The Houston Rockets were dealt a tough blow Friday when rising star Jabari Smith Jr. fractured his left hand during morning shootaround. The injury could sideline him for up to two months.
Coach Ime Udoka says they’re still waiting on a second opinion before scheduling surgery, but expects Smith to miss anywhere from 4 to 8 weeks.
It’s a significant setback for the 21-year-old forward, who’s been a key piece in the Rockets’ surprising turnaround this season. Smith, picked third overall in the 2022 draft, has been putting up solid numbers – nearly 12 points and 7 rebounds per game while shooting a career-best 87% from the free throw line.
Rookie Amen Thompson will step into the starting lineup to fill the gap.
The timing couldn’t be worse for Houston, who’s already missing Tari Eason with a leg injury. Thompson himself just returned from a two-game suspension after getting into it with the Miami Heat last Sunday.
But here’s where things get interesting: The Rockets might not be done making moves.
They’ve got the second-best odds (+400) to land Miami Heat star Jimmy Butler before the February 6 trade deadline, trailing only the Golden State Warriors. There’s even buzz that Smith could be part of a potential trade package.
The injury comes as the Rockets are enjoying their best season in years. They’re sitting pretty as the No. 3 seed in the Western Conference with a 22-12 record – quite a jump from last year’s .500 finish.
Smith showed what he’s capable of earlier this season when he dropped 28 points against the Clippers, shooting a red-hot 65% from the field.
The Rockets are trying to end their four-year playoff drought, and they’ve got some interesting pieces to work with. They’re building around young talents Jalen Green, Alperen Sengun, and Thompson, plus they’ve got first-round picks in both 2025 and 2027 to play with.
They’re seven games behind the conference-leading Oklahoma City Thunder, but for a team that missed the playoffs last year, they’re headed in the right direction – even with this setback.
