SACRAMENTO, Calif. — Former LSU standout and second round pick in June’s NBA draft Jabari Smith signed a one-year contract with the Sacramento Kings of the NBA’s Pacific Division and scored 14 points in his summer league debut at the Rocky Mountain Revue.
Smith, 23, was selected by Sacramento with the 45th overall pick. He averaged 12.6 points on .532 shooting, 8.2 rebounds, 2.1 assists, and 1.03 blocks in 61 games played during a two-year career at LSU. He transferred to LSU from Atlanta Metropolitan Junior College where he played as a freshman and sophomore.
Last season, Smith averaged 12.5 ppg on .533 shooting, and shot .371 from three-point range. He also averaged 7.0 rpg, 2.2 apg and 0.97 bpg to help lead the Tigers to the Southeastern Conference title and an NCAA Tournament Sweet 16 appearance.
“Jabari is a talented young player with good size and versatility who has the potential to help us at both the forward and center positions,” said Geoff Petri, Kings vice president, basketball operations.
Smith was one of 16 players invited by the Kings to participate in the three-day mini camp from July 18-20, before heading to the Rocky Mountain Revue in Salt Lake City, Utah, from July 21-29.
Stromile Swift, who was drafted second overall by the Vancouver Grizzlies, was named to the team’s 15-player Summer League roster. He signed a three-year, $8.3 million contact with the Grizzlies last week.
The 10-team Rocky Mountain Revue, hosted by the Utah Jazz, includes entries from the Chicago Bulls, Cleveland Cavaliers, Dallas Mavericks, Denver Nuggets, Houston Rockets, Phoenix Suns, Toronto Raptors, and Vancouver Grizzlies, in addition to the Kings and Jazz.
Sacramento opened the Revue by falling to Chicago, 71-65, last Friday and then lost to Cleveland, 85-64, on Saturday. The Kings bounced back to beat Dallas, 82-70, on Monday and will face Denver Tuesday at 1 p.m. CDT, Phoenix on Wednesday at 9:30 p.m. and Swift’s Vancouver team on Friday at 5:00 p.m.
The contest versus Denver on July 25 will be broadcast to a national cable television audience on ESPN.
Smith scored 14 points is his debut against Chicago and also hit double figures against Dallas with 10.
Swift blocked five shots is his debut loss to Denver, 81-70, on Sunday. The 6-9 forward then scored 10 first-half points in an 84-76 win over Phoenix on Monday.
Both Smith and Swift are wearing their college jersey numbers, No. 52 and No. 4, respectively.
Rocky Mountain Revue
Salt Lake City, Utah
Salt Lake Community College Redwood Campus
July 21, 2000
Chicago 71, Sacramento 65
(Smith, 14 points)
July 22, 2000
Cleveland 85, Sacramento 64
July 23, 2000
Denver 81, Vancouver 70
(Swift, 5 blocks)
July 24, 2000
Sacramento 82, Dallas 70
(Smith, 10 points)
Vancouver 84, Phoenix 76
(Swift, 10 points)
Tuesday, July 25
Sacramento vs. Denver (ESPN2), 1 p.m.
Cleveland vs. Dallas, 3:30 p.m.
Utah vs. Houston (ESPN2), 7 p.m.
Toronto vs. Chicago, 9:30 p.m.
Wednesday, July 26
Vancouver vs. Houston, 5 p.m.
Chicago vs. Utah, 7 p.m. (ESPN2, three-hour tape delay)
Sacramento vs. Phoenix, 9:30 p.m.
Thursday, July 27
Cleveland vs. Houston (ESPN2), 1 p.m.
Toronto vs. Denver, 3:30 p.m.
Dallas vs. Phoenix (ESPN), 7 p.m.
Vancouver vs. Chicago, 9:30 p.m.
Friday, July 28
Houston vs. Chicago, 3 p.m.
Vancouver vs. Sacramento, 5 p.m.
Phoenix vs. Toronto, 7 p.m.
Cleveland vs. Denver, 9 p.m.
Saturday, July 29
Phoenix vs. Utah, 3 p.m. (Delta Center)
All times Central