Title: “The Franchise Bet: Jabari Smith’s $122 Million Rise in Houston”
The sun rose hot over Houston, but the buzz inside the Toyota Center was even hotter. Word had just broken: Jabari Smith Jr., the former Auburn standout and No. 3 pick in the 2022 NBA Draft, was finalizing a $122 million extension with the Houston Rockets.
For Smith, this moment was more than a contract—it was a coronation.
Three years ago, he’d entered the league as a wiry 6’10” forward with a sniper’s shot and a defender’s heart. Drafted into a rebuilding Rockets team, he had grown through chaos: coaching changes, chemistry issues, losing streaks. But through it all, Smith never flinched. He worked. He matured. And now, at just 22 years old, he wasn’t just a piece of Houston’s future.
He was the future.
The five-year, $122 million deal—set to kick in at the start of the 2025–26 season—wasn’t handed out lightly. Houston’s front office, led by GM Rafael Stone, had deliberated for weeks. The league’s salary cap was tightening, young stars were demanding big money earlier, and rival teams were circling.
But Smith had proven himself in every way.
Last season, he averaged 19.4 points, 8.1 rebounds, and shot a blistering 41.6% from deep—numbers that placed him among the league’s elite stretch forwards. More importantly, he had developed into a two-way force, often guarding the opposition’s top scorer while anchoring Houston’s spacing-heavy offense.
“I’ve always wanted to earn everything,” Smith said during a sit-down interview on local station KHOU. “This city, this organization, they believed in me when I was raw. This deal isn’t a reward—it’s a responsibility. I’m just getting started.”
Inside the locker room, his teammates knew what he brought. Jalen Green called him “our compass.” Veteran Fred VanVleet, who’d helped mentor him, said, “He’s a silent killer. Shows up, puts in the work, holds everyone accountable.”
The Rockets, once mired in post-Harden drift, were now surging. With Smith as their emotional and tactical anchor, they’d pushed into the Western Conference Play-In last year—something unthinkable just two seasons prior. And they were hungry for more.
Smith’s new deal set the tone. It was front-loaded and incentive-rich, built on performance and leadership benchmarks. Sources close to the negotiations said Smith insisted on clauses that would reward defensive accolades and playoff success—hallmarks of a player not chasing empty stats, but lasting impact.
“Jabari’s maturity is beyond his years,” said Coach Ime Udoka. “He’s one of the few young guys who understands that greatness isn’t just highlights—it’s consistency, sacrifice, and winning.”
Back in Auburn, where Smith first exploded onto the national scene, fans flooded social media with messages of pride. “From the Plains to $122 million,” one tweet read. “He’s still that humble, hungry kid we watched dominate Rupp Arena.”
As contract ink dried, the Rockets posted a cinematic video to their official channels: clips of Smith draining threes, diving for loose balls, barking orders. At the end, a single message:
“The Foundation is Set.”
Jabari Smith wasn’t just getting paid. He was being trusted—with a franchise, a fanbase, and a vision. And in true Smith fashion, he accepted not with bravado—but with a calm nod and another early-morning workout.
Because $122 million doesn’t change champions.
It just confirms them.
