Chris Smith (basketball, born 1987)

{{for|other basketball people|Chris Smith (disambiguation)#Basketball{{!}}Chris Smith § Basketball}}

{{Infobox basketball biography

| name = Chris Smith
'כריס סמית

| image =

| image_size =

| caption =

| position = Point guard / shooting guard

| height_ft = 6

| height_in = 2

| weight_lb = 205

| league =

| team = Free agent

| number =

| nationality = American / Israeli

| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|mf=yes|1987|10|13}}

| birth_place = Millstone Township, New Jersey, U.S.

| high_school = *{{nowrap|Lakewood (Lakewood, New Jersey)}}

{{nowrap|St. Benedict's (Newark, New Jersey)}}

| college = *Manhattan (2007–2009)

Louisville (2010–2012)

| draft_year = 2012

| career_start = 2012

| career_end =

| years1 = {{nbay|2013|start}}

| team1 = New York Knicks

| years2 = 2013

| team2 = →Erie BayHawks

| years3 = 2014

| team3 = Erie BayHawks

| years4 = 2015

| team4 = KB Peja

| years5 = {{nblcy|2015|end}}

| team5 = Saint John Mill Rats

| years6 = 2016

| team6 = Hapoel Galil Elyon

| years7 = 2017–2018

| team7 = Ironi Nahariya

| years8 = 2018

| team8 = Maccabi Kiryat Motzkin

| years9 = 2019–2020

| team9 = Hapoel Jerusalem

| years10 = 2020

| team10 = Hapoel Acre/Mateh Asher

| years11 = 2021–2023

| team11 = Maccabi Haifa

| highlights = *Israeli State Cup winner (2020)

}}

Chris Smith ({{Langx|he|'כריס סמית}}; born October 13, 1987) is an American-Israeli professional basketball player for Maccabi Haifa of the Israeli National League. He played college basketball for Manhattan and Louisville.

High school career

Smith averaged 18.8 points, 5.3 rebounds, 4.9 assists and 2.8 steals in his final prep season at St. Benedict's Prep. Chris was honored on the first team All-Freelance League team as a senior. Before playing at St. Benedict's, he played at Lakewood High School for three years, scoring over 1,300 career points. At Lakewood High School, he also played wide receiver and kicker for the football team.{{cite web|title=Chris Smith Profile|url=http://www.gocards.com/sports/m-baskbl/mtt/smith_chris00.html|work=gocards.com|accessdate=August 4, 2012|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://archive.today/20130208235154/http://www.gocards.com/sports/m-baskbl/mtt/smith_chris00.html|archive-date=February 8, 2013}}

College career

As a freshman and sophomore, Chris Smith played for the Manhattan Jaspers. He wore the number 2. During his freshman year (2007–2008), Smith averaged 9.9 points per game, 1 assists per game, and shot 40.4 percent from the field. Smith also shot 28.1 percent from three. The Jaspers went 12–19, that year. During his sophomore year (2008–2009), Smith averaged 13.4 ppg, 1.2 apg, shot 36.2% from the field, and 28.8% from three-point range. The Jaspers finished off the season over .500 at a 16–14 record. Smith transferred to Louisville to complete his college career.

After transferring from Manhattan, Smith played for the Louisville Cardinals during his junior and senior year in college. Smith wore number 5. During his junior year (2010–2011), Smith averaged 9.4 ppg, 2.5 apg, shot 45.8% from the field, and 40.4% from three-point range. This was an improvement in 3-point shooting from his lower class years at Manhattan. The Cardinals finished the season with a 25–10 record.{{cite web|title=Chris Smith – Louisville Cardinals – College Basketball – Rivals.com|url=https://sports.yahoo.com/ncaa/basketball/players/79445|work=Yahoo.com|accessdate=August 4, 2012}} As a senior, Smith averaged 9.7 points, 3.6 rebounds, and 1.9 assists.

