Jabari Walker is an American professional basketball player currently playing for the Portland Trail Blazers in the NBA.
Walker comes from a basketball family; he is the son of former NBA player Samaki Walker and has two siblings who are also involved in the sport.
Walker began his basketball journey in Inglewood, California, attending Campbell Hall School before transferring to AZ Compass Prep in Arizona for his senior year.
He played college basketball for the Colorado Buffaloes, where he made a significant impact.
In his freshman year, Walker averaged 7.6 points and 4.3 rebounds per game, earning a spot on the Pac-12 All-Freshman Team.
Walker was selected by the Portland Trail Blazers as the 57th overall pick in the 2022 NBA Draft.
He made his Summer League debut shortly after being drafted and signed his rookie scale contract with the team on July 13, 2022.
Siblings
Jabari has two siblings, a sister named Sakima and a brother named Dibaji.
Sakima played basketball at Rutgers and was highly regarded as a Top 50 nationally rated recruit during her high school career.
Dibaji also followed in the family’s basketball footsteps, playing college basketball at UMass.
Coming from an athletic family, with their father Samaki Walker being a former NBA player, it is clear that basketball has been a significant influence in their lives.
Career
Walker played college basketball for the Colorado Buffaloes, where he had a notable impact during his two seasons.
In his freshman year (2020-21), he averaged 7.6 points and 4.3 rebounds per game, earning a spot on the Pac-12 All-Freshman Team.
He recorded a season-high of 24 points in a game against Georgetown during the NCAA tournament.
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Despite missing six games due to a foot injury, he demonstrated his potential throughout the season.
In his sophomore year (2021-22), Walker significantly improved his performance, averaging 14.6 points and 9.4 rebounds per game.
His contributions led him to be named first-team All-Pac-12, and he tied his career high with 24 points in a game against Oregon.
Over his college career at Colorado, he played in 59 games, starting 33, and averaged 11.5 points and 7.2 rebounds per game while shooting nearly 40% from three-point range.
Following his successful college career, Walker declared for the 2022 NBA Draft and was selected by the Portland Trail Blazers as the 57th overall pick.
He joined the Trail Blazers’ Summer League team, where he made an immediate impact by scoring 11 points and grabbing seven rebounds in his debut.
On July 13, 2022, Walker signed his rookie scale contract with the Trail Blazers.
Accolades
Walker has received several accolades throughout his basketball career, particularly during his time at the University of Colorado.
In his sophomore season (2021-22), he was named to the first-team All-Pac-12, a recognition that highlights his performance as one of the top players in the conference.
He averaged 14.6 points and a league-leading 9.4 rebounds per game, showcasing his all-around skills on the court.
Additionally, Walker was recognized for his outstanding contributions by being named to both the US Basketball Writers Association (USBWA) and National Association of Basketball Coaches (NABC) All-District Teams.
He also led the Pac-12 with 17 double-doubles during that season, ranking him among the top players in NCAA Division I basketball.
Before his sophomore year, Walker was included on the Julius Erving Award Watch List, which recognizes the top small forwards in college basketball.
He earned Pac-12 All-Freshman Team honors in his freshman year, averaging 7.6 points and 4.3 rebounds per game.
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