Jabari Smith Jr. has started every game this season for the Houston Rockets so far, but that streak will end on Friday.
The former No. 1 overall pick broke his left hand during shootaround before Friday’s game against the Boston Celtics and will be out 4 to 6 weeks, Rockets head coach Ime Udoka said via Danielle Lerner of the Houston Chronicle.
The injury, which occurs to Smith’s non-shooting hand, will require surgery, but the Rockets must first confirm the severity through a second opinion.
Currently in his third NBA season, Smith hasn’t progressed into the star some envisioned when he was taken first overall in the 2022 NBA Draft, but he has played the fourth-most total minutes on a Rockets team. who entered third place on Friday. place in the Western Conference with a record of 22-11.
Houston’s defense, second in the NBA in defensive rating, has been its calling card, and Smith has contributed to that primarily with his 6-foot-11 versatility. Without him, the Rockets will have to play smaller on the wing with more minutes for players like Tari Eason and Amen Thompson.
Having played in 79 games in his rookie year and 76 in his second year, Smith is now guaranteed to record a career-low appearance this season.