Tag: Jabari Smith Jr.

Jabari Smith Jr. focused on adding strength in 2023 Rockets offseason

“Getting stronger and making precise movements,” #Rockets forward Jabari Smith Jr. tells @BradeauxandWill of his offseason plan. “Playing stronger and playing lower to the ground.”

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For Jabari Smith Jr., the No. 3 draft pick of the 2022 first round by the Houston Rockets, his rookie season of 2022-23 wasn’t all he envisioned. While Smith did earn All-Rookie second-team honors, the projected sharpshooter out of Auburn made 40.8% of his overall shots and 30.7% from 3-point range.

One plausible reason for that is a lack of strength. At 6-foot-11, 213 pounds, Smith is one of the NBA’s lightest power forwards, and it’s conceivable the physical toll of playing against bigger and stronger players might have taken a toll on a number of fronts.

Now, as the 20-year-old enters his second year under new head coach Ime Udoka, Smith seems to be prioritizing physical development.

On a new episode of “The Bradeaux & Will Show,” Smith was asked about his offseason points of emphasis. He responded:

I feel like it’s just been strength. With strength, that helps you with being able to put the ball on the floor, being able to take bumps, having to move and change directions.

Playing stronger and playing lower to the ground. I just feel like there wasn’t one thing that I was focused on, except for my body.

Getting stronger and just precise movements. I don’t think I was weak last year, I just need to throw my body around a little more and take bumps.

That new and improved body was on full display during Smith’s brilliant stint (albeit an abbreviated one) at the NBA’s 2023 summer league. In two games with the summer Rockets — both wins — Smith averaged 35.5 points (48.8% FG, 33.3% on 3-pointers), 7 rebounds, 4 assists and 32.2 minutes per game.

The complete podcast interview can be listened to below.

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Jabari Smith Jr. on Rockets’ rookies: ‘They are two of the most athletic players I’ve played with’

Smith had the opportunity to play with Thompson and Whitmore in summer league and was impressed by them.

Jabari Smith Jr. had the opportunity to play with Amen Thompson and Cam Whitmore in the NBA Summer League with the Houston Rockets, and the former third pick was impressed by them.

Smith suited up in two games last month in Las Vegas. He had a tremendous showing, producing 71 points, 14 rebounds and eight assists in 64 minutes of action. While he sat for the rest of summer league, he had a front-row view of his two rookie teammates.

He played alongside Whitmore in his two games but only shared the court with Thompson once because the fourth pick suffered an ankle injury in his debut. Thompson was ruled out of playing again after one appearance.

Smith, speaking on the “Bradeaux & Will Show” recently, liked what he saw from Thompson and Whitmore over the course of their time in summer league.

They are two of the most athletic players that I’ve seen or played with. Not just jumping, I’m talking about speed and reactions. Their instincts on defense, you can’t really teach that. You can teach where to be in spots but just that knack for the ball, that’s like a gift. They both got that. They are unselfish and they listen. They’re not worried about their shots. They really just wanted to win, that’s what I liked most about them. They were cool to play with.

Thompson produced 16 points, five assists, four rebounds, four blocks and three steals in 28 minutes before leaving early with his injury in his debut on July 7. He went 6-of-13 from the field and connected on his only 3-point attempt.

Whitmore was named MVP of the NBA Summer League after averaging 19.3 points, 5.2 rebounds, 2.5 steals and two assists on 44.7% shooting from the field in six games. He produced three 20-point games and led all players in scoring.

The two players performed well in their first action and look to be in store for strong rookie campaigns. They impressed those on hand at the event and certainly left a strong impression on their new teammate.

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Ime Udoka to Rockets: ‘Play defense, play hard, and play together’

“Play defense, play hard, and play together,” Jabari Smith Jr. says of the initial message by Ime Udoka (via @BradeauxandWill). “That was what he preached the most. Play the right way.” #Rockets

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After his 2022-23 rookie season with the Rockets, highly drafted rookie Jabari Smith Jr. (No. 3 in the 2022 first round) is among many Houston players adapting to a new approach.

