Jabari Smith’s $122 Million Deal with Rockets: What This Means for the Team’s Future Stardom

Jabari Smith is locking in his future with the Houston Rockets in a big way — a five-year, 2 million deal that extends his rookie contract well beyond what many expected. This move doesn’t just keep Smith on the roster through the 2030-31 season; it firmly roots him as a cornerstone around which Houston is building its ambitions, especially with the star-studded arrival of Kevin Durant. With one year left on his original four-year, .3 million contract, Smith’s extension puts an end to any free-agent speculation next offseason, signaling both commitment and confidence from the franchise. At just 22 years old and picked third overall in the 2022 NBA Draft, Smith’s development tells a story of potential meeting opportunity — an intriguing blend worth watching as the Rockets aim higher than ever before. LEARN MOREThe offseason flurry of transactions in Houston signals the team’s intent to compete for a title season and beyond.AdvertisementAdvertisement

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Smith, 22, was the No. 3 pick in the 2022 NBA Draft behind Orlando Magic forward Paolo Banchero and newly crowned NBA champion Chet Holmgren. Banchero and Holmgren are both eligible for max extensions that could be worth up to 7 million over five years.While Banchero is an All-Star and Holmgren flashed All-Star upside as an integral player in Oklahoma City’s run to the NBA championship, Smith has settled in as a role player for a Rockets team that made the leap last season from the lottery to the playoffs as the No. 2 seed in the Western Conference.