The Houston Rockets have been very active this offseason, focusing on several key moves: finalizing Kevin Durant’s contract, re-signing Fred VanVleet, extending Stephen Adams, and exploring options to retain Jae’Sean Tate, Aaron Holiday, and Jeff Green. Most notably, they have secured a five-year contract extension for Jabari Smith Jr., starting next season, worth $122 million with an average annual salary of $24.4 million. According to Shams Charania of The Athletic, the deal is a straightforward five-year commitment without any player or team options. Smith Jr. will remain on his rookie contract for the upcoming season, earning $12.4 million.
Smith Jr. has been an integral part of the Rockets’ young core, helping the team achieve 52 wins this season and secure the second seed in the Western Conference. In 57 games last season, he averaged 12.2 points and seven rebounds per game while shooting 35.4% from three-point range. Selected as the third pick in the 2022 NBA Draft, Smith Jr. is the first player from his draft class to sign a contract extension. Other notable players expected to sign max or near-max deals from the 2022 class include Paolo Banchero, Chet Holmgren, and Jalen Williams. Keep an eye on rising talents like Keegan Murray, Benedict Mathurin, Jaden Ivey, Payton Watson, Dyson Daniels, Walker Kessler, and Talen Eason as well.
Fan Take: This extension signifies the Rockets’ commitment to building a strong future around their young talent, particularly Jabari Smith Jr., who has quickly established himself as a rising star. For basketball fans, this move represents a promising shift towards competitive balance and excitement in the Western Conference, hinting at the emergence of a new powerhouse team.
