Bill Simmons becomes only NBA awards voter with Jabari Smith Jr. on All-Rookie first team

In 2022, The Ringer’s Bill Simmons — a longtime NBA media personality — created negative headlines in Houston for his loud campaign against Jalen Green making the 2021-22 All-Rookie first team.

It was a minority opinion; Green received the honor.

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A year later, though, Simmons is on the opposite extreme. Of the 100 media voters for the 2022-23 awards, he was the only one who placed Rockets rookie Jabari Smith Jr. on the 2022-23 All-Rookie first team. Smith ended up earning All-Rookie second-team honors along with fellow Rockets rookie Tari Eason.

In all, Smith had 70 second-team votes and one first-team vote. Eason had 43 second-team votes and two first-team votes. Eason’s two first-team votes were from ESPN’s Kevin Pelton and The Salt Lake Tribune’s Andy Larsen. Both are known for their heavy use of advanced analytics in making award decisions.

The All-Rookie voting ballots are available here.

A global panel of 100 sportswriters and broadcasters voted for the 2022-23 NBA regular-season awards.

Voter selections for each annual award are now available.

Complete ballots ⬇️ https://t.co/l0VCg4UbxW

— NBA Communications (@NBAPR) May 11, 2023

Smith played in 79 of Houston’s 82 games and started all of those. He averaged 12.8 points (40.8% FG, 30.7% on 3-pointers), 7.2 rebounds and 31 minutes.

Eason was one of only two players on the Rockets (joining KJ Martin) to play in all 82 games, having averaged 9.3 points (44.8% FG, 34.3% on 3-pointers), 6.0 rebounds, 1.2 steals and 21.5 minutes. He made five starts.

Smith was drafted at No. 3 out of Auburn, while Eason was picked at No. 17 after playing at LSU. As prospects, both forwards were well-regarded for their defensive intensity and versatility, a big part of their future value as they supplement a young Houston core that already has strong scoring and playmaking from Green, Kevin Porter Jr. and Alperen Sengun.