The Truth About the NBA Draft, NIL, and Pressure as a Pro w/ Jabari Smith Jr.

In this unfiltered and high-energy episode of the Dawg Talk Podcast, J Mac, Kenny Gaines, and Kentavious Caldwell-Pope (KCP) are joined by none other than Jabari Smith Jr.—NBA rising star, Georgia native, and No. 3 pick in the 2022 NBA Draft.From his early days training with his dad and brother, to dominating during COVID, and his unforgettable Auburn run, Jabari keeps it real about the grind behind the glam. He breaks down:His AAU battles and high school legacyNavigating pressure as the son of a proWhat really went down in the 2022 draft processHis NBA rookie season struggles with HoustonThe culture shift under Coach Ime UdokaHis first playoff experience and morePlus, the crew debates the Top 5 Georgia Hoopers of the past 15 years and swap hilarious stories from their journeys in the league.If you're a hoops head, Georgia native, or just love real-talk basketball convos, this episode is can't-miss.TIME STAMPS (YouTube-Optimized):00:00 - Intro + Jabari Smith Jr. joins the table04:40 - Georgia Hoopers got that grit07:35 - COVID AAU memories: Jabari was in the lab11:18 - The infamous Elite 8 loss + respect for the comp15:01 - Jabari’s dad’s overseas journey + China memories18:55 - Growing up with pressure + car ride coaching sessions22:48 - Fundamentals over flash: early training philosophy27:32 - Jabari’s son + parenting with an NBA profile30:50 - Legacy pressure + building your own name33:20 - AAU now vs back then: shoe deals, too many teams39:04 - Jabari’s recruitment process + why Auburn44:00 - Auburn’s culture shift + SEC dominance48:36 - NIL, the transfer portal, and college ball in 202554:13 - Draft night + only 2 workouts before going top 358:47 - Rookie season struggles + Houston’s rebuild\1:02:12 - Eric Gordon, Jeff Green & veteran wisdom1:07:06 - Jabari’s NBA playoff debut vs the Warriors1:11:15 - The shift from Silas to Ime Udoka1:14:00 - What Detroit is building + bad boy mentality1:17:15 - Jokic, LeBron, and shots that aren’t luck1:21:10 - Top 5 Georgia Hoopers in the last 15 years1:26:55 - Closing out with laughs + show outro------------------------------------------------Connect with Jabari Smith Jr. at: Instagram at: https://www.instagram.com/jabarismithjr/?hl=enFollow Us: Dawg Talk Podcast: https://www.instagram.com/thedawgtalkpod/ Kentavious Caldwell-Pope: https://www.instagram.com/caldwellpope/ Jordan McGruder (J Mac): https://www.instagram.com/wordsfrommac/  Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.