© Erik Williams-USA TODAY Sports
Jabari Smith Jr. Not Dwelling on Past Amid Rockets' Victory Over Magic
Whether falling to pick No. 3 during the 2022 NBA Draft or missing a pair of free throws in Dallas, Houston Rockets' Jabari Smith Jr. refused to let the past hamper his performance against the Magic.
HOUSTON -- Jabari Smith Jr. stood at the free-throw line inside the American Airlines Center with the Houston Rockets holding a three-point advantage (129-126) with eight seconds left in the fourth quarter. As an 80 percent free throw shooter, it was nearly a forgone conclusion that Smith would seal the win for Houston by making at least one free throw.
Unfortunately, Smith missed both attempts. His two missed free throws played a massive role in the Rockets sustaining a nine-point overtime loss to the Dallas Mavericks on April 9.
He took the loss hard. But 48 hours later, the second-year forward had one of his most impactful games of the season to help the Rockets take a 118-106 victory over the Orlando Magic.
Apr 9, 2024; Houston, Texas, USA; Houston Rockets forward Jabari Smith Jr. (10) shoots an inside
Erik Williams-USA TODAY Sports
"From the first shot, he was confident, very aggressive offensively, and taking the challenge defensively against some other young talents," coach Ime Udoka said. "It was good to see him have a short memory and put that [the loss to the Mavs] behind him. It was good for him to brush that off and come out firing tonight."
Smith's bounce-back performance against the Magic exemplifies one of the most significant lessons Udoka has instilled within his players. Never dwell on the past. Each game is about the effort and competitiveness level.
But Udoka knew Smith would be "extra motivated" entering Tuesday's contest against the Magic. Not only was it the first game played since the Rockets' fourth-quarter collapse against the Mavericks. But the game was another opportunity for Smith to seek revenge on the team that passed on him with the No. 1 overall pick of the 2022 NBA Draft.
As a prominent prospect from Auburn University, Smith was the consensus top selection until the Magic took Paolo Banchero with the No. 1 pick.
Smith put the disappointment of draft night behind him the moment the Rockets made him the No. 3 pick. And with his mind set on Houston's objective as a team, Smith wasn't worried about the game from an individual standpoint. But following the win, Smith did reveal that the chance to take on the team that passed on him during the draft did add to his motive.
"It'll always be in the back of my mind,” Smith said. "It is what it is. Just feels good to beat [the Magic], feels good to get back on track. I was locked in from the jump."
Smith outplayed his draftmate in the victory. He finished the game with 23 points on 9 of 17 shooting, 3 of 5 from behind the arc, seven rebounds, five assists and two blocks inside the Toyota Center. Banchero shot 7 of 19 for 21 points, seven rebounds and six assists in the loss.
Smith is having an impressive end to his second year. Following his performance against the Magic, he has since scored 15 or more points in six of Houston's previous eight games, averaging 18.8 points on .481/.429/.828 shooting splits, to go along with 6.3 rebounds and 1.1 blocks.
He isn't interested in dwelling on the past. Smith's focus is to help the Rockets finish the 2023-24 season with their first winning record in the post-James-Harden era. He is looking ahead to next season, hoping to assist the Rockets in their postseason aspiration as an established veteran.
"I was just talking to my dad, telling him that I was about to be a vet," Smith said. "I'm going on year three. These first two years have flown by. I still remember when I first got drafted. I haven't taken a day for granted. I am just happy to be here."
