JABARI SMITH JR. NEWS

'Hit first': Jabari Smith Jr., Jalen Green prioritizing fast starts in Houston “We are an aggressive team, so the first two quarters, we are trying to come out and throw the first punch,” Jalen Green says of Houston’s d...

NOVEMBER 10, 2023 • USATODAY.COM

Goes for 13 points in win Smith notched 13 points (5-8 FG, 3-5 3Pt), four rebounds and one block in 22 minutes during Monday's 122-97 win over the Kings.

Impact Smith failed to reach the 25-minute mark for the first time this season, but that was more due to the nature of the game instead of a poor outing from the second-year forward. Smith has looked good of late and has scored in double digits in five games in a row.

NOVEMBER 7, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Team option exercised The Rockets exercised Smith's 2024-25 team option Monday.

Impact Smith will earn $9.77 million in 2024-25, and his rookie deal also contains a $12.35 million option for 2025-26 that would allow the Rockets to keep him around a fourth season. After an up-and-down rookie season, Smith is averaging 11.3 points, 7.3 rebounds, 2.0 assists, 1.3 three-pointers and 1.3 steals in 32.3 minutes per game through the Rockets' first three contests of 2023-24, but he's shooting just 37.8 percent from the field and has yet to block a shot.

OCTOBER 31, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Comes close to double-double Smith ended Sunday's 106-95 loss to the Warriors with 14 points (6-12 FG, 2-6 3Pt), eight rebounds, five assists and two steals in 34 minutes.

Impact Smith is operating as Houston's fourth-best option on offense behind Jalen Green, Fred VanVleet and Alperen Sengun, but he stepped up in this one with VanVleet struggling (eight points, 2-13 FG). Smith has scored in double digits while coming close to completing a double-double in his last two outings, so he's trending up following a subpar showing in his regular-season opener.

OCTOBER 30, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Scores team-high 20 points Smith posted 20 points (7-14 FG, 2-6 3Pt, 4-4 FT), five rebounds and a block across 24 minutes in Wednesday's 117-103 preseason loss to the Spurs.

Impact Smith was one of two projected starters -- the other being Alperen Sengun -- who featured in the first unit in this one, and he responded by leading the team in scoring. Smith improved massively as the 2022-23 season progressed, and he should be in line to have a prominent role once again in 2023-24. Smith averaged 12.8 points and 7.2 rebounds per game as a rookie, and he shouldn't have problems topping those numbers as a sophomore.

OCTOBER 19, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Takeaways: Jabari Smith Jr. leads Rockets in short-handed loss to Victor Wembanyama's Spurs Jabari Smith Jr. led the short-handed #Rockets with 20 points (50% FG) in 24 minutes, but Houston still suffered its first preseason loss on...

OCTOBER 19, 2023 • USATODAY.COM

Excellent against New Orleans Smith delivered 22 points (9-13 FG, 4-5 3Pt), nine rebounds, two assists and a steal across 24 minutes in Thursday's 120-87 preseason win over New Orleans.

Impact Smith opened his preseason with a 14-point, seven-rebound effort against the Pacers, but he looked even better in this one and finished just one rebound away from a double-double. He showed steady progress as the 2022-23 season advanced, and he seems ready to take a significant leap in his second year in the league. He's penciled to open the season as the regular starter at power forward.

OCTOBER 13, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Jabari Smith Jr. grows his game after offseason workouts, training with Kevin Durant “I would say KD [Kevin Durant],” #Rockets forward Jabari Smith Jr. (@JabariSmithJr) said when asked who helped him improve the most in 2023...

AUGUST 21, 2023 • USATODAY.COM

Jabari Smith Jr. focused on adding strength in 2023 Rockets offseason “Getting stronger and making precise movements,” #Rockets forward Jabari Smith Jr. tells @BradeauxandWill of his offseason plan. “Playing st...

AUGUST 6, 2023 • USATODAY.COM

Rockets reportedly intrigued by future lineups with Jabari Smith Jr. at center “In the playoffs, when people start switching everything more and more, he projects to be a really interesting big,” #Rockets GM Rafael Ston...

