During the offseason, the Houston Rockets made a major move by acquiring superstar Kevin Durant. This addition significantly boosts the team's offensive power, especially addressing the scoring drought and lack of a go-to player in clutch moments. For the existing players, the one who will benefit most from Durant's arrival is Jabari Smith. Over the entire offseason, Durant has become Smith's professional mentor.
Smith, the 2022 third overall pick, is known for his defense and three-point shooting, which have gradually become more evident in his first few seasons in the league. While his per-game stats haven't drastically changed, his consistency has steadily improved. Given that the Rockets are packed with young talent, it's difficult to provide each player with ample development resources, which is why Smith often plays the role of a space-eating big man and a defensive protector for Alperen ?engün. Though his numbers may not stand out, his value is clear.
However, Smith still has areas for growth. His strength is a major weakness—despite his top-tier defensive instincts, he struggles in physical confrontations. Additionally, his ball-handling and post-up game need improvement. If these areas aren't developed, Smith risks becoming a role player with limited offensive versatility, unable to reach star status.
But now, with Durant on the team, everything has changed. Durant has been mentoring Smith throughout the offseason, and they've spent much time training together. Smith even trained with Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown, focusing on strength, defensive battles, shooting consistency, off-ball movement, and screen-setting. The goal is to boost Smith's three-point shooting accuracy to 37%, develop a more reliable mid-range game, and enhance his ability to create his own offense. Media experts suggest that Smith should minimize inefficient ball handling and focus on catch-and-shoot threes and efficient finishes inside, maximizing his contributions within the team system.
As a result of his training with Durant, Smith's shooting form has already changed, showing signs of Durant's influence. However, while Smith's shooting is improving, he still needs to work on his ball-handling to reach Durant's level of versatility. This is just the beginning, and as long as Durant stays with the Rockets, Smith will have ample opportunities to continue learning.
Smith's defense and switching skills are already above average for the league, and if he keeps improving his ball-handling, post moves, rim protection, and mid-range game, he could soon become the Rockets' version of Durant. Imagine a team with two Durant-like players—on offense, they would be nearly unstoppable. In the Rockets' final preseason game, Smith showcased excellent mid-range and outside shooting, two of Durant's strongest attributes. With a couple more seasons of development, Smith could soon be in the running for an All-Star spot.
