Jabari Smith Jr comments how long he hopes to play for the Houston Rockets

Smith wants to play for the Rockets for the foreseeable future

With his new contract extension, Smith believes in Udoka’s coaching and the project’s potential. Durant is the biggest addition, but Houston has continuously improved the roster. Dorian Finney-Smith is an awesome acquisition who provides elite defense and three-point shooting.

Udoka will likely utilize Smith as one of the starters alongside Durant, Fred VanVleet, Alperen Sengun, and Amen Thompson. It is among the most loaded starting lineups in the league. The Rockets also improved depth, making them a true contender in the Western Conference.

Smith knows Houston’s trajectory, so he wanted to stay with the Rockets on a five-year deal. That is significant for his long-term future, considering the team is ready to succeed.

“It feels great to just know that you’re committed to the city where you want to be. I want to be here for the rest of my career,” Smith said to the Houston Chronicle. “So I’m glad that this is a good start to it, and I’m ready to build something.”

“I think it was something that it either was gonna happen or it wasn’t, you know what I mean? So I’m just glad it happened. I wanted to be here.”

Smith is excited to play with his new Rockets teammates

Houston has one of the most exciting teams in the NBA. This was true when Durant was not on the team, but with him, it is even better. They gave up Jalen Green and Dillon Brooks in the trade, but they immediately replaced their production. Finney-Smith and Thompson’s rise fills in the gaps, making the Rockets a dangerous team.

The Oklahoma City Thunder remain the strongest team in the West, but they have to be wary of the Rockets. With a year of Playoff experience under their belts, this could be the next-best team. The Denver Nuggets and Minnesota Timberwolves might disagree, but it makes for a competitive West.

Smith and the Rockets players are excited to play alongside each other. After finishing as the second seed in the 2024-25 season, this lineup could be more fun and successful.

“I’m excited, honestly, just to see what we can do, the heights we can reach, just growing together, meeting new teammates. I’m just overly excited,” Smith continued.