Malachi Smith (basketball)

Last updated
Malachi Smith
No. 18–Memphis Hustle
Position Shooting guard
League NBA G League
Personal information
Born (1999-12-06) December 6, 1999 (age 25)
Evansville, Indiana, U.S.
Listed height6 ft 4 in (1.93 m)
Listed weight205 lb (93 kg)
Career information
High school
College
NBA draft 2023: undrafted
Playing career2023–present
Career history
2023–2024 Rip City Remix
2024 Wisconsin Herd
2024–present Memphis Hustle
Career highlights and awards
Stats at Basketball Reference   OOjs UI icon edit-ltr-progressive.svg

Malachi Knight-Smith (born December 6, 1999) is an American professional basketball player for the Memphis Hustle of the NBA G League. He played college basketball for the Wright State Raiders, Chattanooga Mocs, and Gonzaga Bulldogs.

Contents

High school career

Smith started playing high school basketball at Belleville High School-East in Belleville, Illinois before transferring to Belleville High School-West for his senior season. [1] At Belleville West, he averaged 15.5 points alongside E. J. Liddell and helped his team win its first Class 4A state title. [2] Smith committed to playing college basketball for Wright State in November 2017, choosing the Raiders over Lindenwood, Montana State and Denver. [3]

College career

As a freshman at Wright State, Smith averaged 5.4 points and 2.9 rebounds per game, earning Horizon League All-Freshman Team honors. For his sophomore season, he transferred to Chattanooga and sat out for one year due to transfer rules. [4] Smith averaged 16.8 points, 8.8 rebounds and 3.3 assists per game, earning First Team All-Southern Conference (SoCon) honors from the league's coaches, in his first year with the team. [5] He declared for the 2021 NBA draft before returning to college. [6] On November 18, 2021, he scored a career-high 36 points in an 87–76 loss to Murray State. [7]

At the close of his sophomore season, Smith was named the Southern Conference Player of the Year by both the league's coaches and media. [8]

Professional career

Rip City Remix (2023–2024)

After going undrafted in the 2023 NBA draft, Smith joined the Portland Trail Blazers for the 2023 NBA Summer League [9] and on October 2, 2023, he signed with them. [10] However, he was waived on October 10 [11] and on October 30, he joined the Rip City Remix of the NBA G League. [12]

Wisconsin Herd (2024)

On January 12, 2024, Smith was traded to the Wisconsin Herd for Jazian Gortman. [13]

Memphis Hustle (2024–present)

On October 9, 2024, Smith was traded to the Memphis Hustle. [14]

Career statistics

Legend
  GPGames played  GS Games started MPG Minutes per game
 FG%  Field goal percentage 3P%  3-point field goal percentage FT%  Free throw percentage
 RPG  Rebounds per game APG  Assists per game SPG  Steals per game
 BPG  Blocks per game PPG Points per game Bold Career high

College

YearTeamGPGSMPGFG%3P%FT%RPGAPGSPGBPGPPG
2018–19 Wright State 35015.1.435.222.8202.91.7.8.15.4
2019–20 Chattanooga Redshirt.svg Redshirt
2020–21 Chattanooga 252535.8.460.383.8028.83.31.5.216.8
2021–22 Chattanooga 353435.4.493.407.8276.73.01.7.119.9
2022–23 Gonzaga 37120.8.536.500.7923.61.4.9.08.7
Career1326026.0.485.410.8155.22.31.2.112.3

Personal life

Smith's mother, Connie, served in the United States Air Force for 12.5 years and is currently an ALT Administrator at Ascension. His parents divorced when he was six years old, and he was subsequently raised by his mother. Smith's grandfather, Larry Knight, played professional basketball and was a first-round draft pick by the Utah Jazz. [15]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Portland Trail Blazers draft history</span>

The Portland Trail Blazers are an American professional basketball team based in Portland, Oregon. They play in the Northwest Division of the Western Conference of the National Basketball Association (NBA). The franchise was founded in the 1970–71 NBA season. The team made their first draft pick in the 1970 NBA draft and have selected 283 players total. The franchise won its only NBA championship in 1977, when the team was led by their 1974 first overall pick, Bill Walton, as well as multiple other former draft picks who went on to have their numbers retired by Portland. Many of the players selected have gone on to have accomplished careers while playing for the team. Clyde Drexler and Damian Lillard hold multiple Blazer records and are first in many stats. Along with Walton and Drexler, two other draft picks, Dražen Petrović and Arvydas Sabonis, went on to be inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame after their playing careers ended, with Petrović being inducted posthumously.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Will Barton</span> American basketball player (born 1991)

