Bobby Smith (basketball)

{{Short description|American basketball player and coach (1937–2020)}}

{{distinguish|Bingo Smith}}

{{Use mdy dates|date=July 2024}}

{{Infobox basketball biography

| name = Bobby Smith

| image =

| caption =

| height_ft = 6

| height_in = 4

| weight_lb = 190

| nationality = American

| birth_date = {{Birth date|mf=yes|1937|08|20}}

| birth_place = Charleston, West Virginia

| death_date = {{Death date and age|mf=yes|2020|10|24|1937|08|20}}

| death_place = Naples, Florida

| high_school = Stonewall Jackson
(Charleston, West Virginia)

| college = West Virginia (1956–1959)

| draft_year = 1959

| draft_round = 3

| draft_pick = 18

| draft_team = Minneapolis Lakers

| career_start =

| career_end =

| career_number = 24, 21

| career_position = Guard

| years1 = {{nbay|1959|full=y}},
{{nbay|1961|full=y}}

| team1 = Minneapolis / Los Angeles Lakers

| highlights =

}}

Robert Joseph Smith (born August 20, 1937 - October 24, 2020) was an American professional basketball player and coach.

A 6'4" guard from West Virginia University, Smith was drafted by the Minneapolis Lakers in the third round of the 1959 NBA draft and appeared in 13 games with the Lakers over two seasons. He scored 37 points in his career.{{cite web|url=https://www.basketball-reference.com/players/s/smithbo01.html|title=Bobby Smith NBA statistics|website=Basketball Reference|publisher=Sports Reference LLC|accessdate=24 December 2023}} Smith was head coach for the men's varsity basketball at George C. Marshall High School during the 1960s and 1970s. Smith returned to West Virginia University (WVU) to serve as assistant coach from 1978 to 1985. He was inducted into the WVU Sports Hall of Fame in 2009.[https://wvmetronews.com/2020/10/26/wvu-sports-hall-of-famer-bob-smith-passes-away Bobby Smith passing]