Jabari Smith Jr. Fantasy Stats

Houston Rockets forward Jabari Smith Jr. (hand) will make his return to the court on Friday. Smith has been out since the beginning of January due to a hand injury. He's back in the rotation on Friday, but he'll come off the bench. The move to have Smith play with the second unit is likely just the Rockets slowly ramping him back up to full speed. Once fully healthy, Smith figures to return to his role of playing 30-plus minutes per night. Fantasy managers probably won't get too much from Smith during his first game back on the court. It shouldn't take too long before Smith is back to playing his normal role.

Houston Rockets forward Jabari Smith Jr. (hand) said he is ready to return on Friday when the Rockets resume their season against the Timberwolves after the All-Star break. Coach Ime Udoka said that Smith would not be on any minutes restriction, even though it will be his first game since January 1. Smith started all 33 of his games this season, averaging 30.9 minutes, 11.9 points, 6.5 rebounds, and 1.0 assists per game. With Fred VanVleet (ankle) a game-time decision, Udoka declined to say whether Smith would start or come off the bench, but his return will have a big impact as the Rockets try to make a push for the postseason.

Houston Rockets forward/center Jabari Smith Jr. (hand) is set to rejoin the action after the All-Star break. NBA insider Chris Haynes reported that Smith Jr., who fractured his hand on Jan. 1, is aiming for a return on Feb. 21 against the Minnesota Timberwolves. The 21-year-old has averaged 11.9 points, 6.5 rebounds, and 1.0 blocks in 30.9 minutes this season. Amen Thompson has excelled in a starting role during Smith Jr.'s absence, and Rockets head coach Ime Udoka will face some tough decisions once the entire squad is back together. Smith Jr. has been a starter for all 188 of his career games so far.

Houston Rockets forward/center Jabari Smith Jr. (hand) is expected to miss 4-8 weeks with a fractured left hand, the team announced on Friday, as reported by ESPN's Shams Charania. Smith Jr. was injured during shootaround ahead of Friday's game against Boston. The third-year player averages 11.9 points, 6.5 rebounds, and 1.0 blocks across 30.9 minutes this season. With Tari Eason (lower leg) also nursing an injury and Amen Thompson suspended, the door is open for Cam Whitmore and Jae'Sean Tate to make a big impact. The former has already had a few impressive outings lately.

Houston Rockets forward/center Jabari Smith Jr. will miss Monday's game against Portland with a suspension. He was handed a one-game suspension for his altercation with Utah's Kris Dunn on Saturday. Smith Jr's absence will be a major blow for the playoff-chasing Rockets, who have racked up eight consecutive victories. Following Alperen Sengun's (ankle) injury, Smith Jr. has filled the starting center role. With him now sidelined, Jeff Green and Jock Landale should share the minutes at the five positions. Green is the more attractive fantasy option of the two and played great after Smith Jr.'s early exit at the weekend, scoring 21 points and registering four rebounds with a pair of blocks. A meeting with Portland could also be fruitful for him, as the Trail Blazers are allowing opposing centers to shoot 60.6 percent from the field.

Houston Rockets forward/center Jabari Smith Jr. (illness) will play on Wednesday against the Clippers. The talented Auburn product has been battling an illness and initially landed on the injury report with a questionable tag, but he has been upgraded to available. However, how effective Smith Jr. can be remains to be seen. He already struggled to perform in Tuesday's matchup against San Antonio, recording only two points and three rebounds in 25 minutes. Wednesday's matchup is also a tough one for Smith Jr. and the Rockets, as the Clippers have developed into a very good defensive team.

Houston Rockets forward Jabari Smith Jr. (ankle) did not appear on the injury report for their game against the Los Angeles Lakers on Monday night. The 20-year-old has missed the last four consecutive games due to an ankle sprain, but it seems like he has fully healed now that he doesn't carry an injury designation at all. He should re-enter his role in the starting lineup and can be started in fantasy leagues regardless of size or format. He's made some improvements in traditional stat categories along with his efficiency so far this year. Smith averages 13.7 points, 8.7 rebounds, 1.5 assists, 1.7 threes made, and 1.2 turnovers per game while shooting 47.4% from the floor.

Houston Rockets forward Jabari Smith Jr. (ankle) won't suit up for Saturday's game against the Brooklyn Nets. He'll now be sidelined for a fourth consecutive contest, so his next chance to return will be on Monday versus the visiting Los Angeles Lakers. The 20-year-old is averaging a career-high 13.7 points this season, meaning there will be extra scoring chances up for grabs, which Jalen Green and Fred VanVleet could mostly absorb. At the same time, Jeff Green may remain in the starting lineup, although he's a hit-or-miss fantasy option.

Houston Rockets forward Jabari Smith Jr. (ankle) is back on the injury report after initially being removed when it first came out. The second-year forward is still dealing with some lingering effects of the ankle sprain that he suffered a few games back. The fact that he popped up on the report later than normal as questionable isn't the best sign for his chances to play against the Charlotte Hornets. If he has to remain sidelined for a third consecutive game, Jeff Green would likely remain in the starting five while Amen Thompson, Cam Whitmore, and Jock Landale would all see some more minutes coming off of the bench. If Smith plays, however, Landale and Whitmore wouldn't be great starts in this contest.

Houston Rockets forward Jabari Smith Jr. (ankle) is not spotted on the team's injury report ahead of Friday's matchup with the Charlotte Hornets. Out for back-to-back games due to a sprained left ankle, Smith is cleared to return against the Hornets on Friday. The 2022 first-rounder is bringing in top-100 fantasy numbers in his second season with the Rockets, tallying 13.7 points, 8.7 rebounds, 1.7 treys, and 0.8 blocks per game. Jeff Green will slide back to Houston's second unit to free up Smith's starting spot.