The Houston Rockets are set to get a major boost to their lineup, as forward Jabari Smith Jr. is officially cleared to return after missing 22 games with a broken hand.
Head coach Ime Udoka confirmed the news, signaling the end of Smith’s longest injury absence of his career.
Smith last played on Jan. 1, when he scored 12 points in a 110-99 win over the Dallas Mavericks. Just a few days later, he suffered the injury during a shootaround, forcing him to weigh the possibility of surgery.
It’s been hard,” Smith admitted. “This is the first time in my basketball career that I’ve been out for such an extended period. I’ve dealt with ankle sprains, which usually keep me sidelined for only about two weeks.
“But this injury has been a real challenge. I contemplated surgery and other options, making it a tough period for me. However, I’m glad to be back and eager to finish the season strong.”
Initially, there was concern that Smith would need surgery to repair the fracture.
When I learned there were two options, it was reassuring to find out that surgery wasn’t necessary,” he said. “I had never had to go through surgery before, so I was naturally nervous and skeptical about it. Learning that I could avoid that was a relief.”
The Rockets have managed to stay afloat in Smith’s absence, going 12-10 since his injury after opening the season 22-11. However, Udoka pointed to rebounding as an area where the team has struggled without him.
“The main area we’ve struggled in has been rebounding, particularly on the defensive end,” Udoka explained. “That’s been affected by his size, length, and athleticism, but also due to some adjustments made by other players.”
