Joe Smith

Joe Smith

Position	Power forward
League	NBA
Height	ft  in ( m)
Weight	lb ( kg)
Team	Chicago Bulls
Nationality	USA
Born	July 26 1975 (1975--) (age 32) Norfolk, Virginia
High school	Maury High School
College	Maryland
Draft	1st overall, 1995 Golden State Warriors
Pro career	1995–present
Former teams	Golden State Warriors (1995–1998) Philadelphia 76ers (1998), (2006-2007) Minnesota Timberwolves (1999–2000), (2001–2003) Detroit Pistons (2000–2001) Milwaukee Bucks (2003–2006) Denver Nuggets (2006)
Awards	Naismith College Player of the Year (1995)

Joseph Leynard Smith (born July 26 1975, in Norfolk, Virginia) is an American professional basketball player for the Chicago Bulls in the NBA. His height is listed as 6'10".

Smith attended Maury High School and played at the University of Maryland. He was selected by the Golden State Warriors as the first overall pick of the 1995 NBA Draft. He was named to the NBA All-Rookie First Team in 1995-96 season.

Smith is a power forward. He has played for various teams in his career, including the Warriors, Philadelphia 76ers, Minnesota Timberwolves, Detroit Pistons, and the Milwaukee Bucks. His career averages are 12.6 points per game and 7.2 rebounds per game.

In 1998, Smith was involved in a salary cap-tampering scandal involving Timberwolves executive Kevin McHale. Smith was allegedly promised a future multimillion dollar deal if he signed with the team for below market value, allowing the team to make some additional player moves in the short term. The league later found out about this violation and voided the last year of the contract, also severely punishing the Timberwolves by taking away five first-round draft picks and fining the team $3.5 million.^[1] Smith became a free agent and signed with the Pistons, returning to Minnesota the following year.

On August 10, 2006, the Bucks traded Smith to the Denver Nuggets in exchange for Ruben Patterson.^[2] Smith was traded on December 19, 2006, as part of the package sent to the Philadelphia 76ers in exchange for Allen Iverson.^[3]

On January 15, 2007, Smith misplaced $100,000 worth of jewelry in his hotel room.^[4]

On July 13, 2007, Smith agreed to a 2-year deal with the Chicago Bulls.^[5]

Highlights

• Over his final 34 games played in 2006-07, averaged 10.6 points (46.6% FGs) and 7.5 rebounds after averaging 6.9 points (39.5% FGs) and 5.3 boards his first 20 games played with the Sixers.
• Over his final 13 games played in 2006-07, averaged 13.0 points and 9.5 rebounds.
• All eight of his double-doubles in 2006-07 were with the Sixers, six of which came over his final 22 games played (two in his first 43 games played).
• With Philly, scored 10+ points 27 times (16-11 mark) and grabbed 7+ boards 24 times (14-10 mark).
• Was named All-Rookie First Team in 1995-96 after being chosen first overall in the 1995 NBA Draft.
• In 1995, was named National Collegiate Player of the Year by the Atlanta Tip-Off Club (Naismith Award), the Associated Press (Adolph Rupp Award), United Press International, Basketball America and Eastern Basketball.
• Portrayed Connie Hawkins in the movie “Rebound.”

References

External links

• TheDraftReview.com - Smith's NBA Draft History Page
• NBA.com Profile - Joe Smith
• NBA Draft Busts - No. 4

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