Despite the departure of Jalen Green and Dillon Brooks, the Houston Rockets roster is loaded with Kevin Durant, Alperen Sengun, Amen Thompson, and a five-year $122 million extended
Jabari Smith Jr. is a devoted student of Durant in the gym.
Before the Houston Rockets landed superstar forward Durant this past summer, the fourth-year Rockets forward Smith Jr. had been working out and bonding with Durant for the past few summers during the offseason in private workouts and scrimmages.
Since his childhood, Smith Jr. looked up to Durant and mimicked Durant’s game, causing many scouting experts to compare his gameplay to Durant. Smith Jr. even noted in an interview, “I wanted to be him (Durant)”.
Ironically, Durant and Smith Jr. are on the same roster for the upcoming 2025-26 season.
One could only imagine the wisdom Smith Jr. will obtain while iron sharpens iron in games, practices, and in between time being around a first ballot Hall of Fame player, Kevin Durant’s Caliber.
In a Yahoo Sports article, Smith Jr. expressed his excitement about learning from Durant, especially in areas like shooting efficiency, creating shots, and helping Smith's offensive Development. At Media Day, when Durant was asked about joining forces with Smith Jr. and pouring into him what he has learned over the years, Durant stated he is looking forward to, “Being a resource whenever he (Smith Jr.) needs it, and I’m happy to see his journey up close and personal now.
He is someone I have been following and watching since high school, and being on the same floor with him and going on this journey together will be fun. He is somebody who works extremely hard and wants to be great. He's coachable and I think he’ll continue to just get better.”
Seeing that Smith Jr. has noticeably added some needed size and muscle this past summer, I believe he should be able to average somewhere near 10 rebounds and shoot over 45% from the field each night.
In addition, Smith Jr. should improve as a lockdown defender significantly this season under the tutelage of Kevin Durant and Coach Ime Udoka. Udoka said, “Jabari is like a sponge.” Working out with Durant.
Throughout the first 13 games of the 2025-26 regular season, Smith Jr. is averaging 14.9 points and 6.9 rebounds with a 44.1% field goal percentage and shooting 36.7% on 6 three pointers per game.
The Defender spoke with Jabri Smith Jr. at Houston Rockets Media Day to discuss his reactions to Durant signing after working out with Durant this summer, Smith’s mentality going into the season, Smith’s lessons from the playoff series experience against Golden State, and more.
How does it feel having Kevin Durant on team to learn from?
Jabari Smth: “It’s been great being able to work out with him and see how hard he goes. Seeing his everyday routine is something that is going to help me in the long run. Spending the time I have with him,
I have already learned a lot. I am excited to keep learning with him. I’m excited to play with him and push him.”
First reaction to seeing Durant at Rockets practice now?
“It’s funny seeing him work out because that fan comes out of you. It’s Kevin Durant. But you know he is your teammate, and it’s cool to see that he is no different from us. He is somebody who loves basketball. Somebody who is living their lifelong dream, and you kind of want to relate to that and learn from it. You know what he has seen in the league, you would be a fool not to try to learn from him.”
Jabari Smith Jr.’s untapped potential?
“I think the team wants me to get into that untapped potential. It’s on me to bring it out. It’s on me to work on all facets of my game and maximize my summer …. I feel like I haven’t shown my best yet. I feel like I haven’t shown what I am going to be. So, it’s time to show up.”
Tools you sharpened during offseason?
“I am a lot more comfortable handling the ball, I am a lot more aggressive going at the rim, being able to take bumps and change direction and change pace……I feel like you are going to see a more decisive Jabari. You know what you are going to get.”
Mentality about whether you are coming off bench or starting this season?
“Nobody has mentioned it to me, but I am expecting it. It is something I have been working on, something I think I deserve and I am going to show that I deserve.”
Lessons from your first playoff series vs. Warriors?
“I grew tremendously. It is something you can’t really describe until you get in it. The atmosphere, the environment, the importance of every possession. It’s something that not like the regular season. It is similar to the regular season but is a totally different game. Everything ramps up, everything levels up, and all eyes are on you.”
