Rockets' Jabari Smith Has 'Sky-High' Ceiling

Jabari Smith Jr. showcased his skills last season and at Las Vegas Summer League, proving that the Houston Rockets forward could be one to watch.

Jeremy Brener | Jul 24, 2023

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Houston Rockets

Houston Rockets forward Jabari Smith Jr. can't order a drink in a bar, but he can average 12.8 points per game as a rookie.

Even as a high-profile draft pick, averaging double digits as a teenager in the NBA is no small feat. Considering the fact that most legitimate NBA stars don't come into their own until their mid-20s, Smith has heaps of potential.

"Smith, last summer's No. 3 pick, holds a sky-high ceiling as a 6'10" shot-maker who can switch on defense and potentially excel in pick-and-roll coverage," Bleacher Report writes. "As a rookie, though, he shot a disappointing 30.7 percent from distance (40.8 percent overall), including a dismal 29.4 percent mark on catch-and-shoot threes."

Sure, Smith's rookie year brought on challenges and it was by no means perfect, but building blocks are set in place.

That foundation helped lead to a dominant Summer League showcase, where Smith looked like the best player in Las Vegas during his two-game performance. During Summer League, there was a chance to see what Smith could be if he can figure out the puzzle and everything goes right.

If he does figure it out, the sky is truly the limit.

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Published Jul 24, 2023

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.