LOOK: Jabari Smith, Chuma Okeke Excite Magic Fans With Instagram Post

Future teammates?

Jeremy Brener | Jun 4, 2022

LOOK: Jabari Smith, Chuma Okeke Excite Magic Fans With Instagram Post /

ORLANDO -- With less than three weeks before the NBA Draft, Orlando Magic fans are excited for the No. 1 overall pick to join the team.

It isn't just Magic fans excited, but the players themselves as well, including forward Chuma Okeke.

Okeke commented on potential top pick Jabari Smith's latest Instagram post and it sent some fans into a frenzy.

Okeke commented on Smith's Instagram post with three clock emojis, sensing that it's time for the potential No. 1 pick to take center stage. Smith responded with a lock emoji, showing that he's ready to "lock in."

Smith liked Okeke's comment and another one from a Magic fan account that said "Future Magic."

Smith and Okeke are connected from both playing for Auburn coach Bruce Pearl, so they likely have mutual friends through the basketball program. They are also both former "Georgia Mr. Basketball" winners. If they join forces in Orlando, Auburn fans will have more reason to pay attention to the Magic next season.

Okeke was drafted with the 16th overall pick in the 2019 NBA Draft by the Magic, but he didn't sign his rookie contract until the following season after tearing his ACL in the NCAA Tournament that year.

Okeke played in 45 games during the 72-game shortened 2020-21 season, but managed to play in 70 games this past season, averaging 8.6 points and five rebounds per game.

While Okeke's playing time may shrink if Smith comes to town, it seems as if he'd welcome his Auburn buddy to Orlando with open arms.

Published Jun 4, 2022

JEREMY BRENER

Jeremy Brener is an editor, writer and social media manager for several Fan Nation websites. His work has also been featured in 247 Sports and SB Nation as a writer and podcaster. Brener has been with Fan Nation since 2021. Brener grew up in Houston, going to Astros, Rockets and Texans games as a kid. He moved to Orlando in 2016 to go to college and pursue a degree. He hosts "The Dream Take" podcast covering the Rockets, which has produced over 350 episodes since March 2020. Brener graduated in May 2020 from the University of Central Florida with a Bachelor's degree in Broadcast Journalism minoring in Sport Business Management. While at UCF, Brener worked for the school's newspaper NSM.today and "Hitting the Field," a student-run sports talk show and network. He was the executive producer for "Hitting the Field" from 2019-20. During his professional career, Brener has covered a number of major sporting events including the Pro Bowl, March Madness and several NBA and NFL games. As a fan, Brener has been to the 2005 World Series, 2010 FIFA World Cup and the 2016 NCAA National Championship between the Villanova Wildcats and North Carolina Tar Heels. Now, Brener still resides in the Central Florida area and enjoys writing, watching TV, hanging out with friends and going to the gym. Brener can be followed on Twitter @JeremyBrener. For more inquiries, please email jeremybrenerchs@gmail.com.