Brian Windhorst says he loves what Jabari Smith told Houston Rockets the moment they drafted him, predicts his future

Windhorst lauds Smith Jr.’s mentality

Having come into the Rockets team, Smith Jr. did not have a lot of role models to look up to, but that is not the case anymore.

He will share the locker room with Kevin Durant, who is one of the best scorers of all time.

Despite not having any real leader in his early years, Smith Jr. was ready to do whatever it took to win and even if that meant playing the center position.

While he is not the traditional big who is strong and dominant, Smith Jr. has the size to play the position, but Windhorst highlighted how many refrain from playing there.

He said: “One of the things I like about him is that he’s not afraid to play center. Sometimes you see guys who you know he’s certainly 6’11 so he’s not undersized, but he’s not bulky, and you see guys like this sort of not wanting to play center.

“And I’m not saying he’s signing up for 38 minutes a night there, but from the moment he got there, he said, ‘I’m willing to play center’.

“While the Rockets have a number of bigs, that he doesn’t have to play that much, I just liked his mentality.”

“He only averaged 12 points a game last year, and he doesn’t get to the free throw line. But if you need him to score, he can, and he’s a proficient three point shooter, he can stretch the floor.

“I don’t think we’re looking at a guy here who’s headed for all NBA status, maybe, but this is a guy who’s going to be really good, on a really good team for a long time. And there’s a reason the Rockets gave him that money, because they believe in him.”

Jabari Smith Jr. will be a key piece for the Rockets

Durant’s trade to the Rockets was one of the big moves in the offseason and has made the Rockets one of the contenders.

They traded Jalen Green and Dillon Brooks, but decided to keep hold of Smith Jr. due to his ability to play on both ends.

He only averaged 12.2 points, the fewest Smith Jr. has ever averaged in his career, but Ime Udoka knows he has the talent to be a key piece in the rotation.

The young player revealed how exciting it was to be sharing the court with Durant, who he used to look up to.

His arrival will motivate Smith Jr. to work harder and put up better performances for the Rockets, who will be determined to take a big step next season.