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Josh Smith

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This article is about the basketball player in the NBA. For other people named Josh Smith, seeJosh Smith (disambiguation).

Josh Smith
Smith with the Pistons in January 2014
Personal information
Born(1985-12-05)December 5, 1985(age 38)
College Park, Georgia,U.S.
Listed height6 ft 9 in (2.06 m)
Listed weight225 lb (102 kg)
Career information
High schoolMcEachern
(Powder Springs, Georgia)
Oak Hill Academy
(Mouth of Wilson, Virginia)
NBA draft2004:1st round, 17th overall pick
Selected by theAtlanta Hawks
Playing career2004–2017
PositionPower forward/small forward
Number5, 6
Career history
2004–2013Atlanta Hawks
2013–2014Detroit Pistons
2014–2015Houston Rockets
2015–2016Los Angeles Clippers
2016Houston Rockets
2016–2017Sichuan Blue Whales
2017New Orleans Pelicans
Career highlights and awards
Career NBA statistics
Points12,996 (14.5 ppg)
Rebounds6,653 (7.4 rpg)
Blocks1,713 (1.9 bpg)
StatsEdit this at Wikidataat NBA.com
StatsEdit this at Wikidataat Basketball-Reference.com

Joshua Smith(born December 5, 1985) is an American former professionalbasketballplayer who played 13 seasons in theNational Basketball Association(NBA). Entering the NBA straight out of high school, Smith played nine seasons with theAtlanta Hawksbefore playing for theDetroit Pistons,Houston RocketsandLos Angeles Clippersbetween 2013 and 2016. His final stint in the NBA came in November 2017 with theNew Orleans Pelicans.He is sometimes referred to by his nickname "J-Smoove".[1]

High school career

[edit]

Smith attendedJohn McEachern HighinPowder Springs,Georgia.During the summer before his senior year, he played alongside future NBA playersRandolph MorrisandDwight Howardon the Atlanta CelticsAAUteam.[2][3]Smith transferred toOak Hill Academyfor his senior year where he was teammates withRajon Rondo.He averaged 22 points, 8 rebounds, 4 assists, 6 blocks, and 3 steals per game on the season, helping lead Oak Hill to 38–0 record.[4]Smith was highly recruited asRivals.comrated him the third best overall player in the nation and the number one small forward.[5]Smith committed to play forIndiana Universitybut he decided to forgo college and enter the NBA draft.[4][6]

Professional career

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Atlanta Hawks (2004–2013)

[edit]
Smith with the Hawks in March 2012

Smith was selected by the Atlanta Hawks with the 17th overall pick in the2004 NBA draft.[7]He won theNBA Slam Dunk Contesthis rookie year during the 2005 NBA All-Star Weekend.[8]He became only the fifth player to record three perfect scores in the same contest along withJason Richardson,Vince Carter,Spud Webb,andMichael Jordan.[9]Smith averaged 9.7 points, 6.2 rebounds and 1.95 blocks per game for the2004–05 seasonand was selected to the NBA All-Rookie Second Team.

On March 3, 2007, Smith broke the 500 career block mark, making him the youngest player to do so in NBA history.[10]He ended the2006–07 seasonwith averages of 16.4 points, 8.6 rebounds, 3.3 assists, 1.4 steals and 2.9 blocks per game. On November 17, 2007, Smith scored a career-high 38 points on the road against theMilwaukee Bucks.[11]

On April 28, 2008, in Game 4 of their first round series, Smith set playoff career highs of 28 points and 7 blocks in a 97-92 upset victory over the top-seededBoston Celtics.[12]Despite being the 8-seed, the Hawks would ultimately push the Celtics to seven games before losing the series, and the Celtics would go on to win the2008 NBA Finals.[13]That offseason, on August 8, 2008, Smith signed an offer sheet with theMemphis Grizzlies,but the Hawks quickly matched the offer sheet.[14][15][16]

On February 2, 2010, in a 99–106 loss to theOklahoma City Thunder,Smith became the youngest player (at 24 years old) to record 1,000 career blocked shots.[17]At season's end, he was named to theNBA All-Defensive Second Teamfor the first time in his career.

