NBA
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#10

Jabari Smith Jr.

Forward · Houston Rockets · 6'11", 220 lb · Born May 13, 2003 · Fayetteville, Georgia · Drafted 3rd overall, 2022
Houston RocketsStretch-fourNBA bloodline3rd pick (2022)
NBAHouston RocketsForwards
Compare:vs Sengunvs Thompsonvs Okogievs Durantvs Sheppardvs Adams
In short

Jabari Smith Jr. is a stretch-four and two-way forward for the Houston Rockets — a 6-foot-11 floor-spacer with rim protection. Drafted 3rd in 2022 out of Auburn, where he helped the Tigers reach a No. 1 ranking, he's the son of former NBA player Jabari Smith Sr. He signed a five-year, $122 million extension and started all 77 games in 2025-26 at 15.8 points a night.

Matchup model · next gameMedium confidenceSat, Nov 14
@Golden State WarriorsAggressive hedge & help
Proj. points
15.7
range 13–18.4
Line 16
46%
to go over
Team win
41%
111–113
Poi 15.7 Lean underReb 6.9 Lean underAss 1.9 Lean underPRA 24.5 Lean under
Likely on himDraymond Green· 84 Perimeter DStrong defender
15+ pts59%20+ pts8%

Model lines Jr. at 15.7 pts (range 13–18.4) vs a 16 line — roughly a coin flip to clear it (46%).

Model favors Golden State Warriors (59%), projected 111–113, ~224 total at 96.5 pace.

Full matchup breakdown · all markets →
Balladex Matchup Model — modeled from real roster ratings, scoring baselines & defender-matchup history. Schedule, availability & head-to-head samples are illustrative in this prototype; production wires live schedule, injury & player-tracking feeds. Not betting advice.
✦ Ask anything about Jr.
The Jr. Story — narrated
Tap play to hear his story, told as a 90-second short.
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A 6-foot-11 stretch-four with floor-spacing and rim protection — a two-way forward from NBA bloodlines.

Son of ex-NBA forward Jabari Smith Sr., he helped Auburn to a No. 1 ranking and was drafted 3rd in 2022.

🐅 Auburn · No. 1 rank3rd, 2022

He grew into a versatile two-way forward and signed a five-year, $122M extension.

💰 5 yr / $122MTwo-way F

He started all 77 games in 2025-26 at 15.8 points and 6.9 rebounds.

77 starts15.8 / 6.9

His shooting-and-defense profile complements Şengün and Durant on a contender.

Frontcourt fit.363 3P
— end of story —
Want the full numbers? Open the breakdown →
PPG
15.8
2025-26
RPG
6.9
per game
APG
1.9
per game
FG%
.450
.363 from three
LIFE

Roots & the rise

A 6-foot-11 stretch-four with floor-spacing and rim protection — a two-way forward from NBA bloodlines.

Jabari Montsho Smith Jr. was born in Fayetteville, Georgia, the son of former NBA forward Jabari Smith Sr., and starred at Auburn — helping the Tigers to their first-ever AP No. 1 ranking and an SEC title while shooting 42% from three. Houston drafted him 3rd overall in 2022.

He's grown into a versatile two-way forward — a seven-foot-wingspan defender who spaces the floor to the three-point line — and signed a five-year, $122 million extension in 2025. He started all 77 games in 2025-26 at 15.8 points and 6.9 rebounds, providing the shooting-and-defense frontcourt fit that complements Şengün and Durant.

Sources: Wikipedia, NBA.com, Basketball-Reference, ESPN.

BEYOND THE GAME

Beyond the game

Basketball runs in the family: Jabari's father, Jabari Smith Sr., played six NBA seasons, and his distant cousin Kwame Brown was a No. 1 overall pick. Raised in Georgia, he was a McDonald's All-American and one of the most highly touted prospects of his class, with pre-draft comparisons ranging from Rashard Lewis and Chris Bosh to Kevin Durant.

His identity is floor-spacing size and defensive versatility — a 6-foot-11 forward who shoots, defends multiple positions, and protects the rim in stretches. Ball-handling and self-creation are the developmental frontiers, but his shooting-and-defense profile at his height makes him an ideal frontcourt complement on a contender.

PERSONALITY

The person

A tall, versatile stretch-four — floor-spacing, defense, and rim protection with room to grow as a creator.

Stretch-fourA 6-foot-11 forward who spaces the floor to the three-point line.
Defensive versatilityLength and mobility to guard multiple positions and protect the rim.
NBA bloodlineSon of former NBA forward Jabari Smith Sr.
PLAYER DNA

Archetype & ratings

Archetype
Stretch-Four · Floor-Spacer
Temperament
Steady
Leadership
58/100
Scoring66
Playmaking40
Rebounding67
Perimeter D72
Rim protection48
Spacing65
Athleticism70
Clutch65
a stretch-four with floor-spacing and rim protection
ANALYSIS

What the numbers say

Size, spacing, and defense

Smith's value is the modern power-forward package: a 6-foot-11 shooter who stretches the floor, defends multiple positions, and protects the rim in spurts. Next to Şengün's non-shooting hub game and Durant's scoring, his floor-spacing and defensive versatility are an ideal fit — the connective frontcourt piece a contender needs.

STATS

Season by season

Per game

SeasonGPMINPTSREBASTFG%3P%
2025-267735.115.86.91.9.450.363

Source: Basketball-Reference.

ADVANCED

Advanced & historical

Where he sits in history

CollegeHelped Auburn to its first-ever AP No. 1 ranking and an SEC title; Wayman Tisdale Award (2022)
2025Signed a five-year, $122 million extension
BloodlineSon of former NBA forward Jabari Smith Sr.

Hardware

1×
All-Rookie Second Team (2023)
1×
Wayman Tisdale Award (2022)
OUTLOOK

Where it's headed

AI-generated · updated July 13, 2026

A two-way stretch-four on a long-term deal — floor-spacing and defense for a Rockets contender.

On a five-year, $122 million extension, Smith gives Houston a 6-foot-11 shooter with defensive versatility. His creation is limited, but his size, spacing, and defense make him a valuable frontcourt complement — with upside if his shot and handle grow.

Floor spacing (size)Strong
Defensive versatilityStrong
Rim protectionSolid
Shot creationLimited

Contract

Deal
5 yr / $122M signed 2025
Role
Stretch-four starter
Age
23 rising
Bottom line

A 6-foot-11 two-way stretch-four from NBA bloodlines. Floor-spacing and defense — the ideal frontcourt complement to Şengün and Durant.

FAQ

Quick answers

Is Jabari Smith Jr. related to an NBA player?

Yes — his father, Jabari Smith Sr., played six NBA seasons, and his distant cousin Kwame Brown was a No. 1 overall pick.

What is Jabari Smith Jr.'s game?

A 6-foot-11 stretch-four — a floor-spacing shooter with the length to defend multiple positions and protect the rim.

Where did Jabari Smith Jr. go to college?

Auburn, where he helped the Tigers to a No. 1 ranking before Houston drafted him 3rd overall in 2022.