Get all your news in one place.
100’s of premium titles.
One app.
Start reading
USA Today Sports Media Group
USA Today Sports Media Group
Sport
Ben DuBose

Rockets shutting down Jabari Smith Jr., Tari Eason for rest of 2023 summer league

Second-year forwards Jabari Smith Jr. and Tari Eason are likely being shut down by the Rockets for the remainder of the NBA’s 2023 summer league in Las Vegas, per Kelly Iko of The Athletic.

Buy Rockets Tickets

Houston’s duo of 2022 first-round draft prospects excelled on both offense and defense. In a 2-0 start, Smith averaged 35.5 points (48.8% FG, 33.3% on 3-pointers), 7.0 rebounds, and 4.0 assists in 32.2 minutes, while Eason tallied 23.0 points (48.7% FG, 36.4% on 3-pointers), 9.5 rebounds, 4.0 assists, and 3.0 blocks in 31.3 minutes.

That type of production, however, could also indicate that they have little left to prove or gain from playing in summer-league exhibitions. The Rockets, in particular, could be sensitive to any injury risk after losing prized rookie point guard Amen Thompson to a grade-two left ankle sprain in Friday’s summer-league opener.

If Smith and Eason sit out, along with Thompson, expect rookie Cam Whitmore and young forward Darius Days (on a two-way contract with the Rockets) to take on larger roles in Houston’s game plans moving forward. The summer Rockets return to action with Tuesday’s matchup versus Oklahoma City, with tipoff set for 5:30 p.m. Central in a game televised nationally on NBA TV.

Sign up to read this article
Read news from 100’s of titles, curated specifically for you.
Already a member? Sign in here
Related Stories
Top stories on inkl right now
Our Picks
Fourteen days free
Download the app
One app. One membership.
100+ trusted global sources.