On March 31, 2012, Smith scored 34 points and grabbed 9 rebounds in a 95-90 loss to theChicago Bulls.[18]That postseason, on April 29, Smith led the Hawks to a Game 1 win over theBoston Celticswith 22 points and 18 rebounds.[19]However, the Hawks lost the following three games, eventually losing the series 4-2.[20]

Detroit Pistons (2013–2014)

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On July 10, 2013, Smith signed with theDetroit Pistons[21]on a reported four-year, $54 million deal.[22]

On December 13, 2013, Smith scored 31 points and grabbed 7 rebounds in an 111-109 overtime loss to thePortland Trail Blazers.[23]On February 22, 2014, Smith recorded a first half career high of 24 points as he went on to finish with a season high of 32 in a 102–113 loss to theDallas Mavericks.[24]He finished his first season in Detroit with averages of 16.4 points, 6.8 rebounds, 3.3 assists, 1.4 steals, and 1.4 blocks per game

On October 29, 2014, during Detroit's season opener, Smith scored what would be a season high 25 points and grabbed 5 rebounds in a 89-79 loss to theDenver Nuggets.[25]On December 22, 2014, Smith was waived by the Pistons. In 28 games during the2014–15 season,Smith averaged 13.1 points, 7.2 rebounds and 4.7 assists per game, while shooting 39.1% from the field, 24.3% from three-point range and 46.8% from the free throw line. In 105 career games with the Pistons, Smith averaged 15.5 points, 6.9 rebounds and 3.7 assists per game.[26]

Houston Rockets (2014–2015)

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On December 26, 2014, Smith signed with theHouston Rockets[27]and went on to make his debut that night. In just under 32 minutes of action off the bench, he recorded 21 points, 8 rebounds and 3 assists in the Rockets' 117–111 overtime win over theMemphis Grizzlies.[28]Following that game, Smith was moved into the starting lineup but struggled as the Rockets won only one of their next four games. After a blowout loss to theNew Orleans Pelicans,Smith was moved back to the bench in order to help him get more comfortable with the team.[29]

During the2015 NBA Playoffs,Smith had multiple impressive games. In Game 2 of the first round against theDallas Mavericks,Smith tied his playoff career-high of 9 assists, 6 of which were alley-oops to childhood friend and former AAU teammateDwight Howard,as he helped lead the Rockets to victory. He later scored 23 and 20 points in Games 4 and 5, respectively, as the Rockets won the series in five games. In Game 6 of the conference semi-finals against theLos Angeles Clippers,he scored 19 points, 14 coming in the fourth quarter, as he led a comeback from 19 points down in an elimination game on the road to force, and eventually win, a decisive Game 7. During the playoffs, Smith made a career-high 38% of his three-point attempts.[30]

Los Angeles Clippers (2015–2016)

[edit]

On July 16, 2015, Smith signed a one-year deal with theLos Angeles Clippers.[31][32]He made his debut for the Clippers in the team's season opener against the Sacramento Kings on October 28, recording 1 point, 6 rebounds and 4 blocks off the bench in a 111–104 win.[33]

Second stint with Houston (2016)

[edit]

On January 22, 2016, Smith was traded back to the Houston Rockets, along with the draft rights toSerhiy Lishchukand cash considerations, in exchange for the draft rights toMaarty Leunen.[34]He made his return game for the Rockets later that night, recording 2 points (on 1-of-10 shooting), 5 rebounds, 6 assists, 2 steals and 3 blocks in a 102–98 win over the Milwaukee Bucks.[35]Two days later, in his second game back for the Rockets, Smith scored a then season-high 16 points in a 115–104 win over the Dallas Mavericks.[36]He topped that mark on February 2, scoring 19 points as a starter in a 115–102 win over the Miami Heat.[37]

Sichuan Blue Whales (2016–2017)

[edit]

On November 8, 2016, Smith signed a three-month, $1.5+ million contract with theSichuan Blue Whalesof theChinese Basketball Association.[38]In his second game for Sichuan on November 16, 2016, Smith recorded 41 points, 19 rebounds, five blocks in a loss toGuangdong Southern Tigers.In the game, he shot 7-of-18 from three-point range.[39]He left the team in late January 2017, and in 26 games, he averaged 18.8 points, 10.6 rebounds, 3.2 assists and 2.0 blocks in 29.5 minutes per game while making only one start.[40]

