Former No. 2 overall draft pick Jabari Smith Jr. has recently begun to demonstrate exactly why the Houston Rockets committed to him long term with a five-year, $122MM rookie-scale extension that will officially begin this July.
As Matt Young of The Houston Chronicle notes, Smith’s performances over the past several weeks have highlighted his continued growth and increasing comfort within Houston’s system.
Smith delivered an impressive 31-point performance against Utah on Monday, a showing that boosted his scoring average to 18.6 points per game across his last 10 contests.
During that stretch, he has been highly efficient offensively, shooting .550 from the field, .483 from three-point range, and .833 from the free-throw line, reflecting both improved confidence and shot selection.
Teammate Kevin Durant pointed out that Smith’s recent surge comes as he gains a clearer understanding of his responsibilities within a roster that looks different from last season.
According to Durant, adjusting to evolving roles has been an important process for several players, including Smith.
“The last month or so, I think Jabari has been catching his rhythm, understanding more his role,” Durant said.
“I know guys have been here for a while but it’s still a different team from last year, so guys got to understand their roles a little bit more and I think ‘Bari has just stepped into his position and been great for us the last month.”
Southwest Notes: Murray, McGowens, J. Smith, Christie https://t.co/fbwyD5qD7K
— Hoops Rumors (@HoopsRumors) February 24, 2026