Professional career

After going undrafted in the 2012 NBA draft, Smith joined the New York Knicks' Summer League team. He signed with the Knicks on August 1, 2012,{{cite web|url=http://knicksnow.com/videos/1640/knicks-sign-chris-smith|title=Knicks Sign Chris Smith|work=knicksnow.com|date=August 1, 2012|accessdate=April 22, 2013|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120804014843/http://knicksnow.com/videos/1640/knicks-sign-chris-smith|archive-date=August 4, 2012}} but was waived on October 26. He did not appear in any preseason games after undergoing left patella tendon surgery.{{Cite web |url=http://www.insidehoops.com/blog/?p=11296 |title=Knicks waive guard Chris Smith |access-date=2013-04-23 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304002208/http://www.insidehoops.com/blog/?p=11296 |archive-date=2016-03-04 |url-status=dead }} Smith re-joined the Knicks for the 2013 NBA Summer League[http://empirewritesback.com/2013/07/12/new-york-knicks-summer-league-preview/ New York Knicks Summer League Preview] and was later signed by the Knicks on September 11, 2013.[http://www.insidehoops.com/blog/?p=14235 Knicks sign Toure Murry and Chris Smith] On November 18, he was assigned to the Erie BayHawks of the NBA Development League.{{Cite web |url=http://www.insidehoops.com/blog/?p=14793 |title=Knicks assign Chris Smith to D-League |access-date=2013-11-19 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304053538/http://www.insidehoops.com/blog/?p=14793 |archive-date=2016-03-04 |url-status=dead }} On December 17, he was recalled by New York.{{Cite web |url=http://www.insidehoops.com/blog/?p=14933 |title=Knicks recall guard Chris Smith from D-League |access-date=2013-12-17 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160303234558/http://www.insidehoops.com/blog/?p=14933 |archive-date=2016-03-03 |url-status=dead }} After appearing in two games as a Knick, he was waived by the team on December 31.[http://knicksnow.com/posts/4764/knicks-sign-jeremy-tyler-waive-chris-smith Knicks Sign Jeremy Tyler, Waive Chris Smith] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140101162714/http://knicksnow.com/posts/4764/knicks-sign-jeremy-tyler-waive-chris-smith |date=January 1, 2014 }} After being waived by the Knicks, he was acquired by the BayHawks on January 7.[https://basketball.realgm.com/dleague/transactions/league/2014 2013-2014 G League Transactions] He was later released by the BayHawks on March 4.[http://www.oursportscentral.com/services/releases/?id=4746967 BayHawks Release Chris Smith]

On February 4, 2015, Smith signed with KB Peja of the Kosovo Basketball Superleague.{{Cite web |url=http://www.sportando.com/en/europe/other-leagues/151162/chris-smith-signs-in-kosovo-with-kb-peja.html |title=Chris Smith signs in Kosovo with KB Peja |access-date=2015-04-06 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150525064716/http://www.sportando.com/en/europe/other-leagues/151162/chris-smith-signs-in-kosovo-with-kb-peja.html |archive-date=2015-05-25 |url-status=dead }} The next month, he left Peja.{{Cite web |url=http://www.sportando.com/en/europe/other-leagues/154295/chris-smith-to-be-released-by-kb-peja.html |title=Chris Smith to be released by KB Peja |access-date=2015-04-06 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150412041812/http://www.sportando.com/en/europe/other-leagues/154295/chris-smith-to-be-released-by-kb-peja.html |archive-date=2015-04-12 |url-status=dead }}

In February 2016, Smith signed with the Saint John Mill Rats of the National Basketball League of Canada for the rest of the 2015–16 season.{{cite news|title=Mill Rats Add Ex-NY Knick Chris Smith|url=http://www.oursportscentral.com/services/releases/mill-rats-add-ex-ny-knick-chris-smith/n-5105007|accessdate=March 13, 2016|work=Oursportscentral.com|date=February 27, 2016}}

