STATIONS: KTLA / WB / FSN WEST 2 / KTLK AM 1150
Former Clipper Michael Smith begins his eighth season behind the microphone for the Clippers and his fourth partnering with Ralph Lawler on all Clