Rockets Extend Jabari Smith Jr., Acquire Kevin Durant

The Houston Rockets and forward Jabari Smith Jr. have agreed to a five-year, $122 million fully guaranteed contract extension, keeping him with the team through the 2030-31 NBA season. Smith, the No. 3 overall pick in the 2022 draft, averaged 12.2 points and 7.0 rebounds last season despite missing games with a broken hand, and has career averages of 13.0 points and 7.5 rebounds. The Rockets finished as the No. 2 seed in the Western Conference but were eliminated in the first round of the playoffs. This offseason, Houston acquired Kevin Durant and extended several key players. Smith’s extension emphasizes the franchise’s commitment to building around its young core and highlights expectations for his future growth, especially given his playoff efficiency. The deal pushes Houston’s salary cap over $205 million for the 2025-26 season.