The reason Jabari Smith is still playing in the 2023 NBA Las Vegas Summer League despite showing star potential at the tail end of his rookie season in 2022-23 should be music to the ears of first-year Houston Rockets head coach Ime Udoka and the Auburn family alike.
“I’m 20 years old,” Smith told Locked On Rockets’ Jackson Gatlin before saying, “Why wouldn’t I play? We were 22-60 last year. My rookie year wasn’t perfect, so why not get out here and get reps, play with my new teammates and coaches.”
Jabari Smith Jr.