Smush Parker

{{Infobox basketball biography

| name = Smush Parker

| image = Smush Parker 2007 (cropped).jpg

| image_size =

| caption = Parker with the Los Angeles Lakers in 2007

| height_ft = 6

| height_in = 4

| weight_lb = 190

| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1981|6|1}}

| birth_place = Brooklyn, New York, U.S.

| high_school = Newtown (Queens, New York)

| college = *{{nowrap|College of Southern Idaho (1999–2000)}}

Fordham (2001–2002)

| draft_year = 2002

| career_start = 2002

| career_end = 2018

| career_number = 17, 7, 1, 21

| career_position = Point guard / shooting guard

| years1 = {{nbay|2002|full=yes}}

| team1 = Cleveland Cavaliers

| years2 = 2003–2004

| team2 = Aris

| years3 = 2004

| team3 = Idaho Stampede

| years4 = {{nbay|2004|full=yes}}

| team4 = Detroit Pistons

| years5 = 2005

| team5 = Florida Flame

| years6 = {{nbay|2004|end}}

| team6 = Phoenix Suns

| years7 = 2005

| team7 = Florida Flame

| years8 = {{nbay|2005|start}}–{{nbay|2006|end}}

| team8 = Los Angeles Lakers

| years9 = {{nbay|2007|full=yes}}

| team9 = Miami Heat

| years10 = {{nbay|2007|end}}

| team10 = Los Angeles Clippers

| years11 = 2008

| team11 = Rio Grande Valley Vipers

| years12 = 2009–2010

| team12 = Guangdong Southern Tigers

| years13 = 2010–2011

| team13 = Spartak Saint Petersburg

| years14 = 2011

| team14 = Iraklis

| years15 = 2012

| team15 = Petrochimi Bandar Imam

| years16 = 2012

| team16 = Guaros de Lara

| years17 = 2012

| team17 = Indios SFM

| years18 = 2012–2013

| team18 = Cibona

| years19 = 2013

| team19 = Peristeri

| years20 = 2014

| team20 = Guaros de Lara

| years21 = 2015

| team21 = Mon-Altius Madimos Falcons

| years22 = 2015

| team22 = Étoile Sportive de Radès

| years23 = 2016

| team23 = Maghreb de Fes

| years24 = 2017–2018

| team24 = Albany Patroons

| highlights = * Greek Cup winner (2004)

Greek Cup Finals Top Scorer (2004)

| bbr = parkesm01

}}

William Henry "Smush" Parker III (born June 1, 1981) is an American former professional basketball player. He played in the National Basketball Association (NBA), the NBA G-League and several leagues overseas. Parker played shooting guard in college but moved to point guard in the NBA.

Early years

Parker was born in Brooklyn to parents William "Bill" Henry Parker II and Robin Royal Parker.{{cite web |last1=Caputo |first1=Matt |title=Smush Parker Still Stung by Feud with Kobe but Has Found Peace with His Past |url=https://bleacherreport.com/articles/2772046-smush-parker-still-stung-by-feud-with-kobe-but-has-found-peace-with-his-past |website=bleacherreport.com |accessdate=October 3, 2018 |date=April 24, 2018}} He attended Newtown High School in Elmhurst, Queens, where he was a star guard on their varsity basketball team.Hunt, Christopher (June 28, 2002). "[https://www.newspapers.com/image/408603570/ NBA Snub Stinger for Smush]". Daily News (New York, New York). p. 96. He then enrolled in the College of Southern Idaho as a freshman in the 1999–2000 season and transferred to play college basketball at Fordham University.{{cite web|title=Smush Parker bio |url = http://www.nba.com/playerfile/smush_parker/bio.html | publisher=NBA|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090308060739/http://www.nba.com/playerfile/smush_parker/bio.html|archive-date=March 8, 2009}} Following his sophomore season at Fordham University, he entered the NBA in 2002 but went undrafted.{{cite web|url=https://www.espn.com/nba/news/story?id=3290339 |title=Days after being cut by Heat, Parker signs with Clippers |publisher=ESPN |date=March 12, 2008 |access-date=October 17, 2012}} During his sophomore season, he was Second Team All A-10 and Second Team NABC All-Region.{{cite web|url=http://www.gojaspers.com/ViewArticle.dbml?DB_OEM_ID=12500&ATCLID=685289|title=Flores Named To NABC District 2 Second Team|publisher=GoJaspers.com|date=February 11, 2002|accessdate=December 27, 2011}}

Professional career

=Early career=

While Parker was not drafted out of college, the Cleveland Cavaliers signed him for the 2002–03 season.{{cite news|pages=D1|title=Cavaliers Sign Matt Barnes and Smush Parker to Contracts|date=September 25, 2002|work=NBA.com| url=http://www.nba.com/cavaliers/news/CAVALIERS_SIGN_MATT_BARNES_AND-53835-44.html}}

In 2003, Parker signed with Aris Thessaloniki of the Greek League (FIBA Europe) and helped the team win the 2004 Greek Basketball Cup in the final against Olympiacos. He returned to the NBA in 2004 and played for the Detroit Pistons and the Phoenix Suns.

