Jalen Smith

Smith is an American forward-center who entered the NBA with the Phoenix Suns after being selected 10th overall in the 2020 draft. Nicknamed "Stix" in college, he reached the NBA Finals as a rookie and has since played for Phoenix, Indiana, and Chicago, developing from a lottery pick into a rotation big man.

Born on March 16, 2000, in Portsmouth, Virginia, Smith grew up in a military family; his father, Charles, is a retired Navy Chief. He attended Mount Saint Joseph High School in Baltimore, Maryland, where he averaged 22.2 points, 12.0 rebounds, and 4.0 blocks per game as a senior and won the Gatorade Maryland Boys Basketball Player of the Year twice. He was named to the 2018 McDonald's All-American team and was ranked among the top 25 prospects nationally by Rivals, 247Sports, and ESPN.

Smith signed with Maryland in November 2017 after verbally committing in June. As a freshman, he averaged 11.7 points, 6.8 rebounds, and 1.2 blocks per game, helping the Terrapins reach the NCAA tournament. He recorded 19 points and 12 rebounds in a win over Belmont and added a career-high five blocks in a loss to LSU. As a sophomore, he averaged 15.5 points, 10.5 rebounds, and 2.4 blocks per game, earning First Team All-Big Ten honors from both coaches and media, Defensive Team recognition from the coaches, and Third Team All-American honors from the Associated Press and The Sporting News. He declared for the 2020 NBA draft after his sophomore season.

The Phoenix Suns selected Smith with the 10th overall pick in the first round of the 2020 NBA draft and signed him on November 24, 2020. He spent time with the Agua Caliente Clippers of the G League during his rookie season and made the NBA Finals with the Suns, who lost to the Milwaukee Bucks in six games. On February 10, 2022, Phoenix traded him to the Indiana Pacers for Torrey Craig. He re-signed with Indiana on a two-year, $9.6 million deal on July 1, 2022, and served as a starter for stretches of the 2022-23 season alongside Aaron Nesmith. On July 8, 2024, he signed with the Chicago Bulls on a three-year, $27 million contract. In Chicago, he made 64 appearances in the 2024-25 season and 53 appearances, including 21 starts, in the 2025-26 season before a right calf injury ended his year on March 26, 2026.

Smith is a mobile big man who can score inside, stretch the floor, and block shots. At Maryland, his 2.4 blocks per game as a sophomore showcased his rim protection, while his rebounding and ability to finish around the basket made him a reliable interior presence. In the NBA, he has worked to expand his range and operate as a backup center who can space the floor behind a primary frontcourt option.

He remains under contract with the Chicago Bulls, where he continues to contribute as a rotation forward-center.