared between Smith and James, as well as the interaction between James and Smith's father. This had to be a cool moment for Smith, as James is widely considered the best basketball player of all time. Jabari Smith and the Houston Rockets took on the Los Angeles Lakers, which led to a special moment for him and LeBron James.

Let's find out who Jabari Smith's dad is after the Houston rookie shared an amusing exchange with LeBron James recently.

Ultimately, though, his career didn’t quite pan out the way he hoped, and the elder Jabari played overseas in Spain, Turkey, Iran, and Puerto Rico before retiring. The elder Smith played college basketball at Louisiana State University, before being selected by the Sacramento Kings in the second round of the 2000 NBA draft. However, as [ some fans have pointed out](https://www.thefocus.news/sports/nba/box-score-shows-jabari-smith-jrs-dad-did-not-actually-play-against-lebron-in-his-first-nba-game/), Jabari Smith Jr’s dad didn’t technically play in that game. Jabari said, “You played against my dad in your first NBA game ever.” However, the game will mostly be remembered for an exchange between Jabari Smith Jr and James. On Monday 16 January 2023, Jabari came up against LeBron James for the very first time on an NBA court.

Lakers star LeBron James introduced himself to the NBA October 29, 2003 when the Cavaliers faced the Kings in Sacramento, when Jabari Smith Snr was part of ...

It's been a great ride in these 20 years. 'I've had the pleasure of playing against a few father and son combinations. The Rockets teenager reminded James he played against his dad during his NBA debut in 2003

Houston Rockets rookie Jabari Smith had some fun with Lakers star LeBron James during Monday's game in Los Angeles.

But even James isn’t immune to Father Time, as [Houston Rockets](https://www.chron.com/sports/rockets/) rookie Jabari Smith Jr. [LeBron James](https://www.chron.com/sports/article/LeBron-hits-38K-but-Embiid-leads-76ers-past-17720298.php) has been a fixture in the NBA across the last two decades, and the four-time champion remains an All-NBA talent in his 20th professional season. Smith stopped James shortly before tipoff, noting that his father, Jabari Smith, played against him as a member of the Kings during James' NBA debut in October 2003.

Jabari Smith Sr. faced James in his NBA debut on Oct. 30, 2003 as a member of the Kings.

didn't appear on the stat sheet, while James scored 25 points. [Houston Rockets](https://www.cbssports.com/nba/teams/HOU/houston-rockets/) and [Los Angeles Lakers](https://www.cbssports.com/nba/teams/LAL/los-angeles-lakers/), Rockets forward [Jabari Smith](/nba/players/26776259/jabari-smith/) Jr. Now he's beginning to face the sons of some of the players that he competed against early in his career. On that particular night, Smith Sr. On Monday, James led the Lakers to a 140-132 win over the Rockets in which he scored a season-high 48 points while Smith scored 14 points for the Rockets. approached James with a comment that for sure made the Lakers star feel old.

LeBron James reunited with Jabari Smith Sr. on the court after the Lakers' win.

On MLK Day, the Los Angeles Lakers welcomed the Houston Rockets to the Crypto.com Arena (still feels weird saying that). On the floor for the Rockets was a ...

He’s been balling out for two generations because he’s one of the most elite athletic specimens in human history. On the floor for the Rockets was a 19-year-old by the name of Jabari Smith Jr., the son of former NBA journeyman Jabari Smith. LeBron hasn’t been balling out for two generations because he’s an old man in denial. Nothing confirms that LeBron James, erstwhile phenom, is finally, officially old quite like the fact that he’s now playing against the kids of former opponents. That’s a crazy enough stat on its own, but Smith Jr. Smith Jr.

At one point, a mic'd up Jabari Smith Jr., the rookie Rockets forward selected with the third pick last summer out of Auburn, revealed that he was not the first ...

Smith's 22-year-old teammate, small forward Kenyon "KJ" Martin Jr., is the son of former All-Star power forward Kenyon Martin Sr., best remembered for his stints with the Nets and Denver Nuggets in a 15-year career that ran from 2000-2015. was out on the court tonight as well." For the record, Jabari Smith Sr. isn't even the only son of a player LeBron James has suited up against on the Rockets! Smith is also the cousin for 2001 No. Upon returning to the NBA, Smith rejoined the Kings, before finishing his NBA career at age 27 with the then-New Jersey Nets in the 2004-05 season.

While disappointed to lose, Monday was a memorable game for promising #Rockets prospects Alperen Sengun and Jabari Smith Jr. in Los Angeles.

[January 17, 2023] It was a great moment for me." It was a great moment. Just 20 years old, the second-year Rockets center Smith defended James on numerous occasions, but there was no stopping arguably the greatest player in basketball history on this night. [in October 2003](https://www.basketball-reference.com/boxscores/200310290SAC.html), Jabari Smith Sr.

Los Angeles Lakers star LeBron James reacts to being told by Rockets rookie Jabari Smith Jr. that he played against his father.

It’s the best way to watch player interviews, exclusive coverage from events, participate in live shows, and more! “I think he’s gonna have the greatest career of all time. The GOAT debate between LeBron James and Michael Jordan will continue to rage on and one person who experienced both is Philadelphia 76ers coach Doc Rivers. LeBron has gone from being that young guy in the locker room to being the elder statesman with players around the league who grew up watching him. LeBron finished with 48 points, eight rebounds and nine assists to carry the Lakers to victory. calling it one of the best days of his life on his