Dunn scrape ‘not worth it’ for Smith
EDMOND, Okla. — If the NBA had not sufficiently made its point with the one-game suspension Rockets forward/center Jabari Smith Jr. received for exchanging punches with Jazz guard Kris Dunn, the experience did.
Smith watched from home on Monday as the Rockets played the Trail Blazers, struggling through much of the game, but not quite as Smith did from the couch.
“It was tough,” said Smith, who was not permitted to be in Toyota Center during the game, which the Rockets won 110-92. “We got the win. I was pumped up watching from the house. But it was tough. I’m into the game, like I’m on the bench. I’m yelling, seeing different stuff.”
Smith said he would not have expected the suspension after the incident but was warned that it was coming.
On Saturday, as Smith tried to move into position near the free throw line, Dunn grabbed his uniform and pulled. Smith tried to shove him away with Dunn retaliating with punches. Smith tried to punch Dunn, but though he did not make contact, NBA rules mandate at least a one-game suspension if punches are thrown whether or not they make contact.
Smith was suspended for one game with Dunn receiving a one-game suspension for initiating the incident and a second game for fighting.
“I wasn’t expecting it until they told me the rules,” Smith said. “I deserved it. That’s in the rule book.”
Rockets coach Ime Udoka said he and general manager Rafael Stone spoke with Smith about the incident and the rule that led to the suspension, with a bit of Udoka logic that Smith described as “Ime being Ime.”
“Rafael and I talked about it,” Udoka said. “Just a learning experience. If a guy grabs you, you’re going to react. But throwing the punch is the thing, so he learned from that.
“If you’re not going to land a punch, you might as well not throw it.”
The NBA might not word its no tolerance policy on thrown punches quite that way, but it is difficult to argue with the logic.
“It’s not worth it,” Smith said. “You hurt your team being ejected and then with a suspension.”
Smith and Dunn also had a confrontation in the previous game between the teams, each receiving a technical foul. While Smith returned to the Rockets on Wednesday to play the Thunder, Dunn’s first game back will be Friday against the Rockets. Smith said it will not be round three.
“I’m not worried about him,” Smith said. “I’m more worried about us.
It’s not necessarily about the opponent. It’s about us putting together games and keep improving. I’m worried about our team and what it takes to win.”
The game could bring a very different, but intriguing matchup. On Saturday, Smith was ejected before he could match up with friend and former Auburn teammate Walker Kessler for the first time since high school.
While Smith has moved over to center since the injury to Alperen Şengün, with his strong play leading to Udoka holding off on his initial intention after Ş engün’s injury to juggle his lineup based on matchups. Kessler came off the Jazz bench, as he has in 40 of the 60 games he has played this season going into Wednesday’s game.
They might have matched up if Smith had played deeper into Saturday’s game, but as with every other game between the Rockets and Jazz in their careers, they never defended each other.
“I’ve always been at the four and he’s at the five,” Smith said. “We’ve competed against each other but never him against me. I think that’ll be next game. We’ll have opportunities. He’ll be in the league a long time. I think I will, too.
“We’re really close. We played against each other in high school, teamed up in college. I’ve known him a long time. He is a year older than me. I was looking up to him when I was in high school. He was a McDonald’s AllAmerican, and going to the camps, and stuff.”
Smith and his Sandy Creek High School team lost to Kessler and Woodward Academy in the Georgia state playoffs. Kessler won the state championship in 2019-20. Smith’s Sandy Creek team lost in the state championship game in 2020-21. Smith became the fourth McDonald’s All-American to sign with Auburn. Kessler transferred from North Carolina to join him.
Kessler was a firstteam All-Rookie selection last season. Smith was named to the second team.
The Rockets’ win on Saturday gave Smith a 3-2 advantage in games between their teams in the NBA. But the matchup would be interesting for the usual reasons, with the 7-1 shot blocker Kessler remaining close to the rim where he is a top shot blocker, and Smith a pickand-pop range shooter that since he moved to center works to bring opposing centers out.
“It definitely would be different,” Smith said. “Different for him, and me, too. He’s a great shot blocker.”
The attention, however, could be on a matchup that might not happen, at all. The Rockets switch so often that Smith could end up on Dunn, who like Kessler, comes off the Jazz bench. He and an opposing center might not cross paths. Smith, however, said he is unconcerned about the chance that they might.
“I don’t know what he was doing, but he did something, and I reacted,” Smith said. “I don’t know what his motive was or what was going on.”