Jabari Smith Jr. talks Summer League, rookie season, goals for next season

Jabari Smith Jr. had an up-and-down rookie season in 2022-23. He struggled out the gate but closed the year out on a high note, averaging 15.8 points, 7.7 rebounds, and 0.9 blocks, while shooting 47.2 percent from the floor, 36.5 percent from long-range, and 78.3 percent from the charity stripe over the last 20 games.

All told, Smith had the most double-doubles for a teenage forward. Smith didn't just stop there, though, as the Auburn product decided to suit up for the Summer League, displaying an unprecedented level of humility.

On Thursday, Smith joined the Bradeaux and Will Show to discuss his first season, his Summer League showcase, and much more.

In case you missed it, we've got you covered, as always, providing you with a one stop shop of his quotes in its entirety.

Rockets' second-year forward shares thoughts on doing yoga

"It started right after the season ended. I took some time off. Right when I started to get back into it. I started with yoga and lifting. I was lifting like three times a week, almost for the whole summer."

Jabari shares thoughts on Summer League showcase

"Going into it, coaches were asking me if I wanted to play. I was like I'm not against it. I just had a talk with myself and got to thinking why wouldn't I play? I feel like I have so much to improve on and so much more to show. Why not go out there and play?

A new offense, new coaches, a new voice. Why not go and have fun? Cam played, Amen played, and coach asked me and Tari if we wanted to play and we were like yeah, why wouldn't we? 

It's basketball with refs- you don't usually get that in the summer. Going into it, we just wanted to build camaraderie and try to change the culture a little bit and start it off the right way. I feel like we did that."

Smith shares thoughts on incoming rookies Amen Thompson and Cam Whitmore

"They are two of the most athletic people that I've seen or played with. Not just jumping, I'm talking about speed and reactions.

Their instincts on defense- you can't really teach that. You can teach where to be in spots but just that knack for the ball, that's like a gift and they both have that.

They were unselfish and they listen. They weren't worried about their shots. They really just wanted to win. That's what I liked most about them. They were cool to play with."

Smith shares thoughts on Summer League game-winner

"At first, I told him I wanted to fake like I was going to go up and have him throw it all the way to the corner so I could at least have a shot but when I saw how the defender was on the ball, I was like nah he's not gonna be able to throw that.

And coach drew up the play anyways so it was perfect. I knew I wasn't going to have time to do anything else but you gotta catch it and throw it up. Or do something."

Smith shares father's role

"A mentor. Dad. Friend. We've been together all summer so we just got back to the basics and got back to what got us here. 

The gym, go outdoors, no cameras. Let's get back to us. That's what we've been doing since I was 5. 

He's had a huge influence on me. Mistakes he's made that I can avoid. He just makes it alot easier for me. Even growing up, I was always living like a pro. In high school, there were things that high schoolers don't do. He had me doing it and I wanted to do it."

Biggest point of emphasis during Smith's offseason

"I feel like it's just been strength. With strength, that helps you with being able to put the ball on the floor, being able to take bumps, having to move and change directions.

Playing stronger and playing lower to the ground. I just feel like there wasn't one thing that I was focused on except for my body.

Getting stronger and just precise movements. I don't think I was weak last year, just need to throw my body around a little more and take bumps."

Smith elaborates on relationship with Tari Eason

"We came in together. The day after the draft, we were on a plane flying in together. We were always pretty close. It was always me, him, and TyTy during the summer. We were always in the gym together, doing everything together, going to the mall. We have a lot of free time so we were always kicking it with each other.

That kinda grew as the season went on. So you can imagine how close we are now, after going through a whole season of traveling and all of that. That's my brother. We've only gotten closer. We're competitive. We talk trash to each other.

That's just how we are. We're competitive, but we know what's going to bring out the best of us. We're excited for the season. We talk all the time about the season and expectations and how excited we are to win. Because we don't like losing. When we do anything, we're always competing and trying to win. We just want to get back to that."

Smith talks trade of TyTy Washington

"It was kinda different for me. Because you spend the whole season with somebody getting so close to them and then you don't see them around. You just think they're going to a different situation and hope the best for them."

Smith shares thoughts on first year with Rockets

My main takeaway is finding why, finding the reasoning. With all of that losing going on, you can kinda second guess yourself. The game isn't fun for you anymore.

But you have to find that spark and remember that you're in the best league in the world. Just know change is gonna come. Keep that camaraderie with your teammates because they're the only ones going through that with you.

The whole season we were losing and down but we were so close and we were just trying to win every game. We wanted to win, we just didn't know how, at the time.

Last year had a lot of ups and downs but I wouldn't change it. I grew so much from that. I'll probably talk about that for the rest of my life."

Smith's thoughts on newly-hired Rockets coach Ime Udoka

"I got excited immediately with the hire. Just off his demeanor and what people say about him. He was in the Finals- that's an accomplishment itself. And seeing the Celtics play and their playstyle, you can only get excited about that.

Seeing how excited he was, that uplifted us alot. He came excited and said just play defense and have fun. All of that. Play defense, play hard, and play together. That was what he preached the most. Play the right way.

As far as using me, we haven't talked about it much but I can tell based on what we've worked on that he's going to put me in different situations that I wasn't in last year. I'm excited about it."

Jabari talks Rockets' free agent additions

"I'm used to listening to people older than me and taking gems from them and latching on to them, because that's how I was as a kid. Being in the gym with Lou Williams and older players around the city. I would want to listen to them. Why wouldn't you?

Bringing in vets like Fred and Dillon and Jeff is going to be helpful, just because they've seen so much. Those guys have been to the Finals and have seen things that I haven't seen. Knowing how to get there and knowing what it takes. I'm just excited to pick their brain."

Jabari's goals for 2023-24

"Just be the most consistent everyday guy that I can be. Go in to every game with the same mentality. Don't change.

Just impact winning. That's my biggest thing. Whether it's averaging 10 points or averaging 20, I just want to affect winning. I definitely want to strive to win Most Improved Player. I've been working so hard this summer, why wouldn't I try to go get that?

If I have that success, I know our team will have that success. Making the playoffs, play-in, or whatever. Just being in the postseason. That's my goal, ultimately. "