Dru Smith (born December 30, 1997) is an American professional basketball player for the Miami Heat of the National Basketball Association (NBA), on a two-way contract with the Sioux Falls Skyforce of the NBA G League. He played college basketball for the Evansville Purple Aces and the Missouri Tigers.
![]() Smith with Missouri in 2020 | |
No. 12 – Miami Heat | |
---|---|
Position | Shooting guard |
League | NBA |
Personal information | |
Born | Evansville, Indiana, U.S. | December 30, 1997
Listed height | 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m) |
Listed weight | 203 lb (92 kg) |
Career information | |
High school | FJ Reitz (Evansville, Indiana) |
College |
|
NBA draft | 2021: undrafted |
Playing career | 2021–present |
Career history | |
2021–2023 | Sioux Falls Skyforce |
2022 | Miami Heat |
2023 | Brooklyn Nets |
2023 | →Long Island Nets |
2023–present | Miami Heat |
2024–present | →Sioux Falls Skyforce |
Career highlights and awards | |
Stats at NBA.com | |
Stats at Basketball-Reference.com | |
High school career
editSmith attended FJ Reitz High School in Evansville, Indiana. In his junior season he averaged 10.5 points, 5.4 rebounds and 4.5 assists per game as a starting point guard alongside Jaelan Sanford and Alex Stein. Smith helped his team achieve a 29–2 record and reach the Class 4A state title game.[1] As a senior, he averaged 20.8 points, 7.3 assists, seven rebounds and 4.1 steals per game, leading Reitz to a 22–5 record and the Class 4A regional finals. Smith was named to the Indiana All-Star team.[2] He committed to playing college basketball for Evansville over offers from Ball State, Northern Kentucky, South Alabama and Indiana State.[3] Smith was drawn to the school because it was close to home.[4]
College career
editEvansville
editOn February 22, 2017, Smith scored a freshman season-high 19 points for Evansville, making five three-pointers, in a 109–83 loss to Wichita State.[5] As a freshman, he averaged 5.3 points, 2.9 assists and 2.6 rebounds per game, earning Missouri Valley Conference (MVC) All-Freshman Team honors.[6] On December 5, 2017, Smith recorded a sophomore season-high 25 points, shooting 11-of-13 from the field, seven assists and four steals in a 91–76 win over Bowling Green.[7] As a sophomore, he averaged 13.7 points, 4.6 assists and two steals per game, leading the MVC with a 48.2 three-point field goal percentage.[8] He was named to the MVC Most Improved Team.[1]
Missouri
editAfter his sophomore season, Smith transferred to Missouri over offers from Xavier and Virginia Tech.[9] He sat out the following season due to National Collegiate Athletic Association transfer rules.[1] On November 12, 2019, he posted his first career double-double of 22 points and 10 rebounds in a 63–58 overtime loss to Xavier.[10] On February 15, 2020, he scored a junior season-high 28 points in an 85–73 victory over 11th-ranked Auburn.[11] As a junior, Smith averaged 12.7 points, 4.2 rebounds, 3.9 assists and 2.1 steals per game. He recorded 64 steals, which led the Southeastern Conference (SEC) and ranked sixth in program history.[12] As a senior, Smith averaged 14.3 points, 3.8 assists, 3.5 rebounds and 2.1 steals per game.[13]
Professional career
editMiami Heat / Sioux Falls Skyforce (2021–2023)
