With top Houston Rockets rookie Amen Thompson sidelined by a left ankle sprain, second-year prospect Jabari Smith Jr. picked up the slack and then some in Sunday’s 113-101 rout (box score) over the Detroit Pistons at the NBA’s 2023 summer league.
After scoring a game-high 33 points in Friday’s win, punctuated by an epic buzzer-beater, the No. 3 overall draft pick from the 2022 first round was even better against the Pistons with 38 points, 7 rebounds, and 6 assists on 13-of-25 shooting (52.0%). Smith hit 3-of-10 from 3-point range (30.0%) and 9-of-10 on free throws (90.0%).
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Smith did have plenty of help, most notably from two prospects that Houston (2-0) also envisions having major NBA roles in the coming years. Fellow second-year forward Tari Eason had another strong two-way game with 26 points and 9 rebounds on 12-of-25 shooting (48.0%), while rookie Cam Whitmore scored an efficient 21 points on 9-of-16 shooting (56.3%) and 3-of-7 on 3-pointers (42.9%).
The Pistons (1-1) were led in defeat by second-year guard Jaden Ivey, who had 22 points and 10 assists on 9-of-15 shooting (60.0%). Detroit’s frontcourt featured two players with significant NBA experience in James Wiseman and Jalen Duren, which made the performances opposite them by Smith and Eason all the more impressive.
Similarly, Whitmore (No. 20 overall draft pick in 2023) held his own against Amen Thompson’s twin brother, Ausar Thompson, who was drafted by the Pistons at No. 5 overall last month. Thompson finished with 12 points (46.2% FG), 8 rebounds, and 6 assists.
Read on for highlights, postgame interviews with players and coaches, and reaction by fans and media members to Sunday’s game. Houston returns to action Tuesday versus Oklahoma City, with tipoff at 5:30 p.m. Central and television coverage on NBA TV. All five summer-league games are being played in Las Vegas.
Jabari Smith Jr. hopes to learn a lot from a “champion” in Fred VanVleet and an experienced player like Dillon Brooks.
“Who wouldn’t want that on their team? It’s good to have them with us and hopefully we can learn from them and they can help us turn this thing around.” pic.twitter.com/fUbdIm2cyX
— ClutchFans (@clutchfans) July 9, 2023
Jabari Smith Jr. made a move on Wiseman, beat him off the dribble, finished with a reverse through a foul for a three-point play. Ben Sullivan had a look like, “Whoa!” He ended the quarter with a touchdown pass to a layup. He has 32. Rockets up 92-76.
— Jonathan Feigen (@Jonathan_Feigen) July 9, 2023
Jabari Smith looking like prime KD in Summer League is, uh, very encouraging
— Draft Dummies (@DraftDummies) July 9, 2023
Jabari is holding his own on these switches against Ivey, allowing the Rockets to truly switch 1 through 5
— Ben DuBose (@BenDuBose) July 9, 2023
Cam Whitmore just put the CLAMPS on Ausar Thompson man
— Jackson Gatlin (@JTGatlin) July 9, 2023
Last season’s Jabari would not have had the strength or open-court fluidity to finish through that contact
— Ben DuBose (@BenDuBose) July 9, 2023
This game is another reminder of how special the Houston Rockets can be as a team.
— Draft Deeper (@DraftDeeper) July 9, 2023
Duren and Wiseman are legitimate NBA players. For Jabari to look this comfortable is real growth
— Ben DuBose (@BenDuBose) July 9, 2023
Jabari Smith on what advice new head coach Ime Udoka has given him so far:
“Out here at Summer League he’s just telling me to lead. To use my voice. It’s better to learn how to lead earlier than later. And focus on defense and ways to help this team.”
— Salman Ali (@SalmanAliNBA) July 9, 2023
Jabari Smith looks exactly like a former Top 3 talent that got to play over 30 minutes per game in a full NBA season.
Confident. Strong. Decisive. Better.
Fun to watch and just what you want to see from sophomores in the Summer League. Big role to play this year #Rockets pic.twitter.com/vrHNPbTwY4
— John Crumpler (@JohnHCrumpler) July 9, 2023
Really impressed with Cam Whitmore’s bounce back offensive performance today. Not that his debut was bad by any means, but he seems much more composed and controlled. His off-ball cutting is also something to watch as these games continue.
— Kelly Iko (@KellyIko) July 9, 2023
Jabari still needs to get more confident with his dribble in traffic, but he’s displayed improved ball-handling in SL.
He’s brought the ball up the floor, getting into the offense early, kept his eyes up. Getting low when driving off closeouts, and getting to his spots in ISOs.
— Alykhan Bijani (@Rockets_Insider) July 9, 2023
Ben Sullivan has included some 4/5 pick-and-rolls with Jabari Smith Jr. as a ball-handler. I hope this is something we’ll see in the regular season with Alperen Sengun as the screener. Jabari was probably the top post-entry passer on the team last season. #Rockets
— Alykhan Bijani (@Rockets_Insider) July 9, 2023
Ben Sullivan has had Jabari Smith Jr., Tari Eason, Cam Whitmore, and Amen Thompson get multiple empty PnRs possessions in the first 2 games where they’re initiating the offense.
Easiest way to practice making reads, with defense in front and no help defender to worry about. https://t.co/YFTa0WpeWc
— Alykhan Bijani (@Rockets_Insider) July 9, 2023
FINAL: Rockets 113, Pistons 101. Pistons fall to 1-1 overall.
Duren: 23 points, 10 rebounds
Ivey: 22 points, 10 assists
Wiseman: 17 points, 10 rebounds
Thompson: 12 points, 8 rebounds, 6 assists, 3 steals, 2 blocks— Omari Sankofa II (@omarisankofa) July 9, 2023
Massive win by the Rockets, 113-101, in another night to remember.
Jabari Smith was absolutely legendary with 38 points and 6 assists. Tari and Cam each dropped over 20 efficiently , Eason also had 4 stocks.
I hope summer league never ends this is quite enjoyable
— Itamar (@Itamar_17_10) July 9, 2023
Jabari Smith is 6 months younger than Brandon Miller.
— Itamar (@Itamar_17_10) July 9, 2023
Sneakily, Cam Whitmore had 21 on 56 FG% and 43% 3PT
— Paulo Alves (@PauloAlvesNBA) July 9, 2023
Jalen Green
Alperen Sengun
Jabari Smith
Tari Eason
Amen Thompson
Cam WhitmoreIt’s absolutely ridiculous that Houston was able to draft this much high-end young talent in just 3 years.
— Salman Ali (@SalmanAliNBA) July 9, 2023
Tari Eason: “Me and Jabari, we hang out damn near every day. We’re always with each other, always talking basketball. It just bleeds into everything. You see how we communicate. We’re brothers.”
— ClutchFans (@clutchfans) July 9, 2023
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