Nick Smith Jr.

Last updated

Nick Smith Jr.
No. 20–Los Angeles Lakers
Position Point guard / shooting guard
League NBA
Personal information
Born (2004-04-18) April 18, 2004 (age 21)
Jacksonville, Arkansas, U.S.
Listed height6 ft 2 in (1.88 m)
Listed weight185 lb (84 kg)
Career information
High school
College Arkansas (2022–2023)
NBA draft 2023: 1st round, 27th overall pick
Drafted by Charlotte Hornets
Playing career2023–present
Career history
2023–2025 Charlotte Hornets
2023–2024 →Greensboro Swarm
2025–present Los Angeles Lakers
2025–present→South Bay Lakers
Career highlights
Stats at NBA.com  OOjs UI icon edit-ltr-progressive.svg
Stats at Basketball Reference   OOjs UI icon edit-ltr-progressive.svg

Nicholas Smith Jr. (born April 18, 2004) is an American professional basketball player for the Los Angeles Lakers of the National Basketball Association (NBA), on a two-way contract with the South Bay Lakers of the NBA G League. He attended North Little Rock High School in North Little Rock, Arkansas during his senior year of high school, where he was named the #1 overall recruit in the class of 2022.

Contents

High school career

Smith originally attended Sylvan Hills High School in Sherwood, Arkansas before transferring to North Little Rock High School in North Little Rock, Arkansas [1] prior to his senior year. [2] [3] He was the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette All-Arkansas Preps Boys Underclassman of the Year his sophomore year, and Player of the Year his junior and senior seasons. [4] [5] After leading North Little Rock High to a 26–3 record and the Arkansas Class 6A state championship, Smith was selected to play in the 2022 McDonald's All-American Boys Game and the Jordan Brand Classic. [6] [7]

Recruiting

Smith was a consensus five-star recruit and one of the top players in the 2022 class, according to major recruiting services. On September 29, 2021, he committed to head coach Eric Musselman and the Arkansas Razorbacks, over other finalists Alabama, Auburn and Arkansas–Pine Bluff. Smith also received offers from Oklahoma, Georgetown, Kansas, North Carolina, Baylor, Florida, Butler, Kentucky, Oklahoma State, Texas and Tennessee. [8] [9] Smith was a consensus top five recruit nationally and was named the #1 overall recruit in the 2022 class by 247Sports.

College recruiting information
NameHometownSchoolHeightWeightCommit date
Nick Smith
PG / SG 		Jacksonville, AR North Little Rock (AR)6 ft 5 in (1.96 m)185 lb (84 kg)Sep 29, 2021 
Recruit ratings: Rivals:  5 stars.svg     247Sports:  5 stars.svg     ESPN:  5 stars.svg    (94)
Overall recruit ranking:    Rivals: 2    247Sports: 1    ESPN: 3
  • Note: In many cases, Scout, Rivals, 247Sports, On3, and ESPN may conflict in their listings of height and weight.
  • In these cases, the average was taken. ESPN grades are on a 100-point scale.

Sources:

  • "Arkansas 2022 Basketball Commitments". Rivals. Retrieved May 13, 2022.
  • "2022 Arkansas Razorbacks Recruiting Class". ESPN. Retrieved May 13, 2022.
  • "2022 Team Ranking". Rivals. Retrieved May 13, 2022.

College career

Smith was projected to be a starting guard for the Arkansas Razorbacks for the 2022–23 season, though a persistent knee injury kept him sidelined for the majority of the season. Smith appeared in seventeen games, averaging 12.5 points per contest. [10] He returned late in the season, helping Arkansas advance to the Sweet 16 in the 2023 NCAA Division I men's basketball tournament. Arkansas defeated Illinois in the first round 73-63, and upset #1 seed Kansas in the second round, 72-71. Smith and the Hogs lost to eventual national champion Connecticut in the Sweet 16, 88-65. Arkansas finished the season 22-14.

Professional career

Charlotte Hornets

Smith was selected with the 27th pick of the 2023 NBA draft by the Charlotte Hornets [11] and on July 2, he signed with the team. [12] Throughout his rookie and sophomore seasons, he was assigned several times to the Greensboro Swarm. [13] [14]

Smith made 60 appearances (27 starts) for the Hornets during the 2024–25 NBA season, averaging 9.9 points, 2.1 rebounds, and 2.4 assists. Smith was waived by the Hornets on September 25, 2025. [15]

Los Angeles Lakers

On September 29, 2025, Smith signed a two-way contract with the Los Angeles Lakers. [16]

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

NBA

YearTeamGPGSMPGFG%3P%FT%RPGAPGSPGBPGPPG
2023–24 Charlotte 51014.3.391.432.8671.41.2.2.15.9
2024–25 Charlotte 602722.8.391.340.9352.12.4.3.19.9
Career1112718.9.391.369.9181.81.8.2.18.0

College

YearTeamGPGSMPGFG%3P%FT%RPGAPGSPGBPGPPG
2022–23 Arkansas 171425.8.376.338.7401.61.7.8.112.5

References

  1. ↑ Branham, Travis. "Nick Smith, North Little Rock, Combo Guard". 247Sports.com. Retrieved November 15, 2023.
  2. ↑ Taylor, Erick (July 22, 2021). "Smith transferring to North Little Rock". nwaonline.com. Retrieved November 15, 2023.
  3. ↑ Dawson, Dudley E. (March 4, 2020). "Arkansas signee Nick Smith begins title quest". wholehogsports.com. Retrieved November 15, 2023.
  4. ↑ Taylor, Erick (March 29, 2020). "BOYS UNDERCLASSMAN OF THE YEAR: Sophomore Nick Smith steps up right away". arkansasonline.com. Retrieved November 15, 2023.
  5. ↑ Taylor, Erick (March 27, 2022). "BOYS PLAYER OF THE YEAR: Nick Smith steps right in at NLR, sets path for team's state title". arkansasonline.com. Retrieved November 15, 2023.
  6. ↑ Taylor, Erick (March 30, 2022). "How 3 future Hogs played in McDonald's All-American Game". wholehogsports.com. Retrieved November 15, 2023.
  7. ↑ Davenport, Richard (March 16, 2022). "2 Razorback signees selected to play in Jordan Brand Classic". arkansasonline.com. Retrieved November 15, 2023.
  8. ↑ Borzello, Jeff and Biancardi, Paul (September 29, 2021). "Smith, No. 6-ranked recruit in '22, picks Arkansas". ESPN.com. Retrieved November 15, 2023.
  9. ↑ Cobb, David (September 30, 2021). "College basketball recruiting: Arkansas beats out Alabama for five-star class of 2022 guard Nick Smith Jr". CBSSports.com. Retrieved November 15, 2023.
  10. ↑ "Arkansas - Season Statistics". arkansasrazorbacks.com. Retrieved February 12, 2023.
  11. ↑ "Charlotte Hornets Add Four Players In 2023 NBA Draft". NBA.com. June 23, 2023. Retrieved December 23, 2024.
  12. ↑ Ramirez, Miguel (July 2, 2023). "Charlotte Hornets Sign Nick Smith Jr". NBA.com. Retrieved December 23, 2024.
  13. ↑ "2023-2024 Greensboro Swarm Transaction History". RealGM.com. Retrieved December 23, 2024.
  14. ↑ "2024-2025 Greensboro Swarm Transaction History". RealGM.com. Retrieved December 23, 2024.
  15. ↑ "Charlotte Hornets Waive Nick Smith Jr". NBA.com. September 25, 2025. Retrieved September 25, 2025.
  16. ↑ https://sports.yahoo.com/article/lakers-sign-21-old-former-165806995.html
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