Led by Jabari Smith Jr., the Rockets have three representatives (most of any team) on HoopsHype’s top power forwards list for the 2025-26 NBA season.
Our friends at HoopsHype are continuing their positional rankings entering the 2025-26 NBA season, and these lists are encapsulating the optimism surrounding the Houston Rockets.
Amen Thompson is at No. 7 among shooting guards, while Kevin Durant is at No. 2 among small forwards. The list of centers has yet to be released, though Alperen Sengun should rank high after earning All-Star honors in 2024-25.
In HoopsHype’s newly released list of power forwards, the Rockets don’t have a top-10 representative. They do, however, have three players among the 26 on the list — the most of any NBA team.
So, in addition to the aforementioned elite talents, the Rockets can supplement that with a deep supporting cast of talented role players.
Here are the Houston representatives on the list, along with HoopsHype’s explanation for each choice.
No. 26: Tari Eason2024-25 stats: 12.0 ppg, 6.4 rpg, 1.5 apg, 48.7 FG%, 34.2 on 3-pointers2025-26 salary: $5,675,766 (245th overall)
A young player on an upward trajectory is Houston Rockets third-year power forward Tari Eason, one of three Houston power forwards you will see on this list. Eason is coming off a career year on both sides of the floor, playing stellar defense on one end and scoring as a slasher and spot-up shooter on the other.
An energetic player who really gives it his all on the defensive end, the work Eason has put in to improve offensively has been impressive, and gives him the makings of a productive two-way role-playing power forward for years to come.
No. 24: Dorian Finney-Smith2024-25 stats: 8.7 ppg, 3.9 rpg, 1.4 apg, 44.8 FG%, 41.1 on 3-pointers2025-26 salary: $12,700,000 (137th overall)
Joining the Houston Rockets after half a season with the Los Angeles Lakers, Dorian Finney-Smith is a throwback 3-and-D forward with some slashing ability. Over the past six seasons, Finney-Smith has shot nearly 38% from beyond the arc, providing very solid defense on the other end of the floor thanks to his lateral quickness and length.
Finney-Smith is also coming off a hugely impactful campaign, one that saw him make the Lakers and Brooklyn Nets 13.4 points per 100 possessions better during his time on the floor. It’ll be interesting to see the kind of role Finney-Smith carves out this season on a Rockets team with so much frontcourt depth.
No. 17: Jabari Smith Jr.2024-25 stats: 12.2 ppg, 7.0 rpg, 1.1 apg, 43.8 FG%, 35.4 on 3-pointers2025-26 salary: $12,350,392 (141st overall)
A player with the potential to make his place in this ranking look bad is Rockets 4-man Jabari Smith Jr. We say that because, although Smith Jr. has already been in the NBA for three seasons, he’s still just 22 years old, meaning he still has the tools that made him the third pick in the 2022 NBA draft — i.e. his long arms (7-foot-1 wingspan), and his decent skill level as a ball-handler, outside shooter, and ocassional tough shot-maker.
Smith’s game hasn’t fully translated to the NBA quite yet, though, as he’s been a mediocre 3-point shooter in the NBA (34% career). His playmaking ability is also nonexistent, as his feel for the game isn’t great. But playing alongside Kevin Durant for the first time in 2025-26 should not only help Smith Jr. develop his skill off the court as the duo practices together, but also could open easier scoring looks for the 22-year-old power forward.
Despite his just-decent numbers, Smith still made a notable impact on a 52-win Rockets team last season, making the team 5.5 points per 100 possessions better during his time on the floor.
Led by Milwaukee Bucks superstar Giannis Antetokounmpo, the complete power forward rankings can be accessed here.
Training camps for the 2025-26 season will begin later this month, so expect the list of centers (the only positional group yet to be ranked by HoopsHype) to be released in the coming days.