Jabari Smith Jr. may be a 19-year-old NBA rookie, but the 6-foot-11 forward is already making a big impression in training camp for the Houston Rockets with his defensive tenacity and versatility.
โHis switchability is really good,โ Silas told Jackson Gatlin of Locked on Rockets. โHis basketball instincts on the defensive end, heโs in the gaps. There were some penetration plays where he was just standing there, and heโs so long that the gaps are not available.โ
โThe effort that he gives defensively is something that carries over to his teammates,โ Silas concluded. โWeโre playing a little harder defensively because heโs on the floor. โฆ Having someone out there that really loves to play defense is a big thing for us.โ
Smith was drafted at No. 3 overall in the 2022 first round by the Rockets, and the combination of his length, athleticism, 3-point shooting, and defense have many around the league expecting an immediate impact as a frontcourt starter next to Alperen Sengun.
Asked Stephen Silas about what Jabari Smith allows the #Rockets to do defensively:
“Did you see!? His switchability is really good, his basketball instincts on the defensive end, he’s in the gaps. He’s so long that the gaps are not available.”
๐บhttps://t.co/TaRKnhu2IW pic.twitter.com/piZntTZn8A
โ Jackson Gatlin (@JTGatlin) September 29, 2022
JaeโSean Tate, arguably Houstonโs best defensive player of the last two seasons, echoed Silasโ assessment in post-practice comments.
โHeโs a guy who actually wants to play defense,โ Tate said of Smith. โItโs hard to find guys, nowadays, that love the defensive end. Me and him have conversations all the time. Heโs asking questions, how to learn, where the spots are. Heโs a very fast learner.โ
Smith and the Rockets will practice in Houston on Saturday before the teamโs home preseason opener on Sunday versus San Antonio. Tipoff from Toyota Center is scheduled for 6 p.m. Central.
Click Here to Read the Full Original Article at Rockets Wireโฆ