As the Houston Rockets entered the season, there was a certain amount of buzz and speculation surrounding how head coach Ime Udoka would approach the team's starting lineup.
Yet, while the injury to Fred VanVleet certainly did turn things on their heads, many Rockets fans knew all along that Smith was poised for a major leap this year and that he would be ready to make a serious impact as the team chases a title.
So far, Smith has proved these fans right with his excellent play, and, as he continues to flash his confidence on both sides of the ball, it is quite possible that any consideration of relegating him to a bench role will look laughable in hindsight.