\u201cI\u2019m more physical, more decisive, (and) stronger with the basketball,\u201d Rockets forward Jabari Smith Jr. says of his offseason points of emphasis.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n
On a newly released podcast episode of\u00a0The Young Man and the Three<\/a>, Jabari Smith Jr. shared a few of his priorities entering his fourth season with the\u00a0Houston Rockets<\/a>.<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019m more physical, more decisive, (and) stronger with the basketball,\u201d Smith told host Tommy Alter and New Orleans Pelicans<\/a> forward Trey Murphy III.<\/p>\n Regarding his offseason work and points of emphasis, Smith continued<\/a>:<\/p>\n Obviously, ball handling is gonna be better, (and) more consistent. I\u2019m in the weight room, I\u2019m lifting weights, I\u2019m getting bigger. There\u2019s no reason I shouldn\u2019t be trying to run through people (and) trying to attack. It\u2019s just something I want to get better at.<\/p>\n After missing time in January and February with a broken hand, Smith played off the bench for the remainder of Houston\u2019s 2024-25 season due to the emergence of rising star Amen Thompson.<\/p>\n But the offseason trade that brought All-Star forward Kevin Durant to the Rockets sent out a pair of starters (Jalen Green and Dillon Brooks) to the Phoenix Suns<\/a>, which opened up an additional starting lineup slot that Smith is expected to fill<\/a>.<\/p>\n So, for the 22-year-old drafted at No. 3 in the 2022 first round, there are likely to be new opportunities in 2025-26 \u2014 and Smith\u2019s offseason work is all about ensuring that he\u2019s better prepared to take advantage.<\/p>\n The complete conversation<\/a> can be viewed and listened to below.<\/p>\n A 6-foot-10 forward, Smith averaged 12.2 points (43.8% FG, 35.4% on 3-pointers) and 7.0 rebounds in 30.1 minutes per game last season. He remains one of Houston\u2019s most valuable and versatile defensive players, as well.<\/p>\n Smith, Durant, Thompson, Fred VanVleet, and Alperen Sengun are the projected starters for the 2025-26 Rockets, who enter among the NBA\u2019s championship favorites<\/a> after a 52-30 campaign in which Houston finished with the No. 2 record in the Western Conference. Besides adding Durant, one clear reason for optimism is continued growth and development from young players, with Smith near the top of that list.<\/p>\n