Jan 13, 2026; Houston, Texas, USA; Houston Rockets forward Kevin Durant (7) and forward Jabari Smith Jr. (10) react after a play during the second half against the Chicago Bulls at Toyota Center. Mandatory Credit: Troy Taormina-Imagn Images
Jan 13, 2026; Houston, Texas, USA; Houston Rockets forward Kevin Durant (7) and forward Jabari Smith Jr. (10) react after a play during the second half against the Chicago Bulls at Toyota Center. Mandatory Credit: Troy Taormina-Imagn Images
The Rockets’ young starlet, Jabari Smith Jr, recently sat down with Chiney Ogwumike of ESPN for an interview ahead of the upcoming 2026-27 season. The 23-year-old, who is primed to be one of the Rockets’ young players to leap to All-Star caliber next season, addressed various aspects of the team.
It included lessons from playing with and working out with Kevin Durant, what to expect from the Rockets next season, and one key weakness that Jabari Smith Jr. hopes to turn into a strength.
“Just how you approach the game. You know what I’m saying? He’s very consistent in his approach,” said Smith on what he learned from playing with Kevin Durant over the last season.
“You kind of would think he would waver off of him being in the league for so many years, but he’s just always focused, attention to detail. His routine is always the same.”
“And I think I just noticed how you’ve got to just really love this game to play it for so long at a high level. I just learned just to approach every day the same and just play the game for the fun of it and just approach every day the same.”
The Rockets’ player was asked to dive deeper into what Kevin Durant’s workout regimen looks like.
“I mean, it’s just going to be full speed from a jump. You know, it’s like it seems you think at that age, obviously, you’ll want to warm up, and you know, but he gets off the training table, and from there it’s 100% full speed.”
“And every rep is a game rep, and it’s kind of like it makes you do that. You know what I’m saying? So, I think I’ve definitely learned that from him. Just making every practice rep faster than the game rep, and it makes the game easier.”
“Everything you hear is real; his work ethic is real, how hard he works is real. It’s just how he approaches every workout is kind of pushing all how hard he’s going. So yeah, he for sure did that. Everything you hear is true,” concluded Smith on Durant.
Jabari Smith Jr. also gave a preview of what to expect from the young Rockets team in the 2026-27 season.
“I think you’re going to see a team that, you know, is a little bit more used to playing with each other. You know, we added Kevin Durant last year and, you know, just got to adjust to playing with him and his play style.”
“Obviously, anybody can play with him, but, you know, just tendencies and getting Fred back will be huge for us. And I think you’ll just see everybody older. Obviously a lot better, more mature. See a lot better team next year for sure.”
Heading into the offseason, the Rockets are coming off of an upsetting exit from the first round of the playoffs where they fell in six games to the Lakers without Kevin Durant being available for most of the series.
During Game 3, the Rockets had a six-point lead with less than 30 seconds left in the game. A costly turnover from Jabari Smith Jr, cut the game to two points before a Reed Sheppard turnover cost them a must-win game as they subsequently went down 0-3 in the series.
Some of the DUMBEST basketball you’ll EVER see
• Rockets have possession of the ball with 30 seconds left with a 6-point LEAD
• Jabari Smith Jr throws the ball AWAY FOR NO REASON
• Jae’Sean Tate fouls Marcus Smart shooting a 3 pointer
😭💀 pic.twitter.com/dslP7ojHsR
— Hater Report (@HaterReport) April 25, 2026
It seems that the turnover has taught Jabari Smith Jr. that he can’t let something like that happen ever again, so he has made it his primary goal in the offseason to improve his ball handling.
“Just trying to get stronger, improving and everything, but I definitely want to get better and more comfortable at handling the ball this year. Handling pressure, being able to handle and relieve that pressure from Fred and you know the other guards who got to handle the ball the whole game,” Smith Jr. said.
“So, just trying to improve every aspect, but I feel like ball handling is the area where I can take the biggest jump. You know what I’m saying? So, trying to just get stronger with the ball.”
“Not necessarily just doing a million moves, but, you know, being stronger with it, being able to get to my spots, and, you know, just I think that’ll open my game up a lot,” Smith Jr. concluded.
The 23-year-old ended 2025-26 with 15.9 points, 7.0 rebounds and 1.9 assists while shooting 44.5% from the field and 36.4% from three-point range in the 89 games he played (including the playoffs).
This is especially noteworthy since Smith Jr. is arguably the fourth scoring option on the Rockets behind Kevin Durant, Alperen Sengun, and Amen Thompson.
Jabari Smith Jr.’s growth will be crucial to the Rockets’ ambitions in 2026-27. With lessons from Kevin Durant and a clear understanding of where he must improve, Smith has an opportunity to take another step forward.
All eyes are now on the 23-year-old. If he can translate that development into consistent production, Houston could become a legitimate contender.