Latest news with #JabariSmithJr.
USA Today
30-06-2025
- Business
- USA Today
Podcast: Jabari Smith Jr. extends in Houston, Dorian Finney-Smith free agency rumors swirl
Monday's The Lager Line podcast breaks down all the implications of Jabari Smith Jr.'s new Rockets contract and why Dorian Finney-Smith could prove to be a worthwhile target in free agency. As free agency negotiations officially begin around the NBA (external agreements can be reached as of 5:00 p.m. Central on Monday, June 30), the Houston Rockets are continuing a busy 2025 offseason under the guidance of general manager Rafael Stone and head coach Ime Udoka. With All-Star forward Kevin Durant already in the fold, Houston has recently agreed to new contracts with Jabari Smith Jr. and Fred VanVleet, and there are rumors that Lakers forward Dorian Finney-Smith could be an attainable target during the opening days of 2025 free agency. Sponsored by Karbach Brewing, Monday's podcast episode of The Lager Line explores all the various implications of Houston's wheeling and dealing, along with the re-signings of influential veterans such as Aaron Holiday, Jae'Sean Tate, and Jeff Green. Discussion topics include include how Smith and VanVleet's relatively inexpensive deals could the Rockets help fill out future rosters, as well as why Finney-Smith is a worthwhile target to potentially backfill the role of Dillon Brooks (traded to Phoenix in the Durant deal). More: Jabari Smith Jr. to sign five-year, $122-million contract extension with Rockets
Time of India
30-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Time of India
Who is Jabari Smith Jr's girlfriend? Unveiling the dating secrets of Houston Rockets' star
Jabari Smith Jr. (Image via Getty Images) Jabari Smith is an effective power forward for the Houston Rockets of the National Basketball Association. He is a versatile pull-up shooter who plays both the forward position and the small-ball center. His remarkable performance in the 2022-2023 season got him named to the 2023 All-Rookie Second Team. His dating history is hardly known to the media. However, his Instagram revealed something that left his fans amazed. He is reportedly dating Jasmine A. The couple is good at keeping their personal life private, and as a result, not much is known about his girlfriend's identity. Who is Jabari Smith Jr. dating? The Houston Rockets' 6-foot-10 forward, Jabari Smith Jr., has reportedly been dating Jasmine A, according to their Instagram profiles. She has posted a little something on her social media, enough to confirm that they are dating each other. However, to avoid controversies and social media fuss, Jabari Smith Jr. and his girlfriend have not revealed much of their dating life publicly. Jabari Smith Jr. reportedly agreed to sign an extensive 5-year contract worth $122 million with the Houston Rockets. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like They Were So Beautiful Before; Now Look At Them; Number 10 Will Shock You Reportingly Undo This sparked his girlfriend's excitement as she was seen posting a story about the same on her social media. Jasmine A. had been a constant support to her boyfriend. She has attended some of his most important matches to show her deep love and unwavering support towards him and his career. Some say that the man 'won in life'. And it truly is something to be proud of. With a successful NBA career and a supportive woman who is also the love of his life, Jabari Smith Jr. indeed seems to have it all. Image via Instagram The NBA star, Jabari Smith Jr., was born in Fayetteville, Georgia, United States. As a high school student, he was named a McDonald's All-American in the year 2021. In 2022, he was drafted as the third overall pick by the Houston Rockets in the first round. In his first year in the league during the 2022-2023 season, he achieved a remarkable feat by averaging 12.8 points and 7.2 rebounds. Also read: Jabari Smith Jr. wants to sign a $122 million contract extension with Houston Rockets for five years through 2031 Game On Season 1 continues with Mirabai Chanu's inspiring story. Watch Episode 2 here.
