Jabari Smith Jr. is locking in with the Houston Rockets. The 22-year-old forward was drafted as the No. 3 pick in the 2022 NBA draft and became the key presence in the Rockets’ core. Now, he will extend his journey with Houston for another five years.
According to ESPN’s Shams Charania, Smith agreed to a five-year, $122 million contract extension with the Houston Rockets. The deal keeps Smith under contract through the 2020-31 season and removes him from next summer’s restricted free agency market.
BREAKING: Jabari Smith Jr. signs a 5-year, $120M extension with the Rockets, via ESPN
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At 22, Smith proved his consistent growth and emerged as a valuable asset on the floor. He was a part of the Rockets team that won 72 games this season and secured the No.2 seed in the West. In the last 57 games, he averaged 13 points and 7.5 rebounds per game and shot 35.4% from beyond the arc. With this milestone, he joins Lauri Markkanen and Luka Doncic to achieve those averages in their first three seasons.
Smith became the first player from the 2022 draft class to finalize a second contract. The straight five-year deal highlights that the team strongly believes in his ability. Moreover, his stretch four profile fits nearly alongside the rising center star Alperen Sengun and high-upside guard Amen Thompson.
Jabari Smith Jr. Secures Long-Term Reward From The Houston Rockets
The Rockets are the most aggressive team among the test contenders this summer. They are looking to shake up their roster after trading Kevin Durant and re-signing veterans like Fred VanVleet and Stevens Adams. The addition of Smith to that elite list only boosts the front office’s need to be the most competitive team for the next season.
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Tough Smith is not a big star yet, but the Rockets consider him a high-level contributor whose shooting and size stand out and make him unique. However, his ability to guard multiple positions and space the floor helped the Rockets in the 2024 season journey. And now he has his long-term reward in return.
