Height
6'8"
Weight
215 lbs
Age
26
College
Maryland
Experience
5 yrs
Wingspan
7'2.3"
Reach
9'2.0"
Hand Size
9.25" × 9.25"
Fan Verdict
Grade this player:
Career StatsB-
| Year | Team | GP | PPG | RPG | APG | SPG | BPG | FG% | 3PT% | FT% |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Career |  | 322 | 10.4 | 6.8 | 1.3 | 0.5 | 0.8 | 48.4% | 34.1% | 75.2% |
| 2025-26 | | 52 | 10.4 | 6.8 | 1.3 |
Current Contract
Length
2 years
Total Value
$18.4M
Guaranteed
$18.4M
AAV
$9.0M/yr
Performance Analysis
Jalen Smith earns a B- Performance grade this season — a quality starter-level center putting up solid numbers for the Chicago Bulls. Through 322 games, Jalen is contributing 10.4 points, 6.8 rebounds, and 1.3 assists per game in his role. Jalen's strongest area is RPG at 6.8, which compares favorably to the center median of 5.0. The biggest area for growth is APG at 1.3 (center median: 4.0). Among 97 NBA centers graded this season, Jalen ranks 39th. Jalen is a reliable contributor who the Chicago Bulls can count on game to game.
Current Sentiment
The media and fan perception around Jalen Smith has cratered to abysmal levels, earning an F grade as injury concerns have completely overshadowed any on-court contributions. His season-ending calf injury at a $9.2M AAV price point has created a perfect storm of negative sentiment, with coverage focusing heavily on his inability to stay healthy and questioning whether the Bulls made a sound investment in a player who wasn't even cracking the core rotation when available. The durability red flags have become the dominant narrative, painting Smith as unreliable depth rather than a meaningful contributor to Chicago's frontcourt plans. This harsh perception feels somewhat unfair given his C+ performance grade suggests he was actually producing adequately when on the floor, but injuries have a way of warping public opinion regardless of per-minute impact. For Smith to rehabilitate his standing, he'd need to not only return fully healthy but establish himself as a consistent rotation piece over an extended stretch — something that seems unlikely given the Bulls' apparent lack of confidence in his role even before the injury. Right now, Smith is viewed as a cautionary tale about investing in injury-prone depth pieces, and that reputation will be difficult to shake without a dramatic turnaround in both health and opportunity.
Transaction History
No transactions found for this player.
News & Buzz
Live Discussion
Auto-moderated fan forum with 5-minute speaker turns
Discussion
Loading discussion...