editAfter going undrafted in the 2021 NBA draft, Smith joined the Miami Heat for the 2021 NBA Summer League[14][15] and on September 10, he signed a contract with the Heat.[16] He was waived prior to the start of the season and joined the Sioux Falls Skyforce as an affiliate player.[17] On February 1, 2022, Smith was waived after being ruled out for the season with a knee injury.[18]
On October 13, 2022, Smith was signed to a two-way contract with the Miami Heat.[19] He was waived by the Heat on November 13, and subsequently re-joined the Skyforce.[20] On November 25, 2022, Smith was re-signed to a two-way contract with the Heat[21] and subsequently waived on December 11, and re-joined the Skyforce two days later.[22]
Brooklyn Nets (2023)
editOn January 13, 2023, Smith signed a two-way contract with the Brooklyn Nets.[23]
Return to Miami (2023–present)
editOn July 1, 2023, Smith signed a two-way contract with the Miami Heat[24] and on October 21, his deal was converted into a standard contract.[25]
On November 24, 2023, it was announced that Smith would miss the remainder of the 2023–24 NBA season due to an ACL injury sustained during a game against the Cleveland Cavaliers on November 22. The head coach of the Heat, Erik Spoelstra, blamed the court design at Rocket Mortgage Fieldhouse for the incident.[26] On March 6, 2024, he was waived by the Heat.[27]
On July 1, 2024, Smith signed a two-way contract with the Heat.[28]
Career statistics
editGP | Games 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
editYear | Team | GP | GS | MPG | FG% | 3P% | FT% | RPG | APG | SPG | BPG | PPG |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
2022–23 | Miami | 5 | 1 | 13.4 | .357 | .167 | — | 1.8 | 1.0 | .8 | .6 | 2.2 |
2022–23 | Brooklyn | 10 | 0 | 9.1 | .419 | .308 | 1.000 | 1.5 | 1.7 | .6 | .1 | 3.3 |
2023–24 | Miami | 9 | 0 | 14.5 | .455 | .412 | 1.000 | 1.6 | 1.6 | 1.0 | .3 | 4.3 |
Career | 24 | 1 | 12.1 | .423 | .333 | 1.000 | 1.6 | 1.5 | .8 | .3 | 3.5 |
College
editYear | Team | GP | GS | MPG | FG% | 3P% | FT% | RPG | APG | SPG | BPG | PPG |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
2016–17 | Evansville | 28 | 8 | 22.5 | .445 | .327 | .818 | 2.6 | 2.9 | .8 | .4 | 5.3 |
2017–18 | Evansville | 22 | 22 | 30.2 | .578 | .482 | .862 | 3.5 | 4.6 | 2.0 | .5 | 13.7 |
2018–19 | Missouri | Redshirt | ||||||||||
2019–20 | Missouri | 31 | 31 | 32.8 | .412 | .294 | .899 | 4.2 | 3.9 | 2.1 | .4 | 12.7 |
2020–21 | Missouri | 26 | 26 | 34.1 | .442 | .398 | .833 | 3.5 | 3.8 | 2.1 | .3 | 14.3 |
Career | 107 | 87 | 29.9 | .459 | .373 | .865 | 3.5 | 3.8 | 1.7 | .4 | 11.4 |
References
edit- ^ a b c Napier, Briar (February 13, 2020). "The "hidden jewel" of Evansville: Dru Smith thriving after leaving only home he ever knew". Columbia Missourian. Retrieved November 13, 2020.
- ^ Neddenriep, Kyle (April 5, 2020). "Build-A-Team: Putting together the best Evansville Reitz basketball team". The Indianapolis Star. Retrieved November 13, 2020.
- ^ Hickey, Pat (April 27, 2018). "Former Evansville guard Dru Smith commits to Missouri basketball". Evansville Courier & Press. Retrieved November 13, 2020.
- ^ Allar, Daniel (November 12, 2015). "Simmons: Reitz's Smith "a great fit" for UE". Evansville Courier & Press. Retrieved November 13, 2020.
- ^ "Dru Smith Has Career Game Against Wichita State". City-County Observer. February 22, 2017. Retrieved November 13, 2020.
- ^ Hickey, Pat (October 4, 2017). "Simmons: Dru Smith has made 'huge' gains after solid freshman season for UE basketball". Evansville Courier & Press. Retrieved November 13, 2020.
