The Rockets hide Durant s successor? He has a full height and wingspan, is proficient in basket protection and blocking, and can even shoot three points

Durant is now the best player of the Rockets, and there is no doubt about this. However, Durant's only weakness is that he is too old. If he can be 5 years younger, the Rockets' championship next season will be really stable. Durant has already passed his peak period. Although he averaged 26+6+4+1 per game with the Suns last season, his age has obviously affected his condition.

37-year-old Durant can still maintain his peak in his career for several years. We don't know, but the Rockets may give him another two years to renew his contract after Durant's contract expires, which means that Durant may be valued by the Rockets in the next three years. But three years later, the 40-year-old veteran Durant will obviously not be in such a good state. Just like James now, although his appeal is still the best in the league, James' form has indeed declined seriously, which is inseparable from his age. The same is true for Durant. Three years later, if Durant retires bravely and announces his retirement and bids farewell to the league, what should the Rockets do? In fact, the Rockets have been thinking about the back-up move. There is a backup forward who can replace Durant's position, which is the Rockets' 22-year-old power forward Jabbarry Smith Jr. We know that Jabbarry Smith Jr. almost became the No. 1 pick that year, but the Magic temporarily regretted that he had won Benkairo and did not take Smith Jr.

Smith Jr. is both top-notch in dynamic and static talents. He is tall, fast, and has excellent lateral movement speed. His wingspan is also very suitable for shooting and blocking shots. These are his advantages. He has a complete height and wingspan. He is also proficient in defending the basket and blocking ability, and can even shoot three-pointers, because Smith Jr.'s main offensive method in the past three years is three-point shooting. Last season, his three-point shooting percentage has increased to 35%. The Rockets need a power forward who can defend and protect the basket, and the young Smith is such a player. Recently, we have also seen some reports showing that Smith Jr. is working hard to conduct personal training. In addition to practicing three-point shooting and mid-range shooting, he is also actively strengthening his skills such as ball-holding offense and ball-holding shooting.

And Smith Jr. is also very consciously increasing his ability to confront each other. He will no longer be the weak power forward next season, and he will not always float on the outside to shoot. He will find opportunities to shoot some mid-range shots, and even break through to the basket like Alperen Shinkyung. After all, Smith Jr. is still an inside player no matter what. An inside player who can only float on the outside and shoot three-pointers is destined to be unfavorable.

Smith Jr.'s training this summer is to become the next Durant, increase his ability to hold the ball and attack, and increase his ability to shoot at mid-range distance. Even after Durant retires, Smith Jr. can inherit Durant's style of play and become the Rockets' most comprehensive attacker. He has this talent and this potential. Beside Durant, Smith Jr. should work hard to learn from Durant and strive to become the next Durant-like superstar in the league. So among the Rockets, it is obvious that Jabbarry Smith Jr. is the most suitable player to be Durant's successor.