=Los Angeles Lakers (2005-2007)=

He then signed a contract with the Los Angeles Lakers during the summer of 2005.

Not well-known entering the 2005 season, Parker gained recognition as the starting point guard for the Lakers under coach Phil Jackson. While many experts thought that either newly signed veteran Aaron McKie or Sasha Vujačić would start at point guard, Parker became the surprise starter in the Lakers' season opener against the Denver Nuggets{{cite web|url=https://www.basketball-reference.com/boxscores/200511020DEN.html|title=Los Angeles Lakers at Denver Nuggets Box Score November 2, 2005|publisher=Basketball-Reference.com|accessdate=December 27, 2011}} and went on to score at least 20 points in four of his first five games.{{cite web|url=https://www.basketball-reference.com/boxscores/200511030LAL.html|title=Phoenix Suns at Los Angeles Lakers Box Score, November 3, 2005|publisher=Basketball-Reference.com|accessdate=December 27, 2011}}{{cite web|url=https://www.basketball-reference.com/boxscores/200511080ATL.html|title=Atlanta Hawks at Los Angeles Lakers Box Score, November 8, 2005|publisher=Basketball-Reference.com|accessdate=December 27, 2011}} This impressed Jackson, and Parker found himself in the starting line-up for the Lakers. From 2005 until 2007, Parker started 162 straight games, averaging 11.5 points. During the last two games of the regular season and the playoffs (2006–2007), Parker lost his starting spot to rookie Jordan Farmar.

While with the Lakers, Parker clashed with Kobe Bryant. Bryant singled out Parker as a bad teammate, saying in 2012 that Parker "shouldn't have been in the NBA, but [the Lakers] were too cheap to pay for a point guard."{{cite news|url=https://www.latimes.com/sports/lakers/la-xpm-2012-oct-11-la-sp-ln-kobe-bryant-smush-parker-kwame-brown-jodie-meeks-20121011-story.html|title=Kobe Bryant riffs on Smush Parker, Kwame Brown, Jodie Meeks|newspaper=LA Times|date=October 11, 2012|first=Mark|last= Medina}} Parker would later detail how Bryant was a bad teammate, and after Bryant's death in 2020, confirmed that the two men had never reconciled their differences.

=Later NBA and overseas career=

On July 26, 2007, Parker signed with the Miami Heat.{{cite news|first=Barry|last=Jackson|pages=D1|title=Heat agrees to terms with guard Parker|date=July 27, 2008|publisher=Miami Herald| url=http://www.miamiherald.com/416/story/184682.html}} For the Heat, Parker wore jersey number 21.{{cite web |url=http://www.miamihoopsgear.com/miami/product.asp?s%5Fid=0&pf%5Fid=PACIADJPLIHCGLFC |title=of the Miami Heat at |publisher=Miamihoopsgear.com |accessdate=October 17, 2012 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070616084404/http://www.miamihoopsgear.com/miami/product.asp?s_id=0 |archive-date=June 16, 2007 }} His production dropped off dramatically while with the Heat, with averages of 4.8 points, 1.7 assists and 2.1 rebounds, compared to his 11.1 in 164 games with the Los Angeles Lakers. After a physical altercation that Parker had with a parking attendant in November 2007, the Miami Heat put him on paid leave to investigate the matter.{{Cite web|url=http://www.espn.com/espn/wire/_/section/nba/id/3135832|title=Smush Parker still not with Heat after altercation with parking attendant earlier this week|website=ESPN.com|access-date=2020-01-30}} On March 10, 2008, the Miami Heat officially waived Parker.{{cite web|url=http://usatoday30.usatoday.com/sports/basketball/2008-03-10-947480394_x.htm|title=Heat waives Smush Parker|work=USA Today|date=March 10, 2008|accessdate=April 15, 2016}} The Los Angeles Clippers then signed him for the rest of the season on March 12, 2008.

