“He fit perfectly, filling gaps we had,” Udoka told Guillory. “Our point‑guard depth was thin, and he adds defensive grit. We still have elite defenders, but his edge, toughness, and tone‑setting echo what Dillon brought before he left.”
After Boston moved him in 2023, Smart drifted through Memphis, Washington and Los Angeles before landing with Houston as a free agent this summer. His two‑year, $12.4 million contract wasn’t huge, especially after a solid comeback season in LA in 2025‑26, but the chance to reunite with the coach who guided his Defensive Player of the Year campaign thrilled him.
“Udoka’s mindset mirrored mine,” Smart said. “He let me be myself without any pushback.”
Smart’s early impact validates the Rockets’ gamble. In his first six games he’s posting 9.8 points, 2.5 assists and 1.3 steals while shooting 38.7% from beyond the arc. Houston’s net rating climbs to +11.7 whenever he’s on the floor. In my view, Houston finally secured the guard it needed.
“I hated playing against him,” Durant told Varun Shankar of The Houston Chronicle. “Now I get why teammates love him.”
Here’s more Southwest coverage:
- Even though Wembanyama’s efficiency slipped in his first seven outings, the Spurs star erupted on Wednesday with a monster line‑up: 52 points, 24 rebounds and eight blocks, shooting 16‑of‑28 overall and 19‑of‑23 from the line in a 112‑111 victory over Dallas. He said he feels better after shaking off an illness and hopes to repeat the performance. “It’s just figuring things out,” he explained to Michael C. Wright of ESPN. “Sometimes you’re a step ahead. I’ve been sick, but my legs feel back, so I expect more nights like this.”
- Devin Vassell’s start is modest – 10.6 points on 37.2% shooting – yet he remains a staple in the Spurs’ revamped lineup. Coach Mitch Johnson called him the most consistent player on the roster, according to an in‑depth ESPN piece by Wright.
- Mike Curtis of The Dallas Morning News profiles the Mavericks’ new shooting coach Rob Fodor, who’s guiding Naji Marshall, Zaccharie Risacher and Morez Johnson Jr. this fall. “He fixed my whole swag,” Marshall said, adding he aims for a 45% three‑point rate. “That’s why I’m confident about 45%. The guy is unbelievable. I work with him daily because I realized he’s a GOAT. I just appreciate him.” Can Fodor’s methods lift the Mavericks into the playoff hunt?