Rockets 2022-2023 player previews: Jabari Smith Jr.

Will Jabari Smith Jr. justify the Rockets’ decision to draft him third overall?Jabari Smith Jr. is polarizing. That’s because his skillset is polarized.

Few prospects enter the NBA as fully developed in their strengths and underdeveloped in their areas of weakness.

Luckily, the Houston Rockets will only need Smith Jr. to focus on his strengths in 2022-2023. It just so happens that he excels in areas that the Rockets have needed help in since, roughly, time immemorial. What should Rockets fans expect from Smith Jr. this season?

Smith Jr.’s role in 2022-2023

As it stands, Jabari Smith Jr. is probably already an above-average three-and-D wing at the NBA level. Nothing in his film suggests that…