It's official: Bulls sign Jalen Smith |
The Chicago Bulls announced today that the team has signed forward/center Jalen Smith. Per team policy, terms of the deal were not disclosed.
Smith, 6-10, 235, averaged 9.9 points (.592 FG%, .424 3FG%) 5.5 rebounds, 1.0 assists and 0.6 blocks in 17.2 minutes across 61 games (14 starts) in 2023-24 with the Indiana Pacers. During last season’s campaign, Smith tallied five double-doubles while leading the Pacers in rebounds on 15 occasions, which ranked third on the team. The Baltimore, Md. native saw his offensive game improve from the perimeter in 2023-24, shooting a career-high .424 from three-point range alongside career bests in total three pointers made (61) and games with two-plus three pointers (15). This production made Smith the only Pacers player last season to tally 325-plus rebounds and 50- plus threes made while shooting at least .400 3FG%. Smith began his NBA career after being drafted No. 10 overall by Phoenix in the 2020 NBA Draft. Through four NBA seasons, he has suited up for Phoenix (2020-22) and Indiana (2022-24) – posting career averages of 8.5 points, 5.2 rebounds, 0.8 assists and 0.7 blocks in 16.5 minutes over 207 games (54 starts). In the postseason, Smith has appeared in 13 games recording 1.4 points and 1.5 rebounds in 4.5 minutes per game. Preceding his professional career, Smith played two seasons at the University of Maryland (2018-20) and averaged 13.5 points, 8.6 rebounds, 0.8 assists and 1.8 blocks in 28.9 minutes through 64 games (all starts). As a Terp, Smith garnered Big Ten All-Freshman Team honors in 2019, alongside 2020 First Team All-Big Ten and 2020 All Big-Ten Defensive Team selections. The former five-star recruit and McDonald’s All-American (2018) ranked second in the Big Ten in total rebounds (326), total blocks (73), rebounds per game (10.5) and blocks per game (2.4) during the 2019-20 season, earning Smith Associated Press Third Team All-American honors. Smith will wear No. 7 for Chicago.
