What did Stephen Silas say about Jabari Smith Jr.? Explaining his shocking criticism and "not given much at all" comments

After being taken third overall in the 2022 NBA Draft, Jabari Smith Jr. has had his ups and downs. Following some recent comments from his head coach, the 19-year-old might not be fully to blame for his struggles.

The Houston Rockets have been one of the worst teams in the league. Seeing that they are early in their rebuild, the development of Jabari Smith Jr. and Jalen Green is their main focus.

During the Rockets' shootaround on Wednesday morning, Stephen Silas opened up on the rookie forward. While he praised him for his work, he also admitted to never running any plays for him.

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“He is young and trying to find his way. Jabari has grit and toughness and tries defensively. And he’s not given much at all … I don’t run any plays for Jabari.”

Alykhan Bijani

@Rockets_Insider

Stephen Silas on Jabari Smith Jr.: “He is young and trying to find his way. Jabari has grit and toughness and tries defensively. And he’s not given much at all … I don’t run any plays for Jabari.” twitter.com/marcjspears/st…

Marc J. Spears

@MarcJSpears

For #Rockets rookie forward Jabari Smith, Jr., he has a mentor in a former NBA player that is guiding him through this challenging league. It’s his father. bit.ly/3jX6nat #nba #NBAAllStar

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For #Rockets rookie forward Jabari Smith, Jr., he has a mentor in a former NBA player that is guiding him through this challenging league. It’s his father. bit.ly/3jX6nat #nba #NBAAllStar

Stephen Silas on Jabari Smith Jr.: “He is young and trying to find his way. Jabari has grit and toughness and tries defensively. And he’s not given much at all … I don’t run any plays for Jabari.” twitter.com/marcjspears/st…

This questionable comment has caught many by surprise. As a top pick that is expected to be the focal point of the team, the fact that nothing gets called for him should be a cause for concern moving forward.

Despite having to make his own opportunities on the court, Smith Jr. is still finding ways to be effective. Through 54 games this season, he is averaging 11.9 points, 7.0 rebounds and 1.2 assists.

How has Jabari Smith Jr. fared compared to other rookies this season?

Orlando Magic vs. Houston Rockets

Jabari Smith Jr. was taken into the top three of his draft class and had high expectations entering the league. Even with the Houston Rockets being one of the NBA's weaker teams, he still hasn't stacked up well with his peers.

Looking at the other top picks playing this year, Paolo Banchero has been by far the best rookie this season. With his stellar play, the Orlando Magic now have one of the NBA's most exciting young cores. Banchero is currently averaging 19.9 points, 6.6 rebounds and 3.6 assists.

Another major standout among rookies this year is Bennedict Mathurin of the Indiana Pacers. Following an impressive start to his career, he has become a building block for his team alongside All-Star Tyrese Haliburton. The No. 6 pick is averaging just over 17 points per game in 59 appearances this season.

Smith Jr. finds himself 8th overall on the NBA's latest rookie ladder. With no fault of his own, he is fighting an uphill battle to begin his journey in the league. Seeing that he still has loads of potential, things could quickly change for him at some point down the road.

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