Michael Smith (basketball, born 1972)

{{Short description|American basketball player}}

{{About|the former National Basketball Association player who played for Providence College|other basketball players named Michael Smith|Michael Smith (disambiguation)}}

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

{{Infobox basketball biography

| name = Michael Smith

| image =

| width =

| caption =

| height_ft = 6

| height_in = 8

| weight_lb = 230

| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1972|03|28}}

| birth_place = Washington, D.C., U.S.

| death_date =

| death_place =

| high_school = Dunbar (Washington, D.C.)

| college = Providence (1991–1994)

| draft_year = 1994

| draft_round = 2

| draft_pick = 35

| draft_team = Sacramento Kings

| career_start = 1994

| career_end = 2004

| career_number = 34

| career_position = Power forward

| years1 = {{nbay|1994|start}}–{{nbay|1997|end}}

| team1 = Sacramento Kings

| years2 = {{nbay|1997|end}}–{{nbay|1998|end}}

| team2 = Vancouver Grizzlies

| years3 = {{nbay|1999|start}}–{{nbay|2000|end}}

| team3 = Washington Wizards

| years4 = 2001–2002

| team4 = Snaidero Udine

| years5 = 2002–2003

| team5 = Idaho Stampede

| years6 = 2003–2004

| team6 = Dakota Wizards

| highlights =

• 2× Second-team All-Big East (1993, 1994)
• Third-team All-Big East (1992)
• Third-team Parade All-American (1990)

| stats_league = NBA

| stat1label = Points

| stat1value = 2,527 (5.6 ppg)

| stat2label = Rebounds

| stat2value = 3,193 (7.1 rpg)

| stat3label = Assists

| stat3value = 661 (1.5 apg)

}}

Michael John Smith (born March 28, 1972) is an American former professional basketball player. Nicknamed "the Animal", he played in seven seasons from 1994–2001 in the National Basketball Association (NBA).

A 6'8" power forward from Providence College, Smith was selected by the Sacramento Kings in the second round of the 1994 NBA draft. He would play for the Kings, Vancouver Grizzlies, and Washington Wizards, tallying 2,527 NBA career points and 3,193 NBA career rebounds. He also played with the Indiana Pacers during the 2003 preseason.

On November 10, 1995, as a member of the Kings, Smith was involved in a physical altercation with Indiana Pacers forward Dale Davis. All bench players from both teams left their benches, and were automatically fined $2,500 and suspended for one game for leaving the bench. Smith and Davis were both fined $20,000 and suspended for two games.{{Cite web|url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1995-11-12-sp-2410-story.html|title = Archives|website = Los Angeles Times| date=12 November 1995 }}

During his time with the Washington Wizards, he was a teammate of an unrelated player named Mike Smith.