Difference between revisions of "Michael Smith"

Revision as of 17:01, 24 January 2022

Michael John Smith is a retired professional basketball player and television commentator. He was selected in the first round of the 1989 NBA draft by the Boston Celtics, 13th overall. He was waived by the Celtics on October 30, 1991. He was one of the oldest players in the draft at age 24, having taken off two years to serve a mission for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Argentina.

Smith then moved to Italy to play with Brescia in the Lega Basket. He then briefly signed with the Milwaukee Bucks for the 1992 season but was waived after 18 days on October 26. He then played for the CBA (Continental Basketball Association), first with the Capital Region Pontiacs and then the Oklahoma City Cavalry.

In the 1993–1994 seasons he played in Spain, first for Valencia Basket and then Estudiantes. He signed with the Los Angeles Clippers in February 1995 and played until September. The then joined the ACB club Gijøon Baloncesto for the 1996 season. After the season, he retired from professional basketball.

Smith was the color analyst for the Clippers on Prime Ticket/Fox Sports West until 2017. He then was a studio broadcast analyst on select games of the Utah Jazz.

Smith was born on May 19, 1965, in Rochester, New York. A three-sport Parade All-American in basketball, football, and volleyball out of Los Altos High School in California, Smith had the biggest programs nationally recruiting him. In his official visit to Brigham Young University, basketball star Devin Durrant hosted him, and the two formed a friendship that persuaded Smith to come to BYU.[1]

At BYU, he was a consensus second team all-American. He won the WAC Player of the Year in 1988 leading the team with 679 points and 248 rebounds. He finished his collegiate career as BYU's all-time leader in rebounds (922) and second to Danny Ainge in career points (2319).