When NBA followers discuss the Houston Rockets’ chances for a deep postseason run, they focus on the performance of the team’s top players: Kevin Durant, Alperen Sengun and Amen Thompson.
These players have proven through time and consistency that they can be leaders on a team that has true championship aspirations. However, no team has won a championship with only three contributors to the team’s winning efforts.
Houston has built a team with significant depth, with several players who can contribute at a high level outside of the team’s defining stars. Jabari Smith Jr. may be the most impactful role player on the team despite limited offensive opportunities.
Limited opportunities for Smith Jr. mean he won’t get as many shot attempts as Houston’s top players, but he’ll most likely be used outside of the big three.
This is mostly due to his ability to hold his own as a big shooter. He is currently shooting his career-high mark at 39 percent after several games, which has made him the hottest deep-range shooter on the team.
He can still finish in the mid-range as well, and he has balanced his offense with the ability to drive on closeouts and finish at the rim. His management seems to have improved during the early seasons, as there were some unconventional and difficult moments regarding the start of the year.
Smith Jr.’s contributions don’t stop on the offensive end; He is a skilled help defender who can protect the rim at a high level from the weak side.
He averages less than a block per game, but his instincts in the paint help Houston rotate and contest shots when opposing ball handlers get into the paint. He is mostly counted on as a switchable defender who can step up to the perimeter after screens.
With injuries to Terry Eason and Dorian Finney-Smith, Smith Jr. has taken on a more important role for the Rockets. However, he still contributes to the revival efforts provided by Sengun and Steven Adams.
Smith Jr. is considered a flexible part of the team’s gameplan on both sides of the ball. Head coach Ime Udoka expects all of his players to play at a high level, no matter what they are asked to do. Smith Jr. has been asked to fill his role, filling the gaps in the team and making them a dangerous, complete team.
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