HUNTSVILLE, Ala. — Jabari Smith and Walker Kessler made history last Thursday, becoming the first pair of Auburn Tigers to be picked in the first round of the NBA Draft. Smith went to the Houston Rockets at #3, while Kessler was selected by the Memphis Grizzlies at #22 and traded to the Minnesota Timberwolves.
The duo made their debuts this week in introductory press conferences, where they talked about their development from Auburn to the league.
"They all played for great coaches, great programs," Minnesota Timberwolves general manager Tim Connelly said of his three-man class of draftees. "And again, the theme is that all three guys were so well thought of with their work ethic, their approach, their professionalism, and their just desire to win so it makes you feel a whole lot better when you select guys from those programs.”
“I know Walker could share some flowery Bruce stories with language, deleted," joked Connelly.
Kessler showed off his new #31 Timberwolves jersey - the same number his grandfather wore at the University of Minnesota. The former Auburn All-American spoke of his family connections to the Land of 10,000 Lakes.
“My dad was actually born in Minneapolis, and then my dad's dad played for the University of Minnesota," said Kessler. "He was a Golden Gopher, and that was back when, way back when, so, it's cool to be in the city and having my dad's family be from here, I mean, it's crazy how things work out like that."
It meant a lot to Kessler for the Timberwolves to acquire him, considering he was originally drafted by the Grizzlies. "But God works in mysterious ways. So to be here now, I mean, it's just, it's really cool," he said.
Over in Houston, Jabari was optimistic about the group he’s joining.
“It's real good to see a team so young," Smith said to Houston-area media. "And it's and it's good to go into a team where you can grow with people. You know what I mean?"
"People who haven't been through a lot in the NBA, it's like, you can go in there and y'all both can learn together," he said. "Y'all, both can go through things together and learn from each other a little bit. So it's good to just have brothers that you can grow with.”
Now that the two have been officially introduced by their new squads, they can look forward to Summer League action in Las Vegas, which begins on July 7 for Smith and July 8 for Kessler.