Recent Jabari Smith Jr. statement proves most important possible point about Rockets

The Houston Rockets have officially built a winning culture. A recent comment from Jabari Smith Jr. proves it.

"I want to be (in Houston) for the rest of my career

- Jabari Smith Jr.

Let's not mince words - this is huge. There was a time when nobody could imagine a young player saying this about the Rockets.

They were the worst of times.

Rockets' culture suffered during tank

If you'll allow me to stand on a soapbox, the Rockets took too much criticism for tanking.

They were the bane of basketball. The Rockets were committing crimes against humanity. Somehow, it was the most unethical tank job in NBA history. For whatever reason, it feels like the Wizards don't suffer nearly the same condemnation.

Nonetheless, what's done is done. Specifically, the Rockets are done tanking. Now, their culture is the envy of plenty of teams around the NBA.

Thank Ime Udoka, Fred VanVleet, and (yes) Dillon Brooks. The Rockets brought in the league's toughest head coach and some hard-nosed veterans, and the results speak for themselves. This team has the type of culture that a competitive kid like Smith Jr. wants to remain a part of:

Is that realistic?

Rockets should prioritize continuity

Time will tell.

Let's be honest - Smith Jr. is not untouchable. He hasn't produced on the level you'd like to see from a third overall pick so far. Moreover, with the Rockets' offensive hierarchy crystallizing, it's hard to imagine he ever will.

That said, fans have a way of overrating draft pedigree. Smith Jr. is on pace to outproduce plenty of third overall picks. He's not faced with a dichotomy of "star" or "bust". As long as he continues trending towards being a productive player, that's a positive outcome.

It could be enough for the Rockets. It should be said that 6'11" wings who can guard every frontcourt position don't grow on trees. If Smith Jr. gets more consistent from deep, he could be too instrumental to Houston's positional versatility to part with.

That said, he could be expendable. The Rockets enter 2025-26 with lofty expectations. If they fail to meet them, they could make more blockbuster trades next summer.

The broader point is this: Smith Jr. wants to be here. For a team that was viewed as a leaguewide pariah for years, that's huge. It seems the tanking experience didn't forever sully the Rockets' competitive fervor. These young guys want to win:

And they want to do it in Houston.