The Houston Rockets have been arguably the worst team in the NBA over the last three seasons, winning a combined 59 games in that time. They had the worst record in the league in 2020-21 (17-55) and 2021-22 (20-62) and were tied for the worst record in the Western Conference (22-60) last season.
They have had a great start to the Summer League this year, though, and after they beat the Detroit Pistons 113-101 for their second straight win, Jabari Smith Jr. stated they were just tired of losing. It just so happened to be, though, that when he was saying it, their former head coach Stephen Silas was right behind him.
Jabari saying we’re tired of losing with Stephen Silas right behind him is the most unintentionally funny thing I’ve seen today. 😂pic.twitter.com/ReWdbw6IZd
— V̷a̷t̷o̷r̷ (@VatorSports) July 10, 2023
Silas was the man at the helm for all three of those seasons and he was just let go following the 2022-23 campaign, after which he joined the Pistons as an assistant. He had a bit of a troubled relationship with Jabari at times last season, as he perhaps didn’t do too great of a job of incorporating the rookie into their offense for much of that season.
Jabari Smith Jr. Has Shone At The Summer League
Jabari’s rookie season was solid but unspectacular. He averaged 12.8 PPG, 7.2 RPG, 1.3 APG, 0.5 SPG, and 0.9 BPG to make the All-Rookie Second Team. Considering he was viewed by many as a strong candidate to be selected first overall in the 2022 Draft, it was a bit of a disappointment.
Whether that was on Smith or Silas is hard to say, but what is a fact is that he has been terrific in this Summer League. In their two games, he has put up terrific averages of 35.5 PPG, 7.0 RPG, 4.0 APG, 0.5 SPG, and 1.0 BPG.
You normally would like to see a sophomore dominate in the Summer League and he has done just that. It gives the Rockets hope that Smith will have a breakout season in 2023-24 and show why he was so highly rated entering that draft.
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