The Houston Rockets have made significant changes to their roster by trading young talents Jalen Green and Dillon Brooks in order to acquire Kevin Durant. These moves have shaken the team dynamics, particularly impacting forward Jabari Smith Jr., who is processing the changes on a personal level as well as professionally. Smith’s reflections on joining forces with Durant shed light on his evolving mindset and ambitions within the Rockets organization.
Jabari Smith Jr’s Early Comparisons and Influences
Before entering the NBA, Smith was often compared to Kevin Durant due to their similar physical characteristics and playing style—both standing at 6-foot-11 with exceptional shooting abilities. This comparison was no accident, as Durant was Smith’s favorite player growing up, shaping much of the young forward’s own approach to the game.
Mixed Emotions About Durant’s Career Choices
Despite his admiration, Smith admits there was a turning point in his feelings toward Durant following Durant’s controversial move to the Golden State Warriors. Smith explained on The Young Man and The Three,
“Honestly, he was my favorite player until he went to Golden State. Obviously, that kind of threw everybody off.”
Training Together Elevated Smith’s Respect for Durant
Last year, Smith had the opportunity to train with Durant prior to the 2024-25 NBA season. This experience deepened Smith’s appreciation for Durant’s skill and work ethic. He emphasized the difficulty of emulating Durant’s precise and fluid gameplay, noting,
“Getting to the NBA and being able to work out with him, it was all crazy, honestly. People watch him and be like, ‘I want to be KD.’ It’s not that easy. How fluid he is and how precise he is with his movements. It’s hard to replicate.”
Looking Ahead: Embracing Championship Aspirations with Durant
As teammates now, Smith is excited at the prospect of learning directly from a future Hall of Famer every day while helping push the Rockets toward championship goals. He acknowledges the significant shift in the organization’s ambitions:
“It’s been a lot. You could tell where the organization wants to go, and it’s kind of exciting,”
Smith shared.
Durant’s Impact on the Rockets’ Future Success
While the Rockets performed well last season as the Western Conference’s second-best team, their playoff exit in the first round highlighted the need for improvement. Adding Durant to the roster is expected to address many of those issues, providing veteran leadership and elite scoring ability to elevate the team’s postseason readiness. For Smith and the Houston Rockets, the future now blends high expectations with the challenge of building chemistry around one of the game’s brightest stars.