New Orleans Pelicans (2017)

[edit]

On September 28, 2017, Smith joined the Israeli teamMaccabi Haifafor their preseason U.S. tour, with the aim being to play in the NBA again.[41]

On October 28, 2017, Smith signed with theNew Orleans Pelicansto help the team deal with numerous injuries. New Orleans had to use the NBA hardship exemption to sign him as he made their roster stand at 16, one over the allowed limited of 15.[42]He appeared in three games for the Pelicans before being waived on November 10, 2017.[43]

Big3

[edit]

In March 2019, Smith signed to play in theBig33-on-3 basketball league.[44][45]

NBA career statistics

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Legend
GP Games played GS Games started MPG Minutes per game
FG% Field goalpercentage 3P% 3-point field goalpercentage FT% Free throwpercentage
RPG Reboundsper game APG Assistsper game SPG Stealsper game
BPG Blocksper game PPG Points per game Bold Career high
* Led the league

Regular season

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Year Team GP GS MPG FG% 3P% FT% RPG APG SPG BPG PPG
2004–05 Atlanta 74 59 27.7 .455 .174 .688 6.2 1.7 .8 1.9 9.7
2005–06 Atlanta 80 73 32.0 .425 .309 .719 6.6 2.4 .8 2.6 11.3
2006–07 Atlanta 72 72 36.8 .439 .250 .693 8.6 3.3 1.4 2.9 16.4
2007–08 Atlanta 81 81 35.5 .457 .253 .710 8.2 3.4 1.5 2.8 17.2
2008–09 Atlanta 69 69 35.1 .492 .299 .588 7.2 2.4 1.4 1.6 15.6
2009–10 Atlanta 81 81 35.4 .505 .000 .618 8.7 4.2 1.6 2.1 15.7
2010–11 Atlanta 77 77 34.4 .477 .331 .725 8.5 3.3 1.3 1.6 16.5
2011–12 Atlanta 66* 66* 35.3 .458 .257 .630 9.6 3.9 1.4 1.7 18.8
2012–13 Atlanta 76 76 35.3 .465 .303 .517 8.4 4.2 1.2 1.8 17.5
2013–14 Detroit 77 76 35.5 .419 .264 .532 6.8 3.3 1.4 1.4 16.4
2014–15 Detroit 28* 28 32.0 .391 .243 .468 7.2 4.7 1.3 1.7 13.1
Houston 55* 7 25.5 .438 .330 .521 6.0 2.6 .9 1.2 12.0
2015–16 L.A. Clippers 32 1 14.3 .383 .310 .595 3.9 1.3 .6 1.1 5.7
Houston 23 6 18.3 .343 .271 .480 2.9 2.1 .7 .6 6.6
2017–18 New Orleans 3 0 4.0 .250 .000 .000 1.3 .0 .0 .0 .7
Career 894 772 32.4 .452 .285 .632 7.4 3.1 1.2 1.9 14.5

Playoffs

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Year Team GP GS MPG FG% 3P% FT% RPG APG SPG BPG PPG
2008 Atlanta 7 7 33.9 .398 .167 .841 6.4 2.9 1.7 2.9 15.7
2009 Atlanta 11 11 37.3 .421 .133 .732 7.5 2.2 1.1 1.5 17.1
2010 Atlanta 11 11 35.6 .481 .333 .659 9.0 2.6 1.2 1.7 14.1
2011 Atlanta 12 12 36.5 .404 .125 .597 8.5 2.9 1.1 2.1 15.1
2012 Atlanta 5 5 39.2 .386 .000 .762 13.6 4.8 .6 1.0 16.8
2013 Atlanta 6 6 33.2 .433 .250 .528 7.5 3.5 1.8 .5 17.0
2015 Houston 17 8 23.3 .438 .380 .432 5.6 2.7 .5 1.0 13.5
2016 Houston 4 0 9.5 .462 .500 .000 .5 1.0 .3 .3 4.0
Career 73 60 31.6 .426 .277 .627 7.4 2.8 1.0 1.5 14.6

NBA records

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Youngest player in NBA history to record:

  • 10 blocked shots in a game,Atlanta Hawks at Dallas Mavericks,December 18, 2004(19 years, 13 days)
  • 500 career blocked shots, Atlanta Hawks vs. New York Knicks,March 3, 2007(21 years, 88 days) (206 games)
  • 1,000 career blocked shots, Atlanta Hawks at Oklahoma City Thunder,February 2, 2010(24 years, 59 days) (423 games)
  • One of three playersinNBA historyto notch30 points, 17 rebounds, 7 assists, 4 steals and block 3 shots(Atlanta at Phoenix, February 15, 2012)
  • The other players areCharles Barkley(Philadelphia at Cleveland, January 23, 1990) andLeBron James(Cleveland vs. Charlotte, January 11, 2008).