William Norman Barton III is an American professional basketball player who last played for the Guangdong Southern Tigers of the Chinese Basketball Association (CBA). He played college basketball for Memphis, where he was named the Conference USA Men's Basketball Player of the Year in 2012. He was selected 40th overall in the 2012 NBA draft by the Portland Trail Blazers and played for the Idaho Stampede of the NBA G League before being traded to the Denver Nuggets in 2015, where he eventually became their franchise leader in three-pointers made.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ben McLemore</span> American basketball player (born 1993)

Ben Edward McLemore III is an American professional basketball player for Merkezefendi Belediyesi Denizli of the Basketbol Süper Ligi (BSL). He played college basketball for the Kansas Jayhawks, and was selected with the seventh overall pick in the 2013 NBA draft by the Sacramento Kings.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Rodney Hood</span> American basketball player (born 1992)

Rodney Michael Hood is an American former professional basketball player. He played college basketball for Mississippi State and Duke before declaring for the NBA Draft. Hood was drafted in 2014 by the Utah Jazz; and in 2018, he was dealt to the Cleveland Cavaliers. He was then traded to the Portland Trail Blazers in 2019. He was then traded to the Toronto Raptors in 2021. He signed with the Milwaukee Bucks as a free agent for the 2021–2022 season before being traded to the Los Angeles Clippers before the 2022 trade deadline.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Wayne Selden Jr.</span> American basketball player (born 1994)

Wayne Anthony Selden Jr. is an American professional basketball player who last played for the Chorale Roanne. He played college basketball for the Kansas Jayhawks.

Mark Tyndale is an American professional basketball coach and former player. He played college basketball for Temple.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2016 NBA draft</span> Basketball player selection

The 2016 NBA draft was held on June 23, 2016, at Barclays Center in Brooklyn. It was televised nationally in the U.S. by ESPN, and was live streamed for the first time in NBA draft history by The Vertical. National Basketball Association (NBA) teams took turns selecting amateur U.S. college basketball players and other eligible players, including international players. The draft lottery took place during the playoffs, on May 17, 2016. This was the first time since the lottery system was introduced in 1985 that all NBA teams that missed out on the playoffs remained in the exact spots they were designated, meaning the 10-win/72-loss Philadelphia 76ers received the No. 1 pick, the Los Angeles Lakers kept the No. 2 pick, the Boston Celtics via the Brooklyn Nets got the No. 3 pick, and everyone else stayed in their same spots based on the regular season standings from the 2015–16 season.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Wade Baldwin IV</span> American basketball player (born 1996)

Wade Manson Baldwin IV is an American professional basketball player for Fenerbahçe Beko of the Turkish Basketbol Süper Ligi (BSL) and the EuroLeague.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Dennis Smith Jr.</span> American basketball player (born 1997)

Dennis Cliff Smith Jr. is an American professional basketball player for the Wisconsin Herd of the NBA G League. He attended North Carolina State University for one season of college basketball and earned second-team all-conference honors in the Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC) as a freshman as well as ACC Freshman of the Year.

Chance Kyler Comanche is an American former professional basketball player. A 6 ft 10 in (2.08 m) tall power forward/center, he played college basketball for the Arizona Wildcats and played in one game for the Portland Trail Blazers of the National Basketball Association (NBA).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Kobi Simmons</span> American basketball player (born 1997)

Kobi Jordan Simmons is an American professional basketball player for the Zhejiang Golden Bulls of the Chinese Basketball Association (CBA). He played college basketball for the Arizona Wildcats.