On July 10, 2008, the Los Angeles Clippers officially renounced their rights to Parker.{{cite web|url=http://usatoday30.usatoday.com/sports/basketball/2008-07-10-506430778_x.htm|title=Clippers renounce rights to Livingston|date=July 10, 2008|accessdate=April 15, 2016|work=USA Today}} In the 2008 offseason, Parker was signed by the Denver Nuggets but was released on October 23, 2008, as the Nuggets trimmed their roster to the league-allowed 15. He then played with the Rio Grande Valley Vipers of the NBA Development League.

Parker never played in the NBA after the 2007 - 2008 season with the Clippers and thus his final NBA game ever was played on April 16, 2008, in a 75 - 93 loss to the Houston Rockets. In his final game, Parker recorded 9 points, 2 rebounds and 2 assists.

On January 9, 2009, Parker officially signed with Guangdong Southern Tigers of the Chinese Basketball Association.

In September 2010, he signed a one-year contract with the Russian club Spartak Saint Petersburg.{{cite web|url=http://www.eurocupbasketball.com/ulebcup/home/news/i/75216/3735 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20120730160114/http://www.eurocupbasketball.com/ulebcup/home/news/i/75216/3735 |url-status=dead |archive-date=July 30, 2012 |title=Spartak pegs Parker at point guard |publisher=Eurocupbasketball.com |date=September 5, 2010 |accessdate=October 17, 2012}}

In January 2011, he returned to Greece and signed a contract with Iraklis Thessaloniki.{{cite web|url=http://www.sportando.net/eng/europe/greece/21283/iraklis_lands_smush_parker.html |title=Iraklis lands Smush Parker |publisher=Sportando.net |accessdate=October 17, 2012}}

In January 2012, Parker signed with Petrochimi Bandar Imam of the Iranian Basketball Super League.{{cite web|url=http://www.sportando.net/eng/world/asia/34174/iranian_team_petro_signs_smush_parker_and_joseph_forte.html |title=Iranian team Petro signs Smush Parker and Joseph Forte | Asia |publisher=Sportando |accessdate=October 17, 2012}} He later played in Venezuela,[http://www.latinbasket.com/player.asp?Cntry=VEN&PlayerID=46229 Smush Parker]. Latin-Basket then signed with the Indios de San Francisco de Macorís of the Dominican Republic.{{cite web |url=http://www.lnb.com.do/main/noticias/cocolos/1132-indios-contratan-ex-nba-smush-parker.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121001012223/http://www.lnb.com.do/main/noticias/cocolos/1132-indios-contratan-ex-nba-smush-parker.html |url-status=dead |archive-date=October 1, 2012 |title=Indios Contratan Ex Nba Smush Parker |publisher=Lnb.com.do |accessdate=October 17, 2012 }} In December 2012, Parker signed with Cibona Zagreb of the Adriatic Basketball Association.{{cite news|title=Cibona adds Smush Parker|url=https://www.eurobasket.com/Croatia/basketball.aspx?NewsID=299236|accessdate=March 27, 2014|newspaper=Eurobasket.com|date=December 10, 2012}} After only 5 games in Adriatic League, Parker was released.{{cite news|title=Smush Parker released by Cibona|url=http://www.court-side.com/news/blog/smush-parker-released-by-cibona/|accessdate=March 27, 2014|newspaper=court-side.com|date=January 16, 2013}}

In March 2013, he returned to Greece and signed a contract with Peristeri of the Greek League.

In January 2014, he signed with his former team Guaros de Lara.{{cite news|title=Smush Parker signs with Guaros de Lara|url=http://www.sportando.com/en/world/america/110133/smush-parker-signs-with-guaros-de-lara.html|accessdate=March 27, 2014|newspaper=Sportando.com|date=January 8, 2014}} He left the team that March.{{cite news|title=Guaros de Lara replace Smush Parker with Devin Green|url=http://www.sportando.com/en/world/america/115236/guaros-de-lara-replace-smush-parker-with-devin-green.html|accessdate=March 27, 2014|newspaper=Sportando.com}} In June, Parker played in The Basketball Tournament.{{cite web |url=http://www.thetournament.com/teams/big-apple-basketball |title=Big Apple Basketball | the Basketball Tournament |accessdate=June 9, 2014 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140714205146/http://www.thetournament.com/teams/big-apple-basketball |archive-date=July 14, 2014 }} His team reached the semi-finals,http://www.thetournament.com/bracket, {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140702125624/http://www.thetournament.com/bracket |date=July 2, 2014 }} and Parker's averages for the tournament were 16.2 points, 7.8 rebounds, 7.0 assists and 1.8 steals per game.{{Cite web|url=http://www.pointstreak.com/basketball/player.html?playerid=38483|title = Smush Parker - the Basketball Tournament - player}}

In February 2015, Parker signed with Mon-Altius Madimos Falcons of the Mongolian National Basketball Association (MNBA). He averaged 24 points, 7.0 rebounds, 6.5 assists and 4.1 steals per game.