On October 6, 2016, Smith signed with Israeli club Hapoel Galil Elyon of the Liga Leumit.[http://www.sportando.com/en/europe/israel/213559/chris-smith-jr-s-brother-inks-with-galil-elyon.html Chris Smith, JR's brother, inks with Galil Elyon] However, he was waived on October 13, after appearing in only one game.{{cite web |url=http://www.sportando.com/en/europe/israel/214247/chris-smith-and-galil-elyon-parted-ways-he-made-dollars590-dollars.html |title=Chris Smith and Galil Elyon parted ways, he made $590 dollars |work=Sportando |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170416045315/http://www.sportando.com/en/europe/israel/214247/chris-smith-and-galil-elyon-parted-ways-he-made-dollars590-dollars.html |archive-date=2017-04-16}}[http://www.eurobasket.com/Israel/news/465892/Galil-Elion-cut-Smith Galil Elion cut Smith]

On December 15, 2017, Smith signed a three-year deal with Israeli club Ironi Nahariya.{{cite news|title=כריס סמית' חתם ל-3 שנים בעירוני נהריה|url=http://basket.co.il/news.asp?id=17350|work=basket.co.il|date=December 15, 2017|accessdate=December 15, 2017|language=he}} On January 18, 2018, Smith parted ways with Nahariya after appearing in two Israeli League games. One day later, he signed with Maccabi Kiryat Motzkin of the Israeli National League for the rest of the season.{{cite news|title=נשאר בארץ: כריס סמית' חתם בקריית מוצקין|url=http://www.one.co.il/Article/17-18/2,998,44,0/305832.html|work=ONE.co.il|date=January 19, 2018|accessdate=January 19, 2018|language=he}} On February 5, 2018, Smith parted ways with Kiryat Motzkin after appearing in one game.{{cite news|title=ברח: כריס סמית' נטש את קריית מוצקין במפתיע|url=http://www.one.co.il/Article/306952.html|work=ONE.co.il|date=February 5, 2018|accessdate=March 24, 2018|language=he}}

On December 23, 2019, Smith signed with Hapoel Jerusalem for the rest of the season.{{cite news|title=חיזוק לסגל: כריס סמית' חתם בהפועל ירושלים|url=https://www.one.co.il/Article/350159.html|date=December 23, 2019|work=ONE.co.il|accessdate=December 26, 2019|language=he}}

Personal life

Smith is son of Ida and Earl Smith, and has three brothers and two sisters. He is the younger brother of former NBA player J. R. Smith.[https://nypost.com/2015/01/06/j-r-smiths-brother-and-ex-knick-approves-of-trade-its-his-time-again/ J.R. Smith's brother (and ex-Knick) approves of trade: 'It's his time again']

In 2017, Smith converted to Judaism and became an Israeli citizen.{{cite news|title=אחיו של ג'יי אר סמית' קיבל ת.ז ויבחן בנהריה|url=http://www.one.co.il/Article/17-18/2,12,219,0/302591.html?ref=hp|work=one.co.il|date=November 29, 2017|accessdate=November 29, 2017|language=he}}

Career statistics

=NBA=

Source{{cite web|url=https://www.basketball-reference.com/players/s/smithch05.html|title=Chris Smith NBA stats|website=Basketball Reference|publisher=Sports Reference|accessdate=23 August 2023}}

==Regular season==

| style="text-align:left;"|{{nbay|2013}}

| style="text-align:left;"|New York

| 2 || 0 || 1.0 || – || – || – || .0 || .0 || .0 || .0 || .0

References

External links

{{Basketballstats |nba= 203147 |bbr= s/smithch05 }}
[http://basketball.usbasket.com/player/Chris_Smith/151953 Eurobasket.com profile]
[https://web.archive.org/web/20151229145049/http://www.fiba.com/pages/eng/fc/gamecent/p/pid/6076758/playerview.html FIBA.com profile]

Category:1987 births

Category:Living people

Category:20th-century African-American sportsmen

Category:21st-century African-American sportsmen

Category:African-American Jews

Category:American expatriate basketball people in Canada

Category:American expatriate basketball people in Israel

Category:American expatriate basketball people in Kosovo

Category:American men's basketball players

Category:Basketball players from Ocean County, New Jersey

Category:Converts to Judaism

Category:Erie BayHawks (2008–2017) players