Personal life

[edit]

Smith is one of five children born toPeteand Paulette Smith. His father was a professional basketball player during the 1970s and played in theAmerican Basketball Association(ABA).[46]His mother ran in the 2022 Republican primary forGeorgia's 6th congressional district.[47]He married Alexandria Lopez on July 31, 2010. The couple have three children (two sons and one daughter).[48]

See also

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References

[edit]
  1. ^"Atlanta Hawks' Josh Smith Has a New Nickname… [VIDEO]".straightfromthea.com.October 26, 2010.RetrievedNovember 17,2013.
  2. ^"Josh Smith/Randolph Morris Feature Story".NBA.com.November 4, 2008.RetrievedNovember 17,2013.
  3. ^Givony, Jonathan (May 29, 2004)."Interview: Josh Smith".DraftExpress.com.RetrievedMay 29,2004.
  4. ^ab"Oak Hill's Josh Smith jilts IU for NBA".USAToday.com.April 20, 2004. Archived fromthe originalon April 13, 2014.RetrievedApril 20,2004.
  5. ^"Joshua Smith – Yahoo! Sports".Yahoo.com.RetrievedNovember 17,2013.
  6. ^Paulen, David (April 1, 2004)."Top recruit all but says goodbye to IU basketball".IDSNews.com.Archived fromthe originalon April 13, 2014.RetrievedApril 1,2004.
  7. ^"NBA Draft history: 2004 Draft".NBA.com.February 27, 2013.RetrievedJanuary 22,2016.
  8. ^"Smith pays homage to Wilkins in victory".The Spokesman-Review.Denver.February 20, 2005.RetrievedMarch 20,2024.
  9. ^"JOSH SMITH WINS SPRITE RISING STARS SLAM DUNK TITLE".NBA.com.February 19, 2005.RetrievedJanuary 22,2016.
  10. ^"Marbury, Francis take control as Knicks knock down Hawks".ESPN. March 3, 2007.RetrievedMay 14,2013.
  11. ^"Bogut, Redd score 21 each; Milwaukee extends Atlanta's road woes".ESPN. November 17, 2007.RetrievedNovember 17,2013.
  12. ^"Celtics vs. Hawks - Game Recap - April 28, 2008 - ESPN".
  13. ^basketball-reference.com/playoffs/2008-nba-eastern-conference-first-round-hawks-vs-celtics.html
  14. ^"Josh Smith Signed to an Offer Sheet by the Memphis Grizzlies".bleacherreport.com.August 8, 2008.RetrievedMay 14,2013.
  15. ^"Hawks match Grizzlies' $58M offer sheet, retain Smith".ESPN. August 11, 2008.RetrievedMay 14,2013.
  16. ^Kent, Austin (August 17, 2008)."Never Send a Human to do a Machine's Job".TheGoodPoint.com.Archived fromthe originalon March 23, 2012.RetrievedAugust 17,2008.
  17. ^"Josh Smith - Youngest Player to 1000 Blocks".NBA.com.February 2, 2010.RetrievedFebruary 9,2012.
  18. ^"Hawks vs. 76ers - Game Recap - March 31, 2012 - ESPN".
  19. ^"2012 NBA Eastern Conference First Round Game 1: Celtics vs Hawks, April 29, 2012".
  20. ^"2012 NBA Eastern Conference First Round - Celtics vs. Hawks".
  21. ^"Detroit Pistons Sign Free Agent Forward Josh Smith".NBA.com.July 10, 2013.RetrievedJuly 10,2013.
  22. ^"Josh Smith inks $54M, 4-year deal".ESPN. July 11, 2013.RetrievedJuly 11,2013.
  23. ^"Portland Trail Blazers at Detroit Pistons Box Score, December 15, 2013".Basketball-Reference.com.RetrievedFebruary 8,2022.
  24. ^"Notebook: Mavericks 113, Pistons 102".NBA.com.February 22, 2014.RetrievedFebruary 22,2014.