Stephen Silas is out as head coach. Ime Udoka is in. Veteran free agent additions Fred VanVleet, Dillon Brooks and Jeff Green have raised the team’s goals entering 2023-24.

As of today, though, Udoka appears to be keeping it simple when it comes to his message to returning players. On a new episode of “The Bradeaux & Will Show,” Smith said of his new coach:

I got excited immediately with the hire. Just off his demeanor and what people say about him. He was in the finals. That’s an accomplishment, itself. And seeing the Celtics play and their play style, you can only get excited about that.

Seeing how excited he was, that uplifted us a lot. He came excited and said just play defense and have fun. All of that. Play defense, play hard and play together. That was what he preached the most. Play the right way.

As far as using me, we haven’t talked about it much but I can tell based on what we’ve worked on that he’s going to put me in different situations that I wasn’t in last year. I’m excited about it.

Udoka will get much more in-depth, of course, when Houston’s training camp for the 2023-24 season begins in early October.

The complete podcast interview can be listened to below.

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Jabari Smith Jr. impressed by Rockets rookies Amen Thompson, Cam Whitmore

Jabari Smith on #Rockets rookies Amen Thompson and Cam Whitmore (via @BradeauxAndWill): “They were unselfish and they listen. They weren’t worried about their shots. They just wanted to win.”

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At 20 years old, Jabari Smith Jr. remains one of the youngest players on the Houston Rockets. Despite having a year of NBA experience under his belt, during which he earned All-Rookie second-team honors, Smith is younger than newly drafted rookie Amen Thompson (the No. 4 pick of the 2023 first round).

That gives Smith, the No. 3 pick from the 2022 first round, a unique perspective from which to evaluate Houston’s other talented young prospects. So, what did Smith learn after playing alongside Thompson and fellow first-round rookie Cam Whitmore (No. 20) during a 5-1 stint at the NBA’s 2023 summer league?

Smith opened up about that subject and much more on a new episode of “The Bradeaux & Will Show.” Among his comments:

They are two of the most athletic people that I’ve seen or played with. Not just jumping, I’m talking about speed and reactions.

Their instincts on defense, you can’t really teach that. You can teach where to be in spots … but just that knack for the ball, that’s like a gift. They both have that.

They were unselfish and they listen. They weren’t worried about their shots. They really just wanted to win. That’s what I liked most about them. They were cool to play with.

It’s unclear what rotation roles, if any, that Thompson and Whitmore will have once 2023-24 training camp opens for the Rockets in October. Unlike the last two seasons, in which playing time was immediately given to highly touted rookies such as Smith, Houston’s current roster features both young prospects and a wave of newly signed veterans: Fred VanVleet, Dillon Brooks and Jeff Green.

Thus, it remains to be seen if the time is now for Thompson and Whitmore, or if they might have to wait a bit. Regardless, it appears both have the right attitude to take advantage of any opportunity.

The complete podcast interview can be listened to below.

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10 bold preseason predictions revisited from the 2022 NBA draft

Rookie Wire offered 10 bold predictions for the 2022-23 season in October and vowed to come back to see how we did.

Back in October, Rookie Wire offered 10 bold predictions for the 2022-23 season based on the available information and vowed to come back and see how we did.

Well, the time has come to look back and review the results.

We started this exercise prior to the 2019-20 season, which was our inaugural class on Rookie Wire, and we have kept up with it each year since then. Our annual revisit of these bold predictions can serve as a fun way to provide some sort of accountability around here.

This year proved no different.

We once again hit on some of our predictions but fell well short of the mark on others. In our defense, to be fair, we were very close on several of these. We just ask that you go easy on us and don’t alert the authorities at Freezing Cold Takes about the ones we missed badly on.

Here is how we fared last season.

Cam Whitmore, Amen Thompson, Jabari Smith Jr., Tari Eason shine at summer league for Rockets

The NBA’s 2023 summer league was a big success for many key #Rockets prospects, with Cam Whitmore, Jabari Smith Jr., Tari Eason, and Amen Thompson among Houston’s standouts.

