Houston’s $122 Million Gamble: What Jabari Smith Jr.’s Massive Extension Means for the Rockets’ Future
Joins Luka and Lauri as the only players with those averages in their first three seasons. pic.twitter.com/DkZofq1gw0
The Houston Rockets have been busy this offseason:
• Trade for Kevin Durant
• Re-sign Fred VanVleet
• Extend Steven Adams
• Work out deals to keep Jae’Sean Tate, Aaron Holiday, Jeff GreenHouston’s been buzzing all offseason long — the Rockets aren’t just tinkering around the edges; they’re reshaping their entire roster. After landing Kevin Durant in a blockbuster trade, locking down Fred VanVleet, and securing Steven Adams, the front office didn’t stop there. Now, they’ve locked in a massive five-year, 2 million pact with none other than Jabari Smith Jr., their emerging star forward. It’s a no-frills deal with no options on either side, signaling pure commitment to the guy who’s been tearing it up night after night. Jabari’s numbers? Stellar: averaging 13 points, 7.5 boards, and nearly two triples a game — a stat line only Luka and Lauri had matched this early in their careers. This isn’t just a contract; it’s a statement about the Rockets’ belief in their young nucleus poised to keep climbing in the Western Conference pecking order. Curious about all the juicy details? LEARN MORE.
Smith, the No. 3 pick in the 2022 class, becomes the first player to sign a contract extension from that group. Three players from that class — Paolo Banchero, Chet Holmgren and Jalen Williams — are expected to sign max (or near max) extensions. Other names to watch include the Kings’ Keegan Murray, the Pacers’ Bennedict Mathurin, the Pistons’ Jaden Ivey, the Nuggets’ Peyton Watson, the Hawks’ Dyson Daniels, the Jazz’s Walker Kessler, and the Rockets’ Tari Eason.
Jabari Smith Jr. as a Rocket:— 13.0 PPG
— 7.5 RPG
— 1.7 3PG— StatMuse (@statmuse) June 30, 2025
Now they have reached a contract extension with starting forward Jabari Smith Jr. for five years, 2 million (.4 million a year on average), reports Shams Charania of The Athletic. This is a straight five-year contract, with no player or team options. This new contract kicks in a year from now, Smith Jr. has one year remaining on his rookie deal at .4 million.Smith is part of the young Rockets’ core that broke out and won 52 games this season, reaching the No. 2 seed in the West. In 57 games last season, Smith averaged 12.2 points and 7 rebounds a game, shooting 35.4% from beyond the arc.
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