2025-26 Season
JALEN SMITH
2025-26 Season
JALEN SMITH
PBP Credit: Every play is analyzed from play-by-play data. Scorers get difficulty-adjusted credit, assisters get creation value based on the shot opportunity they created, and turnovers are classified by type. Shot difficulty is derived from 1M+ shots across 4 seasons. Full methodology
TEAM COMPARISON
of 21 teammates (10+ games, 10+ min)
Similar Players
Same position, closest production profile this season.
SKILL DNA
Percentile rank vs 234 Forwards with 10+ games
THE SEASON SO FAR
Jalen Smith’s first 20 games were a wildly volatile experiment in backup big-man minutes, oscillating between dominant paint enforcement and disastrous perimeter chucking. When he embraced his physical tools, he was a massive plus. Look at his flawless performance on 11/08 vs CLE, where he poured in 18 points and 11 rebounds on perfect 6-of-6 shooting to generate a staggering +16.4 impact score through dominant interior positioning. Yet, when he drifted away from his core strengths, his overall value plummeted. During the 11/04 vs PHI matchup, a surprising 14-point scoring outburst masked a complete lack of defensive resistance, dragging his impact down to a -3.9 as opponents easily bypassed him. Conversely, he found ways to contribute positively even when his offensive volume vanished. On 11/19 vs POR, Smith managed just 5 points but still posted a +3.7 impact score by providing a sturdy physical presence and altering crucial shots at the rim. He clearly thrives as an energy big, but his defensive lapses and occasional shot-selection woes keep his nightly reliability firmly capped.
This stretch was defined by a chaotic tug-of-war between Smith's burgeoning role as a starting frontcourt anchor and his maddeningly inconsistent perimeter jumper. When he embraced his interior physicality, he simply bullied opponents. During a start on 12/31 vs NOP, he grabbed 14 rebounds and altered shots in the paint to drive a massive +8.3 impact score. Conversely, poor shot selection frequently sabotaged his own high-energy effort. On 01/13 vs HOU, a disastrous 0-for-5 night from deep completely erased the value of his 14 points and nine boards, dragging him down to a brutal -7.9 impact rating. He finally found the perfect equilibrium on 02/03 vs MIL, stretching the floor by hitting 3-of-5 threes to warp the opposing defense. That lethal combination of frontcourt spacing and aggressive rim protection yielded an elite +8.4 impact score, revealing exactly the type of two-way ceiling he possesses when his perimeter trigger matches his undeniable hustle.
IMPACT TIMELINE
Game-by-game performance vs average. Green = above average, red = below.
Boom-or-bust player. Smith's impact swings wildly relative to his average — some nights dominant, others invisible. Scoring varies by ~4 points per game.
Middle-of-the-road efficiency — shoots 45%+ from the field in 63% of games. Not automatic, but not a problem either.
Defensive difference-maker. Smith consistently forces tough shots and protects the rim — opponents shoot worse when he's guarding them.
Getting better as the season goes on. First-half impact: -0.9, second-half: +3.1. That's a significant jump — could be a role change, confidence, or development clicking.
Tends to go on runs. Longest hot streak: 7 games. Longest cold streak: 5 games.
MATCHUP HISTORY
Based on 56 games with tracking data. Shows who guarded this player on offense and who he guarded on defense, with their shooting stats in those matchups.
ON OFFENSE: WHO GUARDED HIM
His shooting stats against each primary defender this season
ON DEFENSE: WHO HE GUARDED
How opponents shot when he was the primary defender. Lower FG% = better defense.
SEASON STATS
GAME LOG
54 games played
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