JULY 20, 2023 • USATODAY.COM

Jabari Smith Jr.'s steps to defensive greatness, from NBA stars who paved the way Jabari Smith Jr. is a defensive work in progress, so stars like LeBron James and Draymond Green are sharing their advice for him.

JULY 20, 2023 • THEATHLETIC.COM

U of L jumps in the mix for son of ex-NBA player Jabari Smith Louisville basketball in the mix for son of former NBA star Jabari Smith's son

JULY 17, 2023 • 247SPORTS.COM

NBA Roundtable: Analyzing Victor Wembanyama's Summer League performance

Also, what other youngsters stood out on the first weekend? And which rookies left much to be desired?

JULY 11, 2023

Houston Rockets forward Jabari Smith Jr. off to hot start in summer league play

Houston Rockets forward Jabari Smith Jr. is putting in the work and looks poised to make a leap as he heads into his second NBA season

JULY 10, 2023 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

Summer Standouts: Jabari Smith Jr. big night, Pelicans Dereon Seabron, Lakers Colin Castleton close out day 3 No. 1 overall pick Victor Wembanyama dropped 27 points and 12 rebounds in loss and Jabari Smith Jr. contributed 38 points on Sunday.

JULY 10, 2023 • NBA.COM

NBA 2k24 Summer League: Jabari Smith Jr. scorches Pistons for 38 points in win Jabari Smith Jr. came up with a game-high 38 points in a win for the Rockets.

JULY 10, 2023 • NBA.COM

Summer Standouts: Jabari Smith Jr. stuns Blazers, Sharife Cooper scorches Nets The 2022 No. 3 overall pick delivers in the clutch for the Rockets at the NBA 2K24 Summer League, while Sharife Cooper carves up the Nets.

JULY 8, 2023 • NBA.COM

NBA 2K24 Summer League: Jabari Smith Jr. stuns Blazers at the buzzer Rockets close with a wild rally capped off by a buzzer-beating 3-pointer from Jabari Smith Jr. to complete the comeback win.

JULY 8, 2023 • NBA.COM

All-NBA awards tracker: Rookie, Defensive and All-NBA teams

Keep up with the NBA's team award recipients, including the All-Rookie, All-Defensive and All-NBA.

MAY 11, 2023

Pistons' Ivey and Duren selected to NBA All-Rookie second team Ivey and Duren joined Houston forwards Jabari Smith Jr. and Tari Eason, along with San Antonio forward Jeremy Sochan on the All-Rookie secon...

MAY 8, 2023 • DETROITNEWS.COM

Jabari Smith Jr. agrees with ESPN's Kendrick Perkins on Bucks' failure ESPN’s @KendrickPerkins disagrees with Giannis Antetokounmpo about whether Milwaukee’s season was a failure, and #Rockets rookie Jabari Smit...

APRIL 27, 2023 • USATODAY.COM

Jabari Smith Jr. ignites Rockets past Wizards in finale Jabari Smith Jr.

APRIL 9, 2023 • SACBEE.COM

Rockets finish 2022-23 season on winning streak behind rookies Jabari Smith Jr., Tari Eason #Rockets rookies Jabari Smith and Tari Eason flourished Sunday in Washington as Houston (22-60) finished its 2022-23 season with three strai...

APRIL 9, 2023 • USATODAY.COM

Another double-double on ledger Smith had 16 points (6-14 FG, 0-1 3Pt, 4-5 FT), 13 rebounds, one assist, one block and one steal over 36 minutes during Tuesday's 124-103 win over Denver.

Impact Smith has just one single-digit scoring effort in the last month, averaging 15.7 points and 8.7 boards over that span. He's been a reliable source of production around the rim of late as well, posting double-doubles in four of his last five games while also averaging a block per contest over that span. The rookie first-round pick has displayed signs of growth in the second half of the season and could be an intriguing breakout candidate in 2023-24. However, he continues to be plagued by poor shooting from deep, connecting on just 19.0 percent of his attempts from three over the last six games.

APRIL 5, 2023 • ROTOWIRE