With a 5-1 record and a runner-up finish at the NBA’s 2023 summer league in Las Vegas, the young and rebuilding Houston Rockets had a successful 11-day run.

Rookie forward Cam Whitmore, drafted at No. 20 overall in the 2023 first round, was sensational. He averaged 19.3 points (44.7% FG), 5.2 rebounds, 2.5 steals and 31 minutes. The uber-athletic 19-year-old played in all six summer contests and was named MVP.

But Whitmore may have had internal competition for MVP had some of his big-name teammates stayed on the court.

In two games before being shut down, second-year forward Jabari Smith Jr. (drafted No. 3 in 2022) averaged 35.5 points (48.8% FG, 33.3% on 3-pointers), 7 rebounds and 4 assists in 32.2 minutes.

Fellow second-year forward Tari Eason (No. 17 pick in 2022) found plenty of success as well. Eason averaged 23 points (48.7% FG, 36.4% on 3-pointers), 9.5 rebounds and 4 assists in two games before being shut down at the same time as Smith.

Finally, rookie point guard Amen Thompson (No. 4 pick in 2023) finished with 16 points (46.2% FG, 1-of-1 on 3-pointers), 5 assists, 4 rebounds, 4 blocks, and 3 steals in his lone summer appearance before leaving with a sprained left ankle.

Courtesy of the Rockets (for Whitmore, Smith, and Thompson) and the Hoopz YouTube channel (for Eason), here’s a look at key highlights for each prospect from 2023 summer-league play.

Podcast: Rockets’ summer league recap and Jalen Green’s big offseason

Today’s @TheLagerLine podcast explores key summer-league takeaways for the #Rockets and why 2023 is a crucial offseason for Jabari Smith Jr. and Jalen Green.

Sunday’s episode of “The Lager Line” (sponsored by Clutch City Lager of Karbach Brewing) breaks down all of the key Houston Rockets takeaways from a 5-1 stint at the NBA’s 2023 summer league.

Jabari Smith Jr. was brilliant in two games, sparking hope he may be ready for a breakout season in Year 2. Then, led by an MVP performance from rookie Cam Whitmore, Houston’s supporting cast was much better than expected over the final four games. That helped the Rockets avoid any downturn after Smith, Tari Eason and Amen Thompson were shut down.

With that in mind, Sunday’s show explores the various reasons behind the performance, headlined by strong coaching from Ben Sullivan and other members of Ime Udoka’s new-look staff with the 2023-24 Rockets.

The episode closes with a look at a pivotal offseason for third-year guard Jalen Green, who is joining the U.S. Select Team to participate in training camp for the 2023 FIBA World Cup. Tune in!

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Updated 2023-2024 Houston Rockets roster, salaries after free agency

After an extremely busy 2023 free agency, here’s an updated look at the #Rockets roster and salaries entering the 2023-24 NBA season.

When we last saw the Houston Rockets play a regular-season game in April, they were one of the NBA’s youngest teams and directed by a relatively unproven head coach in Stephen Silas.

The situation has changed significantly in the months since. Ime Udoka replaced Silas as head coach and brought in his own staff of assistants, while general manager Rafael Stone spent more than $60 million in 2023 free agency to sign veteran players Fred VanVleet, Dillon Brooks, Jeff Green and Jock Landale.

Those veterans will surround Houston’s young core of Jalen Green, Alperen Sengun, Kevin Porter Jr., Jabari Smith Jr., Tari Eason and newly drafted 2023 rookies Amen Thompson and Cam Whitmore.

As of early August, here’s an updated look at where things stand with the Rockets’ coaching staff and roster of players entering the 2023-24 NBA season. Many of the team’s newcomers will not have their jersey numbers revealed until closer to training camp, which is scheduled to start in early October.

Height and weight information is from NBA.com, while salary details are from HoopsHype figures. Ages are as of Aug. 1, 2023.

