Jabari Smith Jr. Steps Up When the Rockets Need Him Most
Jabari Smith Jr. may not have had the smoothest ride this season, but his performance against the Indiana Pacers was a timely reminder of why the Houston Rockets still believe in his upside. The former Auburn standout dropped 19 points for the second straight game and added four rebounds, helping Houston secure a hard-fought 118-114 win.
It wasn’t just the box score that stood out - it was the context.
The Rockets are navigating a stretch of the season where their frontcourt depth has taken a major hit. Steven Adams is out for the year, and Kevin Durant’s recent ankle injury only adds to the uncertainty. For a team that leans heavily on size, physicality, and length to dictate tempo, those absences are more than just inconvenient - they’re strategic obstacles.
That’s where Smith’s value becomes more apparent. At 6-foot-11 with a smooth shooting stroke and the mobility to guard multiple positions, he brings a rare blend of tools that Houston can’t afford to sideline. And while his season-long numbers haven’t always reflected his potential - his field goal percentage coming into the Pacers game sat at 43.2%, the lowest since his rookie campaign - his recent play suggests he’s turning a corner.
Against Indiana, Smith connected on half of his attempts from deep, a notable bounce-back considering his struggles from beyond the arc throughout much of the season. It wasn’t a dominant stat line, but it was efficient, timely, and exactly what the Rockets needed with Durant sidelined.
There’s a bit of poetic symmetry here. Before entering the league, Smith drew comparisons to Durant - not because of identical skill sets, but due to their similar frames and perimeter shooting upside.
So when Durant couldn’t go, and Smith stepped in to help fill the void, it felt like a small full-circle moment. He didn’t try to be KD - he just played within himself, and it paid off.
The Rockets are still figuring out who they are in the Western Conference pecking order, and injuries have complicated that process. But if Smith can string together performances like this - efficient scoring, solid rebounding, and confident shooting - he becomes more than just a rotation piece. He becomes a necessity.
There’s no denying that Smith’s season has been inconsistent. But in a league where timing is everything, he might be heating up at just the right moment. With the Rockets needing every bit of size and versatility they can muster, Jabari Smith Jr. is showing signs that he’s ready to answer the call.