There were questions about who will be the Houston Rockets’ starting five members even before the injury to Fred VanVleet. They lost two starters in the trade for Kevin Durant namely Jalen Green and Dillon Brooks. Should the fifth spot go to their last season’s sixth man Jabari Smith?
Head coach Ime Udoka previewed how he’s going to use Durant and Smith together on the floor and his statement might just be a clue on who will take the fifth starting spot.
For the most part, depending on the position they’re playing, somebody should have an advantage on a nightly basis,” he told reporters on Tuesday.
Udoka even compared the two to the duo of Rashard Lewis and Hedo Turkuglo with whom he played with when he was still with the Orlando Magic. These two were the supporting cast of Dwight Howard when they made a championship run in the late 2000s.
“They both can play inside, play outside, do everything with the ball. Their versatility can help each other. I can go back to my playing days with Orlando. Rashard Lewis and Hedo, one of those guys have the advantage on a nightly basis.”
Asked Ime today about the potential of a KD / Jabari Smith lineup.
He compared it to a throwback Orlando duo and teased the idea of having one and the 2 and the other at the 3.
“Somebody should have an advantage on a nightly basis” pic.twitter.com/Pa1nvaH8Bb
— Chancellor Johnson (@ChancellorTV) October 1, 2025
Jabari Smith insists he deserves starter role
Udoka already said that Smith is a strong candidate for the starting role but emphasized that it will be a training camp decision.
For the 2022 third overall pick, who was a starter before Udoka’s arrival, thinks he should get it.
“Nobody has really mentioned it to me, but I mean, I’m expecting it,” he said during media day.
“You know what I’m saying? It’s something that I’ve been working on, something I feel like I deserve, something that I’m going to show that I deserve.”
Although he wants to insist, Smith makes it clear that he will accept the role he will be given.
“It’s a small question that everybody has. You know what I’m saying? But at the end of the day, we a team. At the end of the day, we gon’ compete with the five that’s on the floor and that’s gon’ be what it is.”
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