Marcus Smart gave Houston 28.5 minutes a night last season as a low-usage, defense-first guard whose lineups beat the team's own net rating. In 2026-27 his job is to turn 4.7 threes a game into a shot defenses have to respect.
Last season
Smart played 62 games and averaged 9.3 points, 3.0 assists, 2.8 rebounds and 1.4 steals. The shooting was the weak spot: 39.5% from the field and 33.1% from three on 4.7 attempts. His 82.2% at the free throw line argues the stroke is better than the results. He also took care of the ball, with only 1.5 turnovers a game for a guard who handles it.
October 11
In the 132-115 preseason loss to Dallas, Smart scored 20 points and Reed Sheppard added 17. That is more than double his scoring average from last season. Preseason games don't count in the standings, and Houston lost that one by 17, but it showed the shooting version of Smart the Rockets need. Two days earlier Houston beat the same Mavericks 135-117 in Dallas.
October 21
Smart reaches opening night off the injury report, while Steven Adams and Julian Phillips both carry listings with an estimated return of today. He is owed $6.1M this season, with a $6.4M player option for 2027-28, which is cheap on a $205.5M roster that is over the luxury tax. Space City Scoop wrote Wednesday that Smart has "already given Rockets hope" of fixing the team's biggest issues.
This season
The advanced numbers make the case for him. Houston was 117.3 on offense and 110.6 on defense with Smart, a +6.8 net rating, compared with the team's 117.5, 112.1 and +5.4. He did that on 15.1% usage, a 54.3% true shooting mark and a 13.3% assist rate. He doesn't need more touches. With Amen Thompson at 21.6% from three, Smart has to make open threes so the spacing holds up.
What is Marcus Smart's contract with the Rockets?
Smart makes $6.1M in 2026-27, and his deal has a $6.4M player option for 2027-28.
How did Marcus Smart play for the Rockets last season?
He averaged 9.3 points, 3.0 assists and 1.4 steals in 62 games and shot 33.1% from three. Houston had a +6.8 net rating with him, better than the team's +5.4.