USA Today
30-06-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
Jabari Smith Jr. to sign five-year, $122-million contract extension with Rockets
Starting with the 2026-27 NBA season, Jabari Smith Jr. will be on a five-year, $122-million contract with the Rockets, according to reports. There are no player or team options. The Houston Rockets are signing Jabari Smith Jr. to a five-year, $122-million contract extension without any player or team options, per Kelly Iko of The Athletic. The deal, which begins with the 2026-27 NBA season, is worth below $25 million in average annual value. Smith, drafted at No. 3 overall in the 2022 first round out of Auburn, is eligible for an extension after three NBA seasons. To date in the NBA, the 6-foot-11 forward has averaged 13.0 points (43.2% FG, 34.0% on 3-pointers) and 7.5 rebounds in 31.1 minutes per game, and he remains one of the most valuable and versatile defenders for head coach Ime Udoka. With both Dillon Brooks and Jalen Green headed to the Phoenix Suns in the blockbuster trade bringing All-Star forward Kevin Durant to the Rockets, Smith is expected to return to Houston's starting lineup next season. Smith, 22, started approximately the first half of the 2024-25 season at power forward for the Rockets, who finished at 52-30 and with the No. 2 record in the Western Conference. But Smith suffered a broken hand in a January practice and didn't return until after the All-Star break, at which point Udoka opted to keep promising second-year talent Amen Thompson in the initial five. Thompson had begun the season in a sixth-man role. From that point forward, Smith played off the bench without complaint, though he will now presumably regain his starting spot for 2025-26 and beyond. Thompson, too, will remain a starter, with Smith and Durant taking the spots that belonged to Green and Brooks at the end of last season. More: After Kevin Durant trade, Jabari Smith Jr. likely to rejoin Houston's starting lineup
USA Today
30-06-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
Jabari Smith Jr. expected to sign big contract extension with Rockets, per report
Power forward Jabari Smith Jr. is expected to sign a five-year, $122 million rookie contract extension with the Houston Rockets, according to a report from ESPN. The deal, expected to be a fully guaranteed, would last through the 2030-31 season. Smith averaged 12.2 points and seven rebounds, while starting 39 of the 57 games he played this season. The Rockets finished with a 52-30 overall record during the 2024-25 season and entered the postseason as the No. 2 seed in the Western Conference before losing to the Golden State Warriors in the first round in seven games. The Rockets were in the news earlier this week when Houston traded Jalen Green and Dillon Brooks to the Phoenix Suns for Kevin Durant. Jabari Smith Jr.'s career stats The former Auburn Tiger has spent the first three seasons of his NBA career with the Rockets after being drafted as the third overall pick in the 2022 draft. *Averages per game The USA TODAY app gets you to the heart of the news — fast. Download for award-winning coverage, crosswords, audio storytelling, the eNewspaper and more.
USA Today
14-06-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
In offseason work, Jabari Smith Jr. says he's developing as shot creator, ball handler
In offseason work, Jabari Smith Jr. says he's developing as shot creator, ball handler In his ongoing offseason work, 22-year-old Rockets forward Jabari Smith Jr. says he wants to build confidence in his ball handling and shot creation. Ahead of his fourth NBA season, Houston Rockets forward Jabari Smith Jr. is citing ball-handling and shot creation as points of emphasis during the 2025 offseason. 'I want to have a big summer and come back next year looking like a whole different player,' Smith told Ari Alexander of KPRC, Houston's NBC affiliate. 'Confidence in my ball-handling, confidence in being able to create my own shot, and just having a better, stronger motor,' Smith says of what he'd like to gain from his offseason work. 'I just want to change, and come back different.' Smith has worked out this offseason with Aaron Miller, a skills trainer who has extensive experience working with NBA players. 'It's real technical, with a lot of attention to detail,' Smith said of Miller's workouts. 'I just like how detailed it is, and how down to the science it is.' 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. As the No. 3 overall draft pick from the NBA's 2022 first round, the 22-year-old Auburn product is eligible for a contract extension during a window from July 1, 2025, until the start of the 2025-26 regular season in late October. Should he not receive one, Smith will become a restricted free agent in the 2026 offseason, and his likely contract will depend in large part on his play during the upcoming season. To say the least, a production uptick after a positive offseason would help him establish more long-term value. During Houston's first-round series loss to Golden State a few weeks ago, Smith's average minutes total tumbled to just 20.4 (and only 12 in a decisive Game 7 loss to the Warriors). Among frontcourt players, minutes for Smith and Tari Eason were scaled down in the playoffs while Amen Thompson, Alperen Sengun, and Steven Adams all played more. It appears that subpar finish to the 2024-25 season has provided fuel for Smith as he begins the 2025 offseason. 'We didn't finish the season how we wanted to, so I was ready to get back in the gym and work on what I need to work on,' Smith told Alexander. More: Rockets reportedly open to contract talks with Tari Eason, Jabari Smith Jr.
