Auburn Tigers Receive New Contract Deal $122 Million After Jabari Smith Jr Personal Announcement
AUBURN, Ala. – Former Auburn Tigers forward Jabari Smith Jr. is set to sign a new contract with the Houston Rockets, which will keep him in Houston through the 2030-2031 season. The reported deal is a five-year extension worth $122 million. This move follows the Rockets’ recent acquisition of former NBA MVP Kevin Durant
Got the bag 💰🤑 pic.twitter.com/4H6LvmcD0t
— Auburn Basketball (@AuburnMBB) June 30, 2025
The former No. 3 overall pick in the 2022 NBA Draft, Jabari Smith Jr., has experienced a mix of highs and lows during his tenure with the Houston Rockets. Last season, he posted averages of 12.2 points and 7.2 rebounds per game, despite transitioning to a bench role after January.
According to ESPN, Smith stands out as the only player from the 2022 draft class to surpass 2,500 points and 1,500 rebounds in his career so far.
Before entering the NBA, Smith had a standout freshman year at Auburn, where he helped lead the Tigers to their first-ever No. 1 national ranking and an SEC regular-season title. He earned multiple honors that season, including SEC Freshman of the Year, USBWA Freshman of the Year, and First Team All-SEC, while averaging 16.9 points and 7.4 rebounds per game.
Following a blockbuster trade that sent Jalen Green and Dillon Brooks to acquire Kevin Durant, the Rockets are focused on maintaining key young talent. ESPN’s Shams Charania reported that Houston values Smith so highly that they kept him completely off the table in Durant trade talks—yet still landed the superstar forward.
Now, Smith has a prime opportunity to develop alongside one of the league’s all-time great scorers. While he hasn’t fully broken out as a star yet, the Rockets’ commitment to him via a five-year extension signals strong belief in his long-term potential.
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