Jabari Walker Bio
Jabari Dominic Walker (born July 30, 2002) is an American professional basketball player for the Philadelphia 76ers of the National Basketball Association (NBA), on a two-way contract with the Delaware Blue Coats of the NBA G League. A forward listed at 6 feet 8 inches and around 235 pounds, Walker began his career with the Portland Trail Blazers after being selected in the 2022 NBA draft. He is the son of former NBA player Samaki Walker.
Early Life and Background
Jabari Dominic Walker was born on July 30, 2002, in Wichita, Kansas. He grew up around the game of basketball, the sport that defined his family’s professional life. His father, Samaki Walker, played in the NBA for 10 years, giving young Jabari a close-up view of the league’s daily demands and the discipline required to remain in it for a full decade. That environment shaped his understanding of what a long professional career would require, from conditioning habits to the patience needed to develop his body and his game.
Walker played high school basketball for Campbell Hall School in Los Angeles, California, spending three years with the program. For his senior season, he transferred to AZ Compass Prep in Chandler, Arizona, to face a higher level of competition. In his final year of prep ball, he averaged 13 points, 8 rebounds, and 1.5 blocks per game, showing a blend of interior scoring, rebounding, and rim protection that drew the attention of college coaches around the country.
Outside of school basketball, Walker competed for Dream Vision on the Amateur Athletic Union circuit, a setting where he sharpened his skills against elite national-level talent. He eventually committed to playing college basketball for the Colorado Buffaloes, choosing the Pac-12 program over scholarship offers from California and Saint Mary’s.
Jabari Walker Career
Early Career (2021–2022)
Walker joined the Colorado Buffaloes and quickly became a contributor. On January 14, 2021, he produced 23 points and 11 rebounds in an 89–60 win over California, an early signal of the rebounding and scoring touch that would define his college profile. In February of that freshman season, he missed six games because of a foot injury, a setback that briefly slowed his development. He closed his freshman year with a strong postseason performance, scoring a freshman season-high 24 points on 5-of-5 shooting from three-point range in a 96–73 victory over Georgetown in the first round of the NCAA tournament. Across his freshman season, he averaged 7.6 points and 4.3 rebounds per game, earning Pac-12 All-Freshman Team honors.
As a sophomore, Walker emerged as one of the conference’s most productive forwards. On January 25, 2022, he tied his career high with 24 points in an 82–78 win over Oregon. He finished the year averaging 14.6 points and 9.4 rebounds per game, performances that earned him first-team All-Pac-12 recognition. On March 30, 2022, Walker declared for the 2022 NBA draft while maintaining his college eligibility, and he later signed with an agent, forgoing his remaining years at Colorado.
Portland Trail Blazers Era (2022–2025)
Walker was selected with the 57th overall pick in the 2022 NBA draft by the Portland Trail Blazers. He joined the Blazers’ 2022 NBA Summer League team, and in his Summer League debut, he recorded 11 points and seven rebounds in an 81–78 loss to the Detroit Pistons. On July 13, 2022, Walker signed his rookie scale contract with the Trail Blazers, beginning his NBA career in the Pacific Northwest.
On February 2, 2025, Walker was assigned to the Rip City Remix, Portland’s NBA G League affiliate, where he continued to refine his game and earn meaningful minutes.
Philadelphia 76ers Era (2025–Present)
On July 5, 2025, Walker signed a two-way contract with the Philadelphia 76ers, opening a new chapter of his professional career. As a two-way player, he is also assigned to the Delaware Blue Coats of the NBA G League, allowing him to develop while remaining affiliated with an NBA roster. The move marked his return to a more developmental role after his first three seasons in Portland.
Driving Style and Strengths
Walker’s game is built on a strong rebounding foundation, a high motor around the rim, and a willingness to defend multiple positions. His length and timing have allowed him to contribute as a shot-blocker, while his steady mid-range and three-point development has made him a more versatile offensive player than the typical undersized forward.
Notable Events and Milestones
His 24-point, 5-of-5-from-three performance against Georgetown in the 2021 NCAA tournament stands as one of the signature moments of his college career, and his first-team All-Pac-12 selection as a sophomore confirmed his status as an NBA prospect.
Jabari Walker Family
Family Background and Racing Lineage
Basketball runs deep in the Walker family. Walker’s father, Samaki Walker, played in the NBA for 10 years, an environment that gave Jabari a clear window into the work required to sustain a long professional career. Two of Jabari’s siblings also pursue the sport at a high level: his brother, Dibaji, plays in the NBA G League for the Cleveland Charge, and his sister, Sakima, plays at the University of California at Berkeley.
Personal Life
Walker is a fan of boxing, an interest that reflects the family’s broader appreciation for combat sports and individual competition.
2025 Season Performance
Walker’s 2025 season has been defined by transition. After spending the early portion of the year with the Rip City Remix, the G League affiliate of the Portland Trail Blazers, he became a free agent at the end of his rookie deal. On July 5, 2025, he signed a two-way contract with the Philadelphia 76ers, joining a young frontcourt group in need of depth and energy.
Through the early part of the 2025-26 NBA season, Walker has split his time between the 76ers and their G League affiliate, the Delaware Blue Coats, as is typical for two-way players. The arrangement is designed to give him consistent on-court reps while keeping him within Philadelphia’s development system.
Looking ahead, the focus for Walker will be on turning his G League production into a more stable NBA role, leveraging his rebounding and defensive versatility to carve out minutes in Philadelphia’s rotation.