The Young Man and the Three Jabari Smith Jr. on Kevin Durant Joining the Houston Rockets and Fixing NBA All-Star Weekend
Jul 31, 2025
Jabari Smith Jr., forward for the Houston Rockets and number three overall pick in the 2022 NBA draft, shares insights on his recent contract extension and the team's busy offseason, including the trade for Kevin Durant. He discusses the Rockets' rebuilding journey and praises his coach Ime Udoka. Jabari also highlights the talents of his teammates Amen Thompson and Alperen Sengun. Alongside Trey Murphy III, they reminisce about their summer league experiences and pitch inventive ideas to revamp NBA All-Star Weekend. Tune in for a mix of basketball wisdom and humor!
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Late Bloomer Dunker Jabari
- Jabari Smith Jr. revealed he wasn't athletic growing up and didn't dunk until ninth grade despite his height.
- His development defied expectations as many assumed tall players dunked earlier.
Belief Key to Rockets' Rise
- The Rockets' rise was fueled by belief and knowing they belonged in the NBA.
- Consistency in roster and growing together fostered their leap from 11th to 2nd in the West.
Stay Even Keel All Season
- Maintain an even keel through the NBA season's highs and lows.
- Develop routines to keep your body fresh and play hard every night despite fatigue.