NBA Hoops

Rockets rookie Jabari Smith Jr. sets priorities for 2022 summer league

Rockets rookie Jabari Smith Jr. sets priorities for 2022 summer league

HOUSTON — Once media members were allowed into the Toyota Center practice facility on Tuesday, we walked into the gym area and found a very intense scrimmage taking place. It was between the Rockets’  2022 summer league roster, which had been split into two teams.

The team led by second-year guard Josh Christopher and rookie forward Jabari Smith Jr., who was picked at No. 3 overall in the 2022 NBA draft, was down by three points with 1:03 left on the clock.

Daishen Nix stood on the baseline looking for a teammate to throw the ball to, but they were all covered except for Smith, who made himself available by using his tall frame and athletic ability to separate himself from his opponent. Nix threw the ball over the defender into the waiting hands of Smith beyond the 3-point arc, who immediately jab-stepped to the right and exploded left towards the basket.

As he blew by the defender and headed towards the lane, he had one more obstacle to clear when fellow rookie TyTy Washington slid over to slow down Smith’s momentum while preparing to take a charge.

The average 6-foot-10 player probably would have run right over 6-foot-3 Washington, but Smith is not an ordinary power forward. As he took one step into the lane, Smith recognized what Washington was about to do and used his exquisite body control to glide right past his summer league teammate to score the basket while also drawing the foul.

He completed the 3-point play by hitting a free throw to tie the game.

If that play indicates what the Rockets can expect this season and beyond from Smith, then the future is very bright for them.

The former Auburn player will put his skills on display for all NBA fans to see in the first two summer league games. His first two opponents are the No. 1 overall draft pick in Orlando’s Paolo Banchero (on Thursday), followed by No. 2 pick Chet Holmgren of Oklahoma City on Saturday.

“I’m looking forward to playing everybody,” Smith said. “It doesn’t matter what team. I’m just excited to play with my new team and new organization and just get back out there competing. I mean, that’s what it’s all about. I want to feel like I played hard all week.”

Smith continued:

No matter how long I am there, no matter if I am making shots or missing shots. I want to know that I was out there competing, out there listening, and out there learning. At the end of the day, all of this is new to me, so I am not going to put too much pressure on myself going out here…

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