Rockets’ Jabari Smith Jr.: New Role In Summer League Win

While he scored a game-high 38 points, Jabari Smith Jr.'s improved ball-handling and playmaking must not fall under the radar in the Houston Rockets in Summer League.

If the 2023 Las Vegas Summer League is a glimpse into Jabari Smith Jr.'s sophomore season, then the Houston Rockets are in for a treat.

"It shows that he is growing as a player," Summer League coach Ben Sullivan said of Smith’s work so far. “He has a lot of stuff he is good at. And now, he is putting it all together. He has had a couple of good games, and I could not be happier with the way he is playing."

Smith led the Rockets to their second consecutive victory in a 113-101 win over the Detroit Pistons inside the Thomas & Mack Center. He came two points shy of becoming the sixth player in Summer League history to score 40 points or more with a game-high 38 points on 13-of-25 shooting.

But Smith's dominance in Las Vegas has not been one-dimensional. He impacted Sunday's win by using his ball-handling and playmaking skills, which Smith credited to his confidence and development.

"I was just trying to utilize my matchups," Smith said. "They had bigs guarding me who could not pressure me out, so it was easier to initiate the offense. I feel like I've been spending a lot of time on my [ball-handling], while having the ability to make moves, take bumps and be decisive."

Smith took the helm as point-forward in the Rockets' win over the Pistons, and Houston needed his improved playmaking in the absence of rookie point guard Amen Thompson. Smith led the Rockets with six assists in the win. 

Smith's first assist came early in the first quarter when he connected with rookie Cam Whitmore for a backdoor dunk. But his best pass came at the end of the third quarter when he assisted on Jermaine Samuels Jr.'s buzzer-beating layup to end the quarter. 

The ability to orchestrate the offense as a facilitator is a testament to Smith's on-court vision. But his comfortability taking the reins as a floor general showcased his growth as a ball-handler.

He came into his rookie campaign as a subpar dribbler, and enhancing the skill set was a significant point of emphasis during Smith's off-season training.

Smith said playing in the Las Vegas Summer League for the second consecutive year allows him to measure his ball-handling progression with in-game reps while learning Houston's new system.

"It seemed like whenever Jabari had the ball in the middle and we had movements around it, good things were happening for our team," Sullivan said. "I've liked his competitiveness. I've liked his maturity. He had a really nice all-around game." 

Smith is averaging 35.5 points while leading the Rockets to a 2-0 record in Las Vegas. And if the tournament ended today, he would be the favorite to bring MVP honors back to Houston.

Winning MVP is a goal for Smith with seven days left in the Summer League. But his ultimate objective is to lead the Rockets to a championship as he helps the franchise re-establish a winning culture along the way.

"I feel like if I win the Summer League championship, I will win MVP," Smith said, projecting a dream-come-true vision. "I want a championship more than MVP.”

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You can follow Coty M. Davis on Twitter at @CotyDavis_24

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