Phoenix Suns coach Monty Williams sees the improvement of Pacers center Jalen Smith
The Indiana Pacers have only had center Jalen Smith in their organization for one calendar year, but the young big man has improved as a player tremendously in that time. Smith spent the first 1.5 seasons of his career with the Phoenix Suns, but he only played sparingly. With the Pacers, more minutes have been available.
Smith struggled to get on the floor with the Suns and averaged 4.1 points and 3.1 rebounds per game with Phoenix. After being selected tenth overall in the 2020 NBA Draft, the franchise had higher hopes for the young big man.
With the Pacers, though, Smith has popped. Despite an up-and-down tenure with the franchise so far, the 22-year old is averaging 10.4 points and 6.2 rebounds per game in his 73 appearances for the blue and gold. He has played in numerous different roles this year but found a home as the backup center for some of the ongoing campaign.
Despite seeing less minutes recently, Smith was huge in the Pacers final win before the All-Star break. "Here's a guy that's really been out of the rotation in large part for the last couple weeks. He has continued to work and keep himself ready. I thought his minutes were probably the difference in the game," Pacers head coach Rick Carlisle said of Smith after a two point, four rebound effort against Chicago. "He was ready. That's the kind of player that we're looking to build with."
That game was just another display of Smith's growth since being traded from Phoenix to Indiana. More opportunity, and more chances to impact the game, have helped the young center in a big way.
Former Phoenix assistant Willie Green and reserve guard Langston Galloway discussed those improvements with AllPacers earlier this season. Recently, when the Suns in Indianapolis to take on the Pacers, head coach Monty Williams discussed where he has seen growth from Smith between his time in The Valley and now.
"His hair," Williams joked. "I think he got engaged, if I'm not mistaken," the coach added. Smith proposed to his partner, Kayla, in August of 2022.
Of course, Williams has also watched Smith get better as a player when he moved from the Suns to the Pacers. Changing environments was helpful for the young big man.
"I've watched him, because he's somebody that I've just felt close to. When you draft a guy that young, and then he goes right from the draft to his press conference to COVID protocols, you just felt like 'gosh, man, he's just getting the worst start'," Williams shared. The Suns head coach noted that he and Smith shared a moment after the Pacers played in Phoenix earlier this season, and he was happy to see the Indiana big man smiling. Smith had 11 points and six rebounds that night.
Opportunity has played a part in Smith improving. He has already played in more games with the Pacers (73) than he did with the Suns (56), and he has played for nearly 1,500 minutes with Indiana despite barely cracking 500 minutes with Phoenix.
Williams noted how that difference in playing time has helped Smith as he went from team to team. "He was on the team trying to win a title, and he just couldn't crack the rotation. I just felt like he never got a fair shake, and I didn't give him a fair shake," Williams said. "When I watch him here, I can see him exploring more in his game. He's able to do more as far as shooting the ball, attacking the paint, playing in the pocket. Defensively, has versatility. He's just getting more time to do it," the head coach added. Smith was specifically excellent for the blue and gold late in the 2021-22 season, when he averaged 13.4 points and 7.6 rebounds per game in a Pacers uniform.
"I care about him... Just happy he's in a place that is allowing him to play. Because that's what all young players need in this league, they need playing time," Williams said.
Smith is a member of a crowded Pacers frontcourt with Myles Turner, Daniel Theis, and Isaiah Jackson. It has been difficult for him to get on the court for playing time recently. But he has still grown as a player and person since being traded from Phoenix to Indiana, and everyone who knows Smith well can see it. His best career stretch was last season after the All-Star break, and he will hope for a similar result this season.
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