Jabari Smith Jr. News, Rumors, Updates - Houston Rockets

Inactive Sunday Smith will not play Sunday against Boston due to a sprained left ankle.

Impact Smith rolled his ankle late in the fourth quarter of Saturday's win over Utah, and the injury will sideline him Monday. He'll have until a showdown against Portland on Wednesday to heal, but Houston's frontcourt, already lacking Tari Eason (leg) and Jeff Green (calf), will be thin in his absence. Cam Whitmore and Jae'Sean Tate could be leaned on, while more minutes are available for Amen Thompson as well.

JANUARY 21 • ROTOWIRE

Powers through for victory Smith contributed 24 points (9-19 FG, 4-8 3Pt, 2-4 FT), 10 rebounds, one assist, one block and two steals in 41 minutes during Saturday's 127-126 overtime victory over the Jazz.

Impact Smith took a shot to the groin as well as rolled his ankle on separate occasions in the fourth quarter, but he remained in the game en route to posting his third-highest scoring performance of the year. Connecting on 38.2 percent of 4.5 threes per game this season, Smith has now knocked down three-plus triples in 12 of his 40 appearances.

JANUARY 21 • ROTOWIRE

Double-double against Pistons Smith had 19 points (7-15 FG, 1-3 3Pt, 4-4 FT), 11 rebounds, one assist, two blocks and one steal across 41 minutes during Friday's 112-110 victory over Detroit.

Impact The second-year forward collected his eighth double-double of the season, five of which have come in the last 12 games. Smith's averaging 16.1 points, 9.3 boards, 2.2 threes and 1.0 blocks over that stretch, and the third overall pick in the 2022 Draft ha scored in double digits in five straight as he takes advantage of the absence of Tari Eason (lower log) from the frontcourt rotation.

JANUARY 13 • ROTOWIRE

Grabs 15 boards in OT loss Smith registered 18 points (7-14 FG, 4-9 3Pt), 15 rebounds, one assist and one block over 47 minutes during Wednesday's 124-119 overtime loss to Chicago.

Impact Smith has taken a sizable leap forward in his second year in the league, and while he continues to hold a secondary role on offense, his numbers have improved massively -- a trend that has been more noticeable in recent weeks. Since the start of December, the sophomore power forward is averaging 13.4 points, 9.7 rebounds, 1.5 assists and 0.9 blocks across 32.2 minutes per game, shooting 44.7 percent from the field and 40.2 percent from three in that span (19 contests).

JANUARY 11 • ROTOWIRE

Rockets see Jabari Smith Jr. becoming more well-rounded player Rockets coach Ime Udoka on Jabari Smith Jr.’s growth: “The offensive glass has been the biggest improvement. It’s that mentality of going af...

JANUARY 8 • USATODAY.COM

Plays 40 minutes in win Smith contributed 14 points (3-7 FG, 3-5 3Pt, 5-6 FT), 12 rebounds, two assists, one block and two steals in 40 minutes during Saturday's 112-108 win over Milwaukee.

Impact Smith notched his sixth double-double of the season in Saturday's win. His 40 minutes played was his most since Dec. 20 when he was on the court for 42 minutes in a win over the Mavericks. Smith has been a solid contributor for the Rockets this season, and his shooting percentages have jumped in his second year in the NBA. He's shooting 48.2 percent from the floor and 39.0 percent from three this season.

JANUARY 7 • ROTOWIRE

Jabari Smith Jr. Hit Andre Jackson Jr. With a Cheap Shot Flagrant Foul and Jackson Got a T The Milwaukee Bucks visited the Houston Rockets on Saturday night. Things got testy during the third quarter following a Damian Lillard thre...

JANUARY 7 • THEBIGLEAD.COM

Jabari Smith Jr. & Andre Jackson Jr. get HEATED 😮

JANUARY 7 • YOUTUBE

Active and starting Monday Smith (ankle) is cleared to play and in the starting lineup for Monday's game against Detroit, Lachard Binkley of TheDreamShake.com reports.

Impact Smith will return from a one-game absence due to a left ankle sprain, which was initially expected to sideline him for a week. The 20-year-old starts alongside Jae'Sean Tate and Alperen Sengun in Houston's frontcourt Monday, with Tari Eason (leg) coming off the bench on a minute restriction.

JANUARY 2 • ROTOWIRE

Listed questionable for Monday Smith (ankle) is listed as questionable for Monday's game against the Pistons.