Rockets reportedly intrigued by future lineups with Jabari Smith Jr. at center

“In the playoffs, when people start switching everything more and more, he projects to be a really interesting big,” #Rockets GM Rafael Stone says of Jabari Smith Jr. (via @KellyIko).

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By pursuing Milwaukee big man Brook Lopez in 2023 free agency, the Rockets attempted to upgrade their center rotation surrounding third-year starter Alperen Sengun. But when Lopez returned to the Bucks, Houston’s apparent backup plan involved giving favorably stuctured contracts to Jock Landale and Jeff Green.

While capable players, Landale and Green aren’t nearly at the level of Lopez, when it comes to their projected on-court impact. Then again, they may not be Houston’s only options in the middle.

Per Kelly Iko of The Athletic, the Rockets are intrigued by using Jabari Smith Jr. —  who just finished a terrific summer league — in select situations at center. In turn, that could free up more minutes at power forward for Tari Eason and Cam Whitmore.

Quoting general manager Rafael Stone, Iko writes:

“It was essentially that he’s got the size of a center,” Stone said of the team’s predraft process. “(He’s) 6-11 with a 7-2 wingspan, very typical center size with a unique ability to move his feet on the perimeter. Particularly in the playoffs when people start switching everything more and more, he projected to be a really interesting big. He has the size to be a rim protector while at the same time can move on the perimeter like someone materially smaller.”

In terms of rotation minutes for the 2023-24 season and beyond, it could come down to how much the Rockets are willing to expose Smith to the physical pounding that comes from minutes at center.

While Smith has the height to play at center, he was also listed at just 213 pounds as a rookie, which is why he mostly played at power forward. In time, the No. 3 pick of the 2022 NBA draft is expected to put on bulk, but that often happens gradually so the player doesn’t lose athleticism in the process.

Many times, teams will use traditional bigs to soak up minutes during the regular season while saving their lighter, more agile lineups for the playoffs. That way, a more nimble, athletic big — such as Smith — can save some of his energy and avoid being worn down from playing too many heavier, more physical opponents over 82 games.

Then again, with a young and rebuilding Rockets team coming off a 22-60 season at the bottom of the Western Conference, playoff expectations entering 2023-24 are minimal. From an organizational standpoint, if the team is even fighting for a potential spot in West’s play-in tournament come March and April, it’s a successful year.

Thus, in theory, that might make the Rockets more likely than some teams to experiment in the regular season — since it’s not as if they have any greater playoff ambition to save resources for.

Time will tell. For now, it’s a potentially important anecdote to keep in mind as Houston builds out its rotation for the coming years.

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Takeaways: MVP Cam Whitmore leads Rockets’ standouts at 2023 summer league

With 2023 summer league in the books, here’s our look back at key #Rockets takeaways, including Cam Whitmore’s MVP run and Jabari Smith Jr.’s complete domination.

In Monday’s championship, the Rockets and summer-league head coach Ben Sullivan fell one game short of accomplishing their goal of winning the NBA’s 2023 summer league. With a 99-78 loss to the unbeaten Cleveland Cavaliers, Houston finished with a 5-1 record. 

Yet, as general manager Rafael Stone and new head coach Ime Udoka watched courtside, they witnessed several positive developments over those two weeks in Las Vegas. Many may help the Rockets become more successful as they enter a self-proclaimed Phase 2 of their rebuilding process, starting with the 2023-24 season.

Rookie point guard Amen Thompson (left ankle sprain) was ruled out of summer-league play after one game, and second-year forwards Jabari Smith Jr. and Tari Eason (rest) were ruled out after the second. But all three made a big impression on Stone and Udoka during their limited playing time.

Meanwhile, those absences provided opportunities for other players on the summer roster —  most notably, rookie forward Cam Whitmore (summer-league MVP) and second-year guard Trevor Hudgins, who remains on a two-way contract with Houston. Both Whitmore and Hudgins made major contributions as the Rockets won three of their final four games, even without three big names.

With summer league officially in the books, here’s a look back at some key statistics and takeaways from six games in Las Vegas.

(Editor’s note: Ben DuBose also contributed to this article.)