On November 30, 2017, Parker signed with the Albany Patroons of the North American Premier Basketball.[http://news10.com/2017/11/30/albany-patroons-sign-first-three-players/ Albany Patroons sign first three players]

NBA career statistics

=Regular season=

| style="text-align:left;"| {{nbay|2002}}

| style="text-align:left;"| Cleveland

| 66 || 18 || 16.7 || .402 || .322 || .831 || 1.8 || 2.5 || .7 || .2 || 6.2

| style="text-align:left;"| {{nbay|2004}}

| style="text-align:left;"| Detroit

| 11 || 1 || 10.0 || .393 || .222 || .692 || .8 || 1.0 || .3 || .0 || 3.0

| style="text-align:left;"| {{nbay|2004}}

| style="text-align:left;"| Phoenix

| 5 || 0 || 6.8 || .467 || .250 || .000 || .6 || .8 || .4 || .0 || 3.0

| style="text-align:left;"| {{nbay|2005}}

| style="text-align:left;"| L.A. Lakers

| style="background:#cfecec;"| 82* || style="background:#cfecec;"| 82* || 33.8 || .447 || .366 || .694 || 3.3 || 3.7 || 1.7 ||.2 || 11.5

| style="text-align:left;"| {{nbay|2006}}

| style="text-align:left;"| L.A. Lakers

| style="background:#cfecec;"| 82* || 80 || 30.0 || .436 || .365 || .646 || 2.5 || 2.8 || 1.5 || .1 || 11.1

| style="text-align:left;"| {{nbay|2007}}

| style="text-align:left;"| Miami

| 9|| 0 || 20.3 || .315 || .250 || .750 || 2.1 || 1.7 || .6 || .3 || 4.8

| style="text-align:left;"| {{nbay|2007}}

| style="text-align:left;"| L.A. Clippers

| 19 || 2 || 21.5 || .362 || .222 || .667 || 1.7 || 3.6 || 1.0 || .2 || 6.4

|- class="sortbottom"

| style="text-align:center;" colspan="2"| Career

| 274 || 183 || 25.8 || .426 || .345 || .708 || 2.4 || 2.9 || 1.2 || .2 || 9.0

=Playoffs=

| style="text-align:left;"| 2006

| style="text-align:left;"| L.A. Lakers

| 7 || 7 || 36.9 || .333 || .154 || 1.000 || 3.0 || 1.6 || 2.1 || .1 || 8.9

| style="text-align:left;"| 2007

| style="text-align:left;"| L.A. Lakers

| 5 || 0 || 11.8 || .154 || .167 || 1.000 || 1.4 || .6 || .6 || .2 || 1.8

|- class="sortbottom"

| style="text-align:center;" colspan="2"| Career

| 12 || 7 || 26.4 || .306 || .156 || 1.000 || 2.3 || 1.2 || 1.5 || .2 || 5.9

Personal life

Parker earned his nickname "Smush" at birth from his mother. "Smush" was a term of endearment for his father, so he became Baby Smush at birth.Smush Parker on Podcast - Pablo Torre Finds Out 12/19/2023 Parker has one daughter from a previous relationship. Parker is currently married to Noelani Parker.

References

External links

[https://web.archive.org/web/20090308060739/http://www.nba.com/playerfile/smush_parker/bio.html Smush Parker bio on NBA.com]
[https://web.archive.org/web/20120116231830/http://www.nba.com/dleague/playerfile/smush_parker/index.html Smush Parker D-League profile]

Category:1981 births

Category:Living people

Category:American expatriate basketball people in China

Category:American expatriate basketball people in Croatia

Category:American expatriate basketball people in Greece

Category:American expatriate basketball people in Iran

Category:American expatriate basketball people in Russia

Category:American expatriate basketball people in Venezuela

Category:American men's basketball players

Category:Aris B.C. players

Category:BC Spartak Saint Petersburg players

Category:Cleveland Cavaliers players