Impact Smith last played on Dec. 27, but the Rockets never provided a firm timetable. However, they were adamant that this injury wasn't going to be a long-term issue, and the questionable tag confirms that. The Rockets have been relying heavily on Tari Eason, Jeff Green and Jae'Sean Tate in Smith's absence, so all three could lose a bit of steam in the near future. Eason is the most likely of the three to remain trustworthy in most fantasy formats when Smith gets the green light.

JANUARY 1 • ROTOWIRE

Without firm timetable Smith (ankle) is without a firm return timetable but is not dealing with a long-term injury, Rockets radio host Adam Wexler reports.

Impact Speaking prior to Friday's game against the Sixers, head coach Ime Udoka spoke on Smith's sprained left ankle, noting that it's not a long-term injury but that the second-year forward could still miss "maybe a week or so." Udoka's comments would seem to rule Smith out for Monday's matchup against Detroit, but it's possible he could return as soon as Wednesday against Brooklyn or next Friday (Jan. 5) against Minnesota.

DECEMBER 29, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Won't play Friday Smith (ankle) has been ruled out for Friday's game against the 76ers.

Impact Smith exited Wednesday's game against the Suns due to a left ankle sprain and will be unavailable for at least one additional matchup. Dillon Brooks (oblique) remains out Friday, so Tari Eason (lower leg), Amen Thompson, Jae'Sean Tate and Cam Whitmore could see additional run against Philadelphia.

DECEMBER 28, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Won't return Wednesday Smith (sprained left ankle) has been ruled out for the remainder of Wednesday's game against the Suns, Jonathan Feigen of the Houston Chronicle reports.

Impact Smith limped back to the locker room Wednesday after suffering an ankle injury and won't return. Tari Eason, Amen Thompson and Cam Whitmore are candidates to pick up Smith's vacated minutes. Smith's next chance to play will come Friday against the 76ers.

DECEMBER 28, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Heads to locker room Smith was seen limping to the locker room after suffering an apparent ankle injury in Wednesday's game versus the Suns, Jackson Gatlin of the Locked On Podcast Network reports.

Impact Smith recorded nine points (2-5 FG, 1-3 3Pt, 4-4 FT), three rebounds and two steals in 22 minutes before exiting Wednesday's contest with 7:58 remaining in the third quarter. If Smith is unable to return, Tari Eason, Cam Whitmore and Jeff Green are candidates to receive extended minutes.

DECEMBER 28, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Records double-double in win Smith totaled 26 points (10-14 FG, 4-5 3Pt, 2-3 FT), 11 rebounds, two assists, one block and one steal across 37 minutes during Saturday's 106-104 win over the Pelicans.

Impact The Rockets escaped with the win against the Pelicans on Saturday and Smith posted an excellent outing on both ends of the court, recording his second double-double over his last three appearances. The second-year forward has taken a leap compared to his rookie season and has improved in nearly every major statistical category. Over 27 games, he's averaging 14.0 points and 8.9 rebounds per game while shooting 49.8 percent from the field and 38.7 percent from three-point range.

DECEMBER 24, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Brandon Ingram posterizes Jabari Smith Jr. | Pelicans vs. Rockets Highlights

DECEMBER 24, 2023 • YOUTUBE

Posts another strong performance Smith accumulated 21 points (8-13 FG, 1-3 3Pt, 4-5 FT), eight rebounds and one assist across 31 minutes during Friday's 122-96 win over the Mavericks.

Impact Smith exploded for a career-high 34 points Wednesday against Atlanta, and though he didn't quite match that pace Friday, he looked great again with 21 points on an efficient 8-for-13 shooting line. Prior to the two-game burst, the second-year forward had been struggling through his worst stretch of the season, averaging just 10.0 points on 39.1 percent shooting over his previous seven contests. With that context, it's probably premature to proclaim Smith to have officially turned a corner, but fantasy managers who roster him have reason to be optimistic about his upswing this week.

DECEMBER 23, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Career-best performance Smith registered 34 points (8-14 FG, 4-7 3Pt, 14-14 FT), 13 rebounds, one assist and four blocks across 42 minutes during Wednesday's 134-127 loss to Atlanta.

Impact Smith blew up despite the loss, scoring a career-high 34 points to go with 15 rebounds and four blocks. As if his production wasn't good enough, he put the icing on the cake by shooting a perfect 14-of-14 from the charity stripe. While managers would love to see more of this from Smith, it should be noted that Tari Eason was out due to a leg issue. He had also scored only five points in two of the previous three games. This is an encouraging performance, but managers should keep their expectations in check, at least for now.

