- Joined
- May 8, 2002
- Posts
- 1,256,991
- Reaction score
- 59
Standout wing Jabari Smith Jr. is looking forward to how the 2026-27 Houston Rockets perform throughout Year 2 of the Kevin Durant era.
Smith is preparing for the fifth season of his NBA career with the Rockets. He made his way up the ranks and had his best scoring campaign to date last season, earning a bigger role in the team’s starting five.
Houston underachieved expectations last season, suffering an early exit from the playoffs. The team will be healthier this time around, as Smith hopes to see the squad more comfortable after handling the first year with Durant on the roster.
“I think you’re gonna see a team that is a little bit more used to playing with each other. We added Kevin Durant last year, just gotta adjust to playing with him…obviously anybody can play with him. Just tendencies, getting Fred back will be huge for us. And I think you’ll just see everybody older, obviously a lot better, more mature. See a lot better team next year for sure,” Smith said during his appearance on the Chiney show via ESPN.
Apr 3, 2026; Houston, Texas, USA; Houston Rockets forward Jabari Smith Jr. (10) congratulates Houston Rockets forward Kevin Durant (7) after a play against the Utah Jazz during the third quarter at Toyota Center. Mandatory Credit: Erik Williams-Imagn Images Credit: IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect (Reuters)
Jabari Smith Jr. and the Rockets have championship aspirations as long as Kevin Durant is on the roster. They hope for great success in Year 2 of the experiment.
Smith looks forward to building on his momentum in Year 5. Throughout 77 games, he averaged 15.8 points, 6.9 rebounds and 1.9 assists per game. In the playoffs, he produced 17.5 points, 8.5 rebounds and 1.8 assists per contest.
Houston finished with a 52-30 record last season, securing the fifth seed in the Western Conference standings. However, they suffered a stunning six-game series loss to the Los Angeles Lakers in the first round.
The Rockets will have Fred VanVleet back, who missed all of last season due to a torn ACL. Not only that, but they also added Marcus Smart and Bogdan Bogdanovic, bolstering the backcourt depth going forward.
— Enjoy free coverage of the top news & trending stories with The Big Lead Newsletter —
Continue reading...
Smith is preparing for the fifth season of his NBA career with the Rockets. He made his way up the ranks and had his best scoring campaign to date last season, earning a bigger role in the team’s starting five.
Houston underachieved expectations last season, suffering an early exit from the playoffs. The team will be healthier this time around, as Smith hopes to see the squad more comfortable after handling the first year with Durant on the roster.
“I think you’re gonna see a team that is a little bit more used to playing with each other. We added Kevin Durant last year, just gotta adjust to playing with him…obviously anybody can play with him. Just tendencies, getting Fred back will be huge for us. And I think you’ll just see everybody older, obviously a lot better, more mature. See a lot better team next year for sure,” Smith said during his appearance on the Chiney show via ESPN.
What Lies Ahead for Jabari Smith Jr. and Rockets
You must be registered for see images attach
Apr 3, 2026; Houston, Texas, USA; Houston Rockets forward Jabari Smith Jr. (10) congratulates Houston Rockets forward Kevin Durant (7) after a play against the Utah Jazz during the third quarter at Toyota Center. Mandatory Credit: Erik Williams-Imagn Images Credit: IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect (Reuters)
Jabari Smith Jr. and the Rockets have championship aspirations as long as Kevin Durant is on the roster. They hope for great success in Year 2 of the experiment.
Smith looks forward to building on his momentum in Year 5. Throughout 77 games, he averaged 15.8 points, 6.9 rebounds and 1.9 assists per game. In the playoffs, he produced 17.5 points, 8.5 rebounds and 1.8 assists per contest.
Houston finished with a 52-30 record last season, securing the fifth seed in the Western Conference standings. However, they suffered a stunning six-game series loss to the Los Angeles Lakers in the first round.
The Rockets will have Fred VanVleet back, who missed all of last season due to a torn ACL. Not only that, but they also added Marcus Smart and Bogdan Bogdanovic, bolstering the backcourt depth going forward.
— Enjoy free coverage of the top news & trending stories with The Big Lead Newsletter —
Continue reading...
