Dorian Finney-Smith could shock all Rockets fans when he returns from injury

The Houston Rockets have three starters solidified in Kevin Durant, Alperen Sengun and, Amen Thompson. Reed Sheppard is likely to get the default nod at point guard. Jabari Smith Jr. is the likely fifth starter for now, but when Dorian Finney-Smith returns from an injury, that could change.

That's not going to appeal to every Rockets fan. To be sure, there would be merit in opting to start the younger player. Finney-Smith is a finished product, and Smith Jr. still has room to grow.

That's a rebuilding mindset. The Rockets are not a rebuilding team. They're flush with young talent, but they have championship aspirations. The Rockets are likely to do whatever helps them win now:

That might mean starting Finney-Smith.

Rockets may opt to start veteran

Finney-Smith has a long-established NBA reputation as a winner.

Last year, the Lakers were +17.1 with Finney-Smith on the floor, and the Nets were +15.5 (via CleaningTheGlass). Those marks were both in the 99th percentile. Finney-Smith is a buoy. His ability to shoot, defend, and do the dirty work makes life easier for everyone else.

The same isn't quite true for Smith Jr. Granted, the Rockets were +4.5 with him on the floor last year (again via CleaningTheGlass), but given how strong the Rockets were last year, that's arguably a mediocre number. It's fine, but it's not nearly as impressive as Finney-Smith's swings.

So, Finney-Smith is the better player. That should come as no surprise. He's a veteran, and Smith Jr. is young. Still, the question remains:

How can the Rockets justify starting Smith Jr.?

Rockets' young wing has a lot to prove

If Smith Jr. has an immediate advantage over Finney-Smith, it's literally measurable.

The veteran wing is 6'7" with a 6'11" wingspan. Smith Jr. is 6'10" with a 7'1" wingspan. That added height and length could provide functional advantages for a Rockets team that's likely to play a lot of zone defense.

Smith Jr. has to make sure that's the case.

Ultimately, that's the bottom line. It's incumbent on Smith Jr. to earn his starting role when Finney-Smith is back. If not?

It's not the end of the world.

Finney-Smith can force his way into the starting lineup. He's certainly a starting-caliber player on a title contender. If that happens, there's still a role for Smith Jr. He can be a crucial reserve for the Rockets. However this shakes out, expect the Rockets to do whatever is going to help them win in 2025-26.

That's what title contenders do.