DECEMBER 21, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Drops a dud Monday Smith posted five points (2-7 FG, 1-4 3Pt) and seven rebounds in 23 minutes during Monday's 135-130 overtime loss to the Cavaliers.

Impact Smith picked up early fouls, limiting him to just 23 minutes in the loss. Couple that with the fact he struggled to find any rhythm, and this is what you are left with. His production has been a little up and down over the past week, culminating with him ranking outside the top 150 in standard leagues. He remains a hold, but managers should be prepared for a few bumps in the road.

DECEMBER 19, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Efficient double-double Wednesday Smith ended with 20 points (7-10 FG, 3-5 3Pt, 3-6 FT), 10 rebounds, one assist, one block and one steal in 30 minutes during Wednesday's 117-104 win over the Grizzlies.

Impact Smith missed just three of his shots from the field -- with two of those being attempts from beyond the arc -- and stepped up offensively after scoring 10 or fewer points in four games in a row. Putting that poor stretch aside, Smith has been a consistent double-digit scorer for the Rockets this season while showing a marked improvement compared to his rookie year. Smith is averaging 12.9 points, 8.7 rebounds and 1.8 assists per game this season, putting up career-best numbers in all three categories.

DECEMBER 14, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Grabs career-high 18 boards Smith registered six points (2-4 FG, 1-1 3Pt, 1-1 FT), 18 rebounds and one assist in 32 minutes during Wednesday's 110-101 win over the Thunder.

Impact Smith dominated the glass Wednesday, hauling in a career-high 18 rebounds. Although he was quiet on the offensive end, Smith has been a much-improved player over the past two weeks, putting up borderline top-50 value in standard leagues. While this could be an opportunity to sell high, perhaps he is finally beginning to figure things out.

DECEMBER 7, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Sniffs double-double in loss Smith logged 10 points (4-7 FG, 0-3 3Pt, 2-2 FT), nine rebounds, three assists, three blocks and two steals across 30 minutes during Saturday's 107-97 loss to the Lakers.

Impact Smith came up one rebound shy of a double-double in the loss. Smith's usage has taken a massive leap forward this season, and he's besting his rookie totals convincingly. Over 17 games, the Auburn product is averaging 13.3 points and 7.8 rebounds.

DECEMBER 3, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Scores 15 points in loss Smith notched 15 points (6-14 FG, 2-7 3Pt, 1-2 FT), seven rebounds, two assists and one block across 32 minutes during Wednesday's 134-124 loss to the Nuggets.

Impact Smith had his plate full on both ends of the court Wednesday since he had to deal with the frontcourt of Michael Porter and Nikola Jokic. He had a fair share of struggles on defense, but he still posted a decent stat line even when his short wasn't entirely accurate. Smith remains prone to having quite a few ups and downs, which is expected from a second-year player, but the progress is noticeable compared to his rookie year. Smith has scored in double digits in six consecutive games and is averaging 16.0 points with 9.0 rebounds per game in that span.

NOVEMBER 30, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Near double-double Smith accumulated 18 points (6-10 FG, 3-4 3Pt, 3-4 FT), nine rebounds, two assists and one block over 27 minutes during Wednesday's 111-91 win over the Grizzlies.

Impact Smith has finished one rebound short of a double-double in back-to-back games. Over his past three appearances, he's averaged 16.3 points, 7.7 rebounds, 1.7 assists and 1.0 blocks in 30.3 minutes. It's certainly been a nice bounce-back week for the second-year forward after a three-game stretch in which he averaged just 7.7 points on 37.0 percent shooting. However, Smith isn't out of the woods yet and remains an inconsistent and unreliable fantasy option moving forward.

NOVEMBER 23, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Posts 17 points in loss Smith ended Monday's 121-116 loss to the Warriors with 17 points (7-12 FG, 1-5 3Pt, 2-2 FT), nine rebounds, two assists, two blocks and one steal in 32 minutes.

Impact Smith turned in another solid game after a three-game shooting slump, and he's remained a critical piece of the defensive effort with consistent rebound totals. It's no surprise to see the Auburn product take on an enhanced role in his second season, and only an injury would keep him from being firmly entrenched in the starting lineup.

NOVEMBER 21, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

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