One of the premier former Auburn Tigers in the NBA, forward Jabari Smith Jr., suffered an unfortunate setback in his third professional season last week. The star forward broke his left hand during a team shootaround on Saturday, an injury likely to sideline the 21-year-old for at least a month.

Smith fractured his left, non-shooting hand at shootaround before the Boston game and it will require surgery, coach Ime Udoka told reporters. How long he will be out will depend upon the surgery. Udoka said Smith would miss 4-6 weeks, but it could be a couple of weeks longer, depending upon the situation.

The Houston Rockets were dealt a painful blow when Jabari Smith Jr. was put on the injury report after breaking his hand. The Rockets won't have Smith for the next 4-8 weeks, and during that time, things will change for the team.

Houston forward Jabari Smith Jr. fractured a bone in his left hand and needs surgery that will keep him out four to eight weeks.

Houston Rockets forward Jabari Smith Jr. will miss four-to-eight weeks after suffering a fractured left hand during his team's Friday shootaround.

With Smith now out, forward Amen Thompson is expected to take over his position. The sophomore has continued to be a Swiss Army knife for the Rockets, averaging 12.3 points, 7.4 rebounds, 2.2 assists, 1.1 steals, and 1.1 blocks this season.

Houston Rockets head coach Ime Udoka announced Smith’s hand injury before Friday’s home contest against the Boston Celtics. Udoka said Smith broke his left hand during shootaround Friday morning, and the 2022 lottery pick will now undergo surgery before being reevaluated in 4-to-6 weeks.

The San Francisco Giants have reached a one-year deal to sign nine-time All-Star pitcher Justin Verlander. College football’s more professionalized era arrives in July, and historic powerhouses like Ohio State and Texas could lose both their inherent recruiting advantage and their financial edge.

The Houston Rockets are without their starting power forward for the next four to eight weeks, which means they could turn to the trade market for depth.

The Houston Rockets could be without forward Jabari Smith Jr. through February after the forward came away from a shootaround Friday with a fractured left hand.

Houston Rocket’s forward Jabari Smith Jr. injuried his left hand in a shootaround on Friday. According to coach Ime Udoka, Jabari fractured a metacarpal in that hand and is expected to be out for four to eight weeks.