  25. ^Brunskowski, Jason (October 30, 2014)."Pistons start 2014-15 with familiar loss".Detroit Bad Boys.RetrievedFebruary 8,2022.
  26. ^"Pistons waive forward Josh Smith".NBA.com.December 22, 2014. Archived fromthe originalon February 16, 2015.RetrievedDecember 22,2014.
  27. ^"Free Agent Josh Smith Joins Houston Rockets".NBA.com.December 26, 2014.RetrievedDecember 26,2014.
  28. ^"Rockets top Grizzlies in overtime in Smith's debut".NBA.com.December 27, 2014. Archived fromthe originalon December 26, 2014.RetrievedDecember 27,2014.
  29. ^Feigen, Jonathan (January 8, 2015)."Kevin McHale says recent role of Josh Smith related to 'getting him comfortable'".Chron.com.RetrievedJanuary 8,2015.
  30. ^"Josh Smith 2014-15 Game Log".Basketball-Reference.com.RetrievedOctober 28,2015.
  31. ^"LA CLIPPERS SIGN JOSH SMITH".NBA.com.July 16, 2015.RetrievedJuly 17,2015.
  32. ^"Josh Smith to play for Los Angeles Clippers".ESPN. July 17, 2015.RetrievedJuly 17,2015.
  33. ^"Griffin leads Clippers past Kings 111-104 in opener".NBA.com.October 28, 2015. Archived fromthe originalon October 29, 2015.RetrievedOctober 28,2015.
  34. ^"Rockets Acquire Forward Josh Smith".NBA.com.January 22, 2016.RetrievedJanuary 22,2016.
  35. ^"Smith's return helps Rockets to 102-98 win over Bucks".NBA.com.January 22, 2016. Archived fromthe originalon January 22, 2016.RetrievedJanuary 22,2016.
  36. ^"Harden's triple-double leads Rockets over Mavericks 115-104".NBA.com.January 24, 2016. Archived fromthe originalon December 26, 2018.RetrievedJanuary 24,2016.
  37. ^"Harden's 26 points lead Rockets over Heat 115-102".NBA.com.February 2, 2016. Archived fromthe originalon February 3, 2016.RetrievedFebruary 2,2016.
  38. ^"Josh Smith signs in China with Sichuan Whales".Sportando.com.November 8, 2016.RetrievedNovember 8,2016.
  39. ^"Josh Smith takes 18 three-point shots in a game in China because YOLO".HoopsHype.com.November 16, 2016.RetrievedFebruary 14,2017.
  40. ^"Josh Smith".cbadata.sports.sohu.com.RetrievedFebruary 14,2017.
  41. ^"Josh Smith joining Maccabi Haifa for exhibition games vs. Jazz, Pacers and Blazers".Sportando.com.September 28, 2017.RetrievedOctober 11,2017.
  42. ^"Pelicans Sign Josh Smith".NBA.com.October 28, 2017.RetrievedOctober 28,2017.
  43. ^"Pelicans waive Josh Smith".NBA.com.November 10, 2017.RetrievedNovember 10,2017.
  44. ^Orense, Ralph (March 14, 2019)."Josh Smith the latest to join the BIG3".clutchpoints.com.RetrievedJune 5,2019.
  45. ^Newport, Kyle (May 2, 2019)."BIG3 Basketball League 2019 Draft Results and Full Team Rosters".bleacherreport.com.RetrievedJune 5,2019.
  46. ^Abrams, Jonathan (May 6, 2015)."Josh Smith, From Deep".Grantland.RetrievedAugust 5,2020.
  47. ^Garbus, Rachel (May 2, 2022)."Ahead of the primary election, a crowded field of Republicans in Georgia's 6th District try to distinguish themselves".Atlanta Magazine.RetrievedSeptember 21,2023.
  48. ^"Josh Smith Stats, Video, Bio, Profile".NBA.com.Archived fromthe originalon February 6, 2016.
[edit]
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