Inside The Rockets

Rockets' Jabari Smith Jr. Named 'X-Factor'

Jabari Smith Jr.'s improvement will be key if the Houston Rockets want to take the next step this season.

Jeremy Brener

Mar 27, 2024; Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, USA; Houston Rockets forward Jabari Smith Jr. (10) drives past Oklahoma City Thunder guard Isaiah Joe (11) during the second quarter at Paycom Center. Mandatory Credit: Alonzo Adams-USA TODAY Sports
Mar 27, 2024; Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, USA; Houston Rockets forward Jabari Smith Jr. (10) drives past Oklahoma City Thunder guard Isaiah Joe (11) during the second quarter at Paycom Center. Mandatory Credit: Alonzo Adams-USA TODAY Sports / Alonzo Adams-USA TODAY Sports
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The Houston Rockets selected Jabari Smith Jr. with the No. 3 overall pick in the 2022 NBA Draft, and he has slowly but surely emerged into a key player for the team.

Bleacher Report writer Grant Hughes listed Smith as the team's "X-factor" going into the upcoming season.

"Amen Thompson, rookie Reed Sheppard, Jalen Green and even Alperen Sengün could all take strides forward this season, but Jabari Smith Jr. stands out as the young Rocket whose potential leap would matter most," Hughes writes. "Smith's tantalizing shooting stroke was a key reason the 6'11" forward came off the board at No. 3 in the 2022 draft. Last season saw Smith deliver on his shooting promise as a prospect, drilling 36.3 percent of his 5.0 tries after hitting only 30.7 percent on lower volume as a rookie. Confidence growing as the season progressed, Smith scored in double figures in 20 of his final 25 games."

Smith Jr., 21, averaged 13.7 points and 8.1 rebounds per game this past season with the Rockets, which also saw an improvement in his efficiency. Smith Jr. went from shooting 40.8 percent from the field to 45.4, and his 3-point average went from 30.7 to a respectable 36.3.

If Smith can continue to make those improvements, the Rockets will be more likely to make the postseason.

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Jeremy Brener

JEREMY BRENER

Jeremy Brener is an editor, writer and social media manager for several Fan Nation websites. His work has also been featured in 247 Sports and SB Nation as a writer and podcaster. Brener has been with Fan Nation since 2021. Brener grew up in Houston, going to Astros, Rockets and Texans games as a kid. He moved to Orlando in 2016 to go to college and pursue a degree. He hosts "The Dream Take" podcast covering the Rockets, which has produced over 350 episodes since March 2020. Brener graduated in May 2020 from the University of Central Florida with a Bachelor's degree in Broadcast Journalism minoring in Sport Business Management. While at UCF, Brener worked for the school's newspaper NSM.today and "Hitting the Field," a student-run sports talk show and network. He was the executive producer for "Hitting the Field" from 2019-20. During his professional career, Brener has covered a number of major sporting events including the Pro Bowl, March Madness and several NBA and NFL games. As a fan, Brener has been to the 2005 World Series, 2010 FIFA World Cup and the 2016 NCAA National Championship between the Villanova Wildcats and North Carolina Tar Heels. Now, Brener still resides in the Central Florida area and enjoys writing, watching TV, hanging out with friends and going to the gym. Brener can be followed on Twitter @JeremyBrener. For more inquiries, please email jeremybrenerchs@gmail.com.

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