The Philadelphia 76ers rookie was featured (briefly) on the NBA’s annual rookie survey.
We might not get to see Zhaire Smith play this season. The reigning 16th-overall pick suffered a Jones fracture while training, which happens to be the same injury that sidelined Ben Simmons during his first NBA season.
If Smith does play, it won’t be anytime soon. There isn’t a consensus with the projected timelines for Jones fractures, but the Philadelphia 76ers have no reason to rush Smith back. He’s valuable perimeter depth, but his long-term health is far more important.
Nonetheless, Smith did make a brief appearance in the annual NBA rookie survey, in which rookies essentially project the success of their own class. Smith was voted the most athletic player in the draft by his peers, receiving 24 percent of the vote.
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Hamidou Diallo (Oklahoma City), Josh Okogie (Minnesota) and Lonnie Walker IV (San Antonio) were tied for second with 15 percent each.
While most of the answers on this survey were questionable, this one feels like a no-brainer. At 6-foot-4, Smith was able to play power forward at Texas Tech because of his athleticism.
He skied for rebounds, made weak-side blocks, and threw down quite the display of alley-oops during his lone season with the Red Raiders. That athleticism projects well at the next level, making him the best perimeter defender in the class.
Smith didn’t make any other appearances throughout the survey, with most category winners reserved for bigger names. One category he should have received more votes in, however, was best defender.
Jevon Carter (Memphis) was the overwhelming favorite in that category, receiving 29 percent of the vote. Mohamed Bamba (Orlando) and Josh Okogie (Minnesota) were second and third place, respectively.
While Carter is as scrappy as they come, he’s only a one-position defender. In an NBA that’s becoming increasingly versatile, rim protection and multi-positional defense is far more important. Carter fills his niche, but he won’t be the best overall defender from this class.
Smith, given his athleticism and wingspan, has the potential to become the best perimeter defender in this class. He can defend three positions, switching with ease and defending the point of attack at an extremely high level.
Not giving him a single vote is odd.
It’s also worth noting the inherent bias that comes with this survey — a lot of these rookies have played together for years, meaning their perception is skewed by friendship, among many other factors.
That would explain why Luka Doncic, who spent his childhood overseas with Real Madrid, didn’t get much love.
Deandre Ayton (Phoenix) and Collin Sexton (Cleveland) were voted co-favorites to win Rookie of the Year, with each receiving 18 percent of the vote. Doncic and Kevin Knox (New York) were tied for third, each receiving nine percent of the vote.
In my veiw, Doncic is the overwhelming favorite. Dallas has a chance to compete for a playoff spot next season, and Doncic will be spearheading the offense. Surrounded by excellent complimentary pieces (DeAndre Jordan, Wesley Matthews, Harrison Barnes, Dennis Smith Jr.), Doncic will be well-positioned for success.
On top of that, Doncic has experience against professional competition. While there is a sizable gap between the Euroleague and NBA, it’s still a huge step up from college basketball. Doncic also played at the highest level in Europe, becoming the youngest player ever to win MVP while leading Real Madrid to a championship.
When asked which rookie would have the best career, Doncic didn’t receive a single vote. Wendell Carter Jr. (Chicago), Kevin Knox (New York) and Jerome Robinson (L.A. Clippers) were the top three vote-getters.
Keita Bates-Diop (Minnesota) was dubbed the biggest steal, closely followed by Michael Porter Jr. (Denver) and Lonnie Walker IV (San Antonio).
Trae Young (Atlanta) was voted the best playmaker and the best shooter in the draft, receiving 35 and 47 percent of the vote, respectively. While the former category is obvious, Doncic deserved far more credit in the playmaking category. He received the third-highest percentage, trailing Young and Jalen Brunson (Dallas).
Simply put, this survey doesn’t serve as the best predictor for future success. Some players are overrepresented, while others haven’t earned enough respect from their peers — Doncic being chief among them.
You can read the full survey results here.