Seattle Seahawks wide receiver Jaxon Smith-Njigba showed some exciting flashes this season as a rookie in the NFL, but if his recent comments are any indication, he also thinks he could have a solid game in the NBA if the circumstances were right.
Smith-Njigba said that if he were to get 30 minutes in an NBA game against the Detroit Pistons with no shooting limitations, he’d be able to drop 15 points.
"If we gave you thirty minutes in an NBA game tonight, you can shoot as many shots, how many you giving us?" @ChandlerParsons
"I would say, I know this is my last game, I'm playing the Detroit Pistons, I'd have a nice fifteen." @jaxon_smith1
📺: https://t.co/wdT8I0ST8g pic.twitter.com/FdzBlIx86n
— Run It Back (@RunItBackFDTV) February 7, 2024
“We gettin’ off,” he said. “I would say, 30 minutes…I’m putting that thing up. I would say, I know this is my last game. I’m playin’ the Detroit Pistons. I’ll have a nice 15, nice 15. I’m comin’ off the pick-and-roll, and I’m spraying.”
Smith-Njigba played basketball in high school, so he’s familiar with his abilities on the hardwood. Still, it may be a bit lofty for him to think he’d be able to drop 15 points in an NBA game.
At 6-43 this season, the Pistons have had a miserable campaign, but they still have a roster full of players that are in the NBA for a reason. Smith-Njigba, as athletic as he may be, might find it hard to deal with pro hoopers.
Of course, if he had 30 minutes of guaranteed playing time and an unlimited green light, there’s no telling what would happen, as efficiency wouldn’t matter. But for now, he’ll keep his focus locked on football, with the youngster looking to take a step forward in the 2024 campaign.
As a rookie in the 2023 season, Smith-Njigba finished with 63 receptions for 628 yards and four touchdowns. The Seahawks nearly made the playoffs but ultimately found themselves on the outside looking in with a 9-8 record.
The 2024 season will mark the beginning of a new era for Seattle, as the team recently hired Mike Macdonald as its new head coach. With any luck, the hire will help the team reach new heights.
Smith-Njigba, just 21, was the No. 20 overall pick in the 2023 NFL Draft, and he likely has a long career ahead of him in the football world. But if he ever wants to explore other avenues, perhaps he’ll give the basketball world a closer look in the future.
In the meantime, NFL fans are focused on Super Bowl LVIII, with the San Francisco 49ers and Kansas City Chiefs ready to battle this Sunday.