Zhaire Jahi-ihme Smith is an American professional basketball player for the Cleveland Charge of the NBA G League. He played college basketball for Texas Tech before being drafted 16th overall by the Phoenix Suns and traded to the Philadelphia 76ers.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Trendon Watford</span> American basketball player (born 2000)

Trendon Nelson Watford is an American professional basketball player for the Brooklyn Nets of the National Basketball Association (NBA). He played college basketball for the LSU Tigers.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Loudon Love</span> American basketball player

Loudon Love is an American professional basketball player for the Mexico City Capitanes of the NBA G League. He played college basketball for the Wright State Raiders.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">David Johnson (basketball)</span> American basketball player (born 2001)

David Ricardo Johnson is an American professional basketball player for the Memphis Hustle of the NBA G League. He played college basketball for the Louisville Cardinals, and was drafted by the Toronto Raptors in the second round of the 2021 NBA draft.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Greg Brown III</span> American basketball player (born 2001)

Gregory James Brown III is an American professional basketball player for the Mexico City Capitanes of the NBA G League. He played college basketball for the Texas Longhorns.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Cameron McGriff</span> American basketball player

Cameron McGriff is an American professional basketball player for the Indiana Mad Ants of the NBA G League. He played college basketball for the Oklahoma State Cowboys.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2021 NBA draft</span> 75th edition of the draft

The 2021 NBA draft, the 75th edition of the National Basketball Association's annual draft, was held on July 29, 2021, at Barclays Center in Brooklyn, New York. The NBA draft returned to Brooklyn after the previous year's draft was held through videoconferencing at ESPN Studios in Bristol, Connecticut due to the COVID-19 pandemic. With the first overall pick, the Detroit Pistons selected Cade Cunningham. The NBA used a "ceremonial pick" for the late Terrence Clarke, between the 14th and 15th pick of the draft.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Matt Ryan (basketball)</span> American basketball player (born 1997)

Matthew Richard Ryan is an American professional basketball player for the New York Knicks of the National Basketball Association (NBA), on a two-way contract with the Westchester Knicks of the NBA G League. He played college basketball for Notre Dame, Vanderbilt and Chattanooga.

Adonis Arms is an American professional basketball player who last played for the Guangdong Southern Tigers of the Chinese Basketball Association (CBA). He played college basketball for the Mesa CC Thunderbirds, Northwest Nazarene Nighthawks, Winthrop Eagles and Texas Tech Red Raiders.

References

  1. ↑ Halfacre, Paul (February 24, 2018). "Smith has Belleville West ready for next step". St. Louis Post-Dispatch . Retrieved December 21, 2021.
  2. ↑ Scott Jr., Maurice (February 20, 2019). "Malachi Smith making his way at Wright State". The St. Louis American . Retrieved December 21, 2021.
  3. ↑ Eschman, Todd (November 7, 2017). "Belleville West guard doesn't wait for signing period to announce college choice". Belleville News-Democrat . Retrieved December 21, 2021.
  4. ↑ Criddle, Dean (June 19, 2019). "Belleville West graduate Malachi Smith transfers to Tennessee-Chattanooga". Belleville News-Democrat . Retrieved December 21, 2021.
  5. ↑ "Season Review: Smith Sets New Standard". University of Tennessee at Chattanooga Athletics. June 10, 2021. Retrieved December 21, 2021.
  6. ↑ Nyman, Rick (July 8, 2021). "Mocs Malachi Smith and David Jean Baptiste Enjoyed NBA Draft Process". WDEF-TV . Retrieved December 21, 2021.
  7. ↑ "Brown carries Murray State past Chattanooga 87-76". USA Today . Associated Press. December 18, 2021. Retrieved December 21, 2021.
  8. ↑ "All-SoCon men's basketball teams announced" (Press release). Southern Conference. March 2, 2022. Retrieved March 2, 2022.
  9. ↑ "Trail Blazers Announce NBA 2K24 NBA Summer League 2023 Roster". NBA.com. June 30, 2023. Retrieved October 4, 2023.
  10. ↑ "Trail Blazers Sign Five Players". NBA.com. October 2, 2023. Retrieved October 4, 2023.
  11. ↑ "Trail Blazers Sign George Conditt". NBA.com. October 10, 2023. Retrieved October 11, 2023.
  12. ↑ Holdahl, Casey [@CHold] (October 30, 2023). "The @ripcityremix begin training camp for their inagural [sic] season today at the @trailblazers practice facility. Here's who they're taking into camp..." (Tweet). Retrieved November 12, 2023– via Twitter.
  13. ↑ "WISCONSIN HERD ACQUIRE MALACHI SMITH". NBA.com. January 12, 2024. Retrieved January 16, 2024.
  14. ↑ "Memphis Hustle complete six-team trade". NBA.com. October 9, 2024. Retrieved October 9, 2024.
  15. ↑ Archdeacon, Tom (October 23, 2018). "Freshman guard hopes to live up to his name at Wright State". Dayton Daily News . Retrieved December 21, 2021.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.