Jabari Smith Jr. hasn’t made the kind of superstar leap that changes the whole conversation around him, but the Rockets are getting something almost as valuable: steady growth in all the right places.
Houston’s 5-1 start has been built on contributions all over the roster, with the offense looking sharper and the defense still carrying its usual edge. Smith has been part of that blend, and while he’s not yet shouldering a huge enough load to be mentioned with the league’s elite scorers, he is clearly expanding his game in ways that matter.
The biggest jump has come from outside. Smith has been the Rockets’ most dependable shooter so far, knocking down 43% of his threes on 5.8 attempts per game.
The team’s ball movement and playmaking have helped set him up, but this isn’t just a product of easier looks. He’s also making a career-best percentage from deep while taking some of the toughest shots of his career.
That shooting growth is only part of the story. Smith looks more comfortable as a scorer and creator overall, with the ability to attack off the dribble or rise into jumpers when he sees a mismatch or a weaker defender.
He’s even shown a willingness to create his own shot against quality defenders when Houston needs it. If Alperen Sengun continues to miss time, that kind of self-sufficient offense could become even more important, since Sengun has been such a key hub early on.
There’s also a bigger-picture reason this matters. In the games that really count, opponents are going to spend plenty of energy trying to take away Kevin Durant and Sengun.
Smith may not draw that same level of attention, and that could make him a dangerous release valve. If he keeps adding comfort on drives, pull-ups and post moves, he can swing games with scoring that defenses aren’t fully built to erase.
The defensive end still looks like Smith’s calling card, and he has kept that part of his game intact. He’s averaging 1.2 steals and 0.8 blocks per game, and even when those numbers don’t show up on the stat sheet, he’s still getting solid contests.
Rebounding, though, has dipped a bit. Smith is pulling down 5 boards per game after reaching as high as 8 in earlier seasons. That gives him a fairly obvious area to clean up if he wants to get back to his usual standard.
Even so, the rebounding slide doesn’t outweigh the offensive progress. Houston has other players who can help on the glass, but it doesn’t have many shooters who can also create their own offense. That’s where Smith’s value is growing fastest, especially at power forward.
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What stood out most was how much the Rockets missed Alperen Senguns presence in the middle, even with the team not viewing his absence as a major injury concern. Houston also left points on the board in a few costly ways, from missed free throws to goaltending violations, the kind of self-inflicted issues that can turn a close game into a frustrating loss and give the staff plenty to clean up before the next one. [Read more 🡒]
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Pistons Enter NBA Cup With Something To Prove Against Hot Starts
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For a club trying to establish itself as one of the leagues early pace-setters, that kind of balance matters. Houston is not alone in the undefeated conversation, with Memphis also rolling and the Lakers off to a strong start, but the Rockets have their own formula taking shape around veteran shot-making and young athleticism. The question now is how long that early rhythm can hold once the schedule starts asking harder questions. [Read more 🡒]