Joe Smith (basketball)
Joseph Leynard Smith ( born July 26, 1975 in Norfolk, Virginia ) is a retired American professional basketball player who played 1995-2011 in the NBA. When NBA Draft 1995 Smith was the first overall pick.
NBA
After Smith had played two years for the University of Maryland and was named Naismith College Player of the Year, he signed up for the NBA Draft in 1995. He was drafted in the first place by the Golden State Warriors. Players who were pulled shortly after him, included the future All-Stars Antonio McDyess, Jerry Stackhouse, Rasheed Wallace and Kevin Garnett.
The athletic forward completed his first season with 15.3 points and 8.7 from rebounds per game. In awarding the NBA Rookie of the Year Award Smith landed behind Damon Stoudamire in second place. He was appointed to the NBA All - Rookie First Team. The following year, he improved his points total to 18.7 points per game. During the 1997-98 season he was traded from the Warriors to the Philadelphia 76ers. In Philadelphia his figures fell to an average of 10 points and 4.5 rebounds per game. After the lockout in 1999, he signed for less money a contract with the Minnesota Timberwolves. There, Smith and Kevin Garnett made a good team forward. His statistical values he improved to 13.7 points and 8.2 rebounds per game.
As it turned out later discovered, promised Wolves manager Kevin McHale Smith at a later time a new multi-million contract if Smith for a doped under market conditions contract signing. Thus, the management of the Wolves wanted to create more financial flexibility in the salary cap in order to commit more players. Because of this scandal, the Timberwolves were sentenced to a heavy fine. Also had the Wolves for the next five years no first-round draft law more. Joe Smith was fired after the scandal and signed a new contract with the Detroit Pistons. After a successful year with the Pistons Smith returned to the Wolves and remained until 2003 as a team.
In 2003, Smith joined the Milwaukee Bucks, where he scored over 10 points and 6 rebounds per game in season three. During the 2006-07 season he played for the Denver Nuggets before in exchange for Allen Iverson, he moved among others, Andre Miller back to the 76ers. After the season, he signed a contract with the Chicago Bulls.
This was followed by several inserts for different teams, where he filled the role of substitute players. After he moved from the Bulls to the Cleveland Cavaliers, followed by a trade to the Oklahoma City Thunder. The Thunder dismissed Smith and he signed two days later signed a contract with the Cavaliers. After the season, still followed by engagements with the Atlanta Hawks and New Jersey Nets before the Nets transferred him in 2010 to the Los Angeles Lakers. The Lakers Smith graduated from the remaining 12 games. He was then vertraglos and since then more committed by any team.
Others
Smith was also active as a musician and under the pseudonym Joe Beast released a rap album. In the movie Rebound: The Legend of Earl ' The Goat ' Manigault Smith plays basketball legend Connie Hawkins. Smith has played in his career for 12 of 30 NBA teams. In NBA history, there are only three other players who also played for 12 teams in their careers.