Rockets Season Preview: Will Jabari Smith Jr. Take a Major Sophomore Leap?

Houston Rockets second-year forward Jabari Smith Jr. could be on the verge of a breakout year following an off-season of development.

HOUSTON — Jabari Smith Jr. finished his rookie season on a cliffhanger. After a sluggish start where he once averaged under 10.0 points, Smith began to portray the talents that nearly made him the top overall pick during the 2022 NBA Draft. 

He scored a career-best 30 points during the Houston Rockets' overtime defeat to the Indiana Pacers. During the final 17 games last season, Smith averaged 16.4 points on 46.3 percent shooting from the field, 8.2 rebounds and 1.0 block. 

The ending to Smith's rookie campaign proved that the Rockets had a foundational piece as the team transitioned into phase II of their rebuilding project. But instead of playing a correlated role, Smith has the potential to take the helm as the Rockets' primary focus point in year two.   

"We lost too many games last year — I feel like you have to circle everybody," Smith said. "We lost to almost every team in the league. We have stuff to prove. We were 22-60 last year. Every game we have to go in with the same mentality that we have something to prove."

Smith spent the entire summer working on his weaknesses in Atlanta and Houston. And to help with his development, Smith was one of several young participants who trained alongside future Hall-of-Famer Kevin Durant.

The outcome led to Smith showcasing a snippet of his off-season developments during the 2023 Las Vegas Summer League tournament.

Smith averaged a Summer League-high 35.5 points, seven rebounds, and four assists during his two-game outing. If not for the Rockets shutting him and Tari Eason down, Smith may have won Summer League MVP honors instead of Cam Whitmore.

Troy Taormina-USA TODAY Sports, Rockets forward Jabari Smith Jr. shoots the ball as Denver Nuggets guard Jamal Murray / Mandatory Credit: Troy Taormina-USA TODAY Sports

During Houston's 113-101 win over the Detroit Pistons, Smith came two points shy of becoming the sixth player in Summer League history to score 40 points. He scored a game-high 38 points on 13-of-25 shooting. 

"It was a good opportunity to show what I worked on while playing in a different scenario," Smith said. "When they [the Rockets] told me I was done, I thought it was a good and successful Summer League."

The Rockets will begin the 2023-24 campaign with a two-game road trip. Houston will open the season on Oct. 25 against the Orlando Magic before taking on the San Antonio Spurs on Oct. 27.

Each player on the roster will be motivated to begin the season on a good note. But the schedule gives Smith an extra push, given that his first two contests will be against Paolo Banchero and Victor Wembanyama.

Before the Magic took the then-Duke prospect with the top overall selection, all signs pointed toward Orlando drafting Smith with the No. 1 pick in the 2022 NBA Draft. But on the night of the draft, Orlando changed course and selected Banchero.

Smith will be motivated to go up against Banchero, but he may take his inaugural meeting against Victor Wembanyama personally. Smith was unhappy with Wembanyama's facial expression after the Rockets failed to land the French phenom during the NBA Draft Lottery in May.

When NBA Deputy Commissioner Mark Tatum revealed that the Rockets had fallen to the fourth overall pick, Wembanyama gave a slight celebration upon learning of Houston's fate. Wembanyama celebrated while Smith noted his actions on Twitter.

The first two games could be the groundwork for Smith to take a significant sophomore leap for the remainder of the 2023-24 season.