Pete Smith (basketball) explained

Pete Smith
Birth Place:Albany, Georgia, U.S.
Height Ft:6
Height In:6
Weight Lbs:205
College:Valdosta State (1968–1969)
Draft Year:1971
Draft Round:13
Draft Pick:197
Draft Team:Buffalo Braves
Career Start:1970
Career End:1976
Career Position:Power forward
Career Number:53
Years1:1970–1971
Team1:Hartford Capitols
Years2:1971–1972
Team2:Cherry Hill Demons
Years3:1972
Team3:San Diego Conquistadors
Years4:1974–1975
Team4:Allentown Jets
Years5:1975–1976
Team5:Wilkes-Barre Barons

Pete Smith (born 1947) is an American former professional basketball player.

Smith was born in Albany, Georgia, and grew up in the rural southern area of the state.[1] He joined the Cincinnati Bearcats to play college basketball but returned to Georgia without playing due to homesickness.[2] Smith instead played for the Valdosta State Blazers, where he was the first black athlete in the school's history. He led the team in points, and set school records for most field goals attempted and best rebound average during his only season with the Blazers.[3] [4] Smith was drafted by the Buffalo Braves as the 197th overall pick of the 1971 NBA draft.[5] He played five games in the American Basketball Association (ABA) as a member of the San Diego Conquistadors during the 1972–73 season. Smith spent time in training camp with the Atlanta Hawks of the National Basketball Association (NBA) but never played in an NBA game. He was one of the final cuts of the New York Nets of the ABA before the start of the 1975–76 season.

Smith played four seasons in the Eastern Basketball Association (EBA) with the Hartford Capitols, Cherry Hill Demons, Allentown Jets and Wilkes-Barre Barons.[6]

Smith worked as a truck driver in Atlanta after his retirement from basketball. His son, Josh Smith, played professionally in the NBA.

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Abrams . Jonathan . Josh Smith, From Deep . Grantland . August 5, 2020 . May 6, 2015.
  2. Web site: Atlanta's Grant Park: The NBA Summer League Before The NBA's Summer League . NBA . August 5, 2020 . December 15, 2015.
  3. Web site: Valdosta State College Basketball 1986–87 . Valdosta State College . August 5, 2020 . 1986.
  4. Web site: Pete Smith . The Draft Review . August 5, 2020.
  5. Web site: 1971 NBA draft choices. basketball-reference.com.
  6. Web site: Pete Smith minor league basketball statistics . Stats Crew . July 28, 2023.