- ^ "Smith has career-high 25, Evansville beats Bowling Green". USA Today. Associated Press. December 5, 2017. Retrieved November 13, 2020.
- ^ Moore, CJ (July 2, 2019). "The path to a resurgent Missouri begins with Dru Smith". The Athletic. Retrieved November 14, 2020.
- ^ Schiffer, Alex (April 29, 2018). "Connection to Mizzou assistant helped land Evansville transfer Dru Smith". The Kansas City Star. Retrieved November 14, 2020.
- ^ "No. 21 Xavier rallies past Missouri 63-58 in overtime". ESPN. Associated Press. November 12, 2019. Retrieved November 14, 2020.
- ^ Walljasper, Joe (February 15, 2020). "Dru Smith, Pinson each score 28 points as Mizzou upsets No. 11 Auburn 85-73". Fox Sports. Associated Press. Retrieved November 14, 2020.
- ^ Hollins, Tyler (November 12, 2020). "Dru Smith named to preseason All-SEC second team". Lebanon Democrat. Archived from the original on November 16, 2020. Retrieved November 14, 2020.
- ^ "Heat's Dru Smith: Joins Heat's summer team". CBS Sports. July 30, 2021. Retrieved September 2, 2021.
- ^ Beguiristain, Joe (August 1, 2021). "2021 Miami HEAT Summer League Roster". NBA.com. Retrieved September 11, 2021.
- ^ Kristensen, Anthony (August 11, 2021). "Smith, Tilmon playing in NBA Summer League". Columbia Missourian. Retrieved September 2, 2021.
- ^ Moorhead, Couper (September 10, 2021). "HEAT SIGNS POTTER, SMART AND SMITH". NBA.com. Retrieved September 11, 2021.
- ^ Engelhardt, Gordon (October 19, 2021). "Reitz graduate Dru Smith waived by Miami Heat, appears headed to NBA G League". Evansville Courier & Press. Retrieved October 27, 2021.
- ^ "SKYFORCE ACQUIRES CHANDLER HUTCHISON". NBA.com. February 1, 2022. Retrieved February 1, 2022.
- ^ "HEAT CONVERT DRU SMITH TO TWO-WAY CONTRACT". NBA.com. October 13, 2022. Retrieved October 14, 2022.
- ^ "Heat Sign Orlando Robinson to Two-Way Contract". NBA. November 13, 2022. Retrieved November 14, 2022.
- ^ "HEAT SIGN DRU SMITH TO TWO-WAY CONTRACT". NBA.com. November 25, 2022. Retrieved November 25, 2022.
- ^ Miami HEAT [@MiamiHEAT] (December 11, 2022). "OFFICIAL: The Miami HEAT have signed Orlando Robinson to a two-way contract and have waived Dru Smith" (Tweet). Retrieved December 11, 2022 – via Twitter.
- ^ "Brooklyn Nets Sign Dru Smith". NBA.com. January 13, 2023. Retrieved January 14, 2023.
- ^ "HEAT SIGN DRU SMITH TO TWO-WAY CONTRACT". NBA.com. July 1, 2023. Retrieved July 1, 2023.
- ^ "HEAT SIGN DRU SMITH TO STANDARD CONTRACT". NBA.com. October 21, 2023. Retrieved October 21, 2023.
- ^ Richardson, Shandel (November 24, 2023). "Miami Heat's Dru Smith Out For Season Due To Knee Injury". Sports Illustrated. Retrieved November 29, 2023.
- ^ "HEAT SIGN PATTY MILLS". NBA.com. March 6, 2024. Retrieved March 7, 2024.
- ^ "HEAT SIGN DRU SMITH TO TWO-WAY CONTRACT". NBA.com. July 1, 2024. Retrieved July 1, 2024.
External links
edit- Career statistics and player information from NBA.com and Basketball-Reference.com
- Evansville Purple Aces bio
- Missouri Tigers bio