16 articles
HOU • • #
7 days ago
Smith Jr. finished Wednesday as one of the Rockets’ leading scorers despite not shooting a great percentage. He did have success from the three-point line, but wasn’t able to land much production elsewhere. Yet, even with an unspectacular Wednesday performance, the fourth-year forward is putting together his highest-scoring and most efficient three-point shooting season of his career. He’ll have a chance to log better numbers against the Jazz on Sunday.
HOU • • #
12 days ago
Due to knee issues, Smith and Adams were initially questionable for Friday’s game. They’re both available and will start as part of a massive Rockets lineup. This is the second consecutive game that head coach Ime Udoka has gone with this lineup, first doing so in Wednesday’s win over the Cavaliers.
Source: Bennett Durando
HOU • • #
13 days ago
Smith was initially questionable for Wednesday’s win over the Cavaliers, but he started and played 31 minutes. If he can play against the Nuggets, the Rockets forward will be in line for a similar workload. If Smith can’t play, Reed Sheppard becomes a player of greater importance despite not playing the same position.
Source: NBA Injury Report
HOU • • #
14 days ago
Smith is good to go after being considered questionable on Houston’s initial injury report. He will shift up a position for Wednesday’s matchup, with Josh Okogie moving to the bench in favor of Steven Adams.
Source: Ethan Sands
HOU • • #
15 days ago
Smith most recently played 43 minutes in Sunday’s overtime win over the Magic, and his absence would leave a hole in the Rockets’ starting lineup. If he cannot play, Steven Adams is a potential replacement in the starting lineup, especially considering the matchup. Reed Sheppard may also see his minutes increase and should be rostered in 12-team leagues.
Source: NBA Injury Report
HOU • • #
19 days ago
It’s early, but Smith has started this season out well and is currently posting career-highs in points, three-pointers and field goal percentage. This was his second 20-point game of the season, and he matched his season-high for three-pointers. Smith has been a consistent presence in the starting lineup for the Rockets, and while he hasn’t had many big performances, he has been a steady performer.
HOU • • #
28 days ago
Smith is back after a one-game absence. He’ll regain his place in the starting lineup, with Tari Eason heading back to the bench. While his fantasy ceiling is lowered when used in a reserve role, Eason should still be rostered in 12-team leagues.
Source: Will Guillory
HOU • • #
29 days ago
Smith did not play in Monday’s win over the Mavericks, and Tari Eason replaced him in the starting lineup. If Smith cannot return on Wednesday, Eason will retain that role, raising his fantasy ceiling.
Source: NBA Injury Report
HOU • • #
30 days ago
Smith has been downgraded from questionable to out, opening up a spot in the Rockets’ starting lineup. Tari Eason will move into the starting lineup, and he’s worth streaming for the rebounding and defensive potential.
Source: Mike Curtis
HOU • • #
about 1 month ago
Smith is on the injury report with a sprained right ankle sustained during Saturday’s comfortable win over the Celtics. If he cannot play on Monday, Tari Eason and Steven Adams are potential replacements in the starting lineup. With the Mavericks’ lack of interior depth, Eason may be the more likely choice.
Source: NBA Injury Report
HOU • • #
about 1 month ago
Smith became the youngest Rocket in franchise history to have at least 25 points, at least five rebounds and at least five assists in a game without turning the ball over. The 22-year-old forward had his best game of the season so far. If Smith could sustain this production, we’d be talking about a breakout season and a spot on the All-Star team.
HOU • • #
about 1 month ago
Smith was one of four Rockets starters to attempt at least 15 shots in Tuesday’s double-overtime defeat, which is good news for a player who averaged a career-low 9.9 shots per game last season. With the lineup Houston rolled out Tuesday night, with Smith starting at small forward, he’ll have ample catch-and-shoot opportunities playing off of Alperen Şengün, Kevin Durant and Amen Thompson. If Smith can convert at a solid clip while providing improved rebound and defensive production, he can approach top-100 fantasy value this season.
HOU • • #
about 1 month ago
Udoka has been coy about his starting five, but this update confirms that he’s rolling out a jumbo lineup. At 6'7, Thompson is the shortest of the group, as every other starter stands 6'11. Oklahoma City will likely be starting Isaiah Hartenstein and Chet Holmgren, so perhaps the first unit for this contest is purely matchup-based. Fantasy managers should expect Durant, Thompson and Sengun to be locked into the starting five, but the other two spots may be fluid.
Source: Vanessa Richardson
HOU • • #
about 2 months ago
Smith has progressively gotten better throughout this preseason, and this was his best performance yet. He won’t be scoring at this rate during the regular season often, but it was encouraging to see him have a night like this. He’ll be an important piece on both ends of the floor for Houston this season and is locked in as a starter, but he isn’t a great fantasy option.
HOU • • #
about 2 months ago
Smith remained in the starting lineup on Wednesday, with Tari Eason (8/3/3 with one three-pointer in 19 minutes) dropped to the bench to make room for Kevin Durant. Of course, this does not mean Rockets head coach Ime Udoka has finalized his starting lineup, but Smith’s perimeter shooting ability may give him the edge. The fourth-year forward shot 3-of-5 from beyond the arc against the Jazz, and that floor-spacing ability will be critical since neither Amen Thompson nor Alperen Şengün offers much value as a perimeter shooter.
HOU • • #
3 months ago
The Rockets, who finished the 2024-25 regular season with the second-best record in the Western Conference, have four starters locked into their spots ahead of training camp. Fred VanVleet, Amen Thompson, Kevin Durant and Alperen Şengün will start, but who joins them? While the assumption of many has been that Jabari Smith Jr. will regain that role, Udoka has not made a decision. “It’s to be determined. I do think Jabari showed tremendous growth this offseason, and obviously he started the majority of his time here, before the injury,” Udoka told Rockets Wire’s Ben DuBose. “But we’ll take a look at everything. We feel we have incredible depth this year and a lot of versatility, so we could go a number of different ways, as far as that. I think some of that will be proven in training camp.” As a starter last season, Smith averaged 11.8 points and 6.7 rebounds per game, but he offered higher averages (13.2 points, 7.7 rebounds) coming off the bench. And the Rockets have options to fill the fifth starting spot. Dorian Finney-Smith and Tari Eason are two other possibilities, and Houston had some success during the first round of the playoffs when playing Steven Adams alongside Şengün.
Source: Rockets Wire