It took Jabari Smith Jr. just one quarter to prove all his doubters wrong

As the Houston Rockets prepared to enter the season, a number of questions, primarily centered around the absence of starting point guard Fred VanVleet, cropped up concerning what sort of combinations the team could put forward in their starting lineup.

Among these considerations was the role of Jabari Smith Jr., who many argued would be better for the team coming off the bench prior to the VanVleet injury. Yet, Smith, in just one preseason quarter, showed everyone that Houston is better off with him as a starter no matter the circumstances.

Jabari Smith Jr. showed off his entire skill-set in the first quarter v. Hawks

With the news that Kevin Durant would be rested during the Rockets' first preseason game against the Atlanta Hawks, it was natural that all eyes then turned to the performances of the team's young players.

While Amen Thompson and Reed Sheppard probably were in possession of the biggest storyline for the team, given how heavily the Rockets will lean upon them to take over primary playmaking duties for the team, Smith Jr. quickly took the reins.

In eight minutes, Smith had eight points and one rebounds, flashing both his dynamic ability to finish at the rim and his budding perimeter shot.

He shot 2-for-2 from 3-point range, sinking two of the team's only three shots from beyond the arc in the quarter and keeping their offense afloat while the other starters struggled to get their looks against an active Atlanta defense.

After starting every game he played in the first two season so his career, last season, after his return from rehabbing a broken bone in his hand, Smith Jr. took on a new role off the bench, perhaps even performing more effectively on offense with more limited minutes.

Yet, if Smith Jr. has a breakout year in store, his size and athletic ability in the starting lineup could be a huge boon to the Rocket's style of play, and, if he can continue to hit the three at a slightly increased rate from the 35.4% clip he posted last season, that could make his case even stronger.

While offseason signing Dorian Finney-Smith had, and still has, a serious case to start once he returns from injury as a result of the perimeter shot and defense he could provide, Smith has the opportunity to continue taking large strides early in the season, cementing himself as the team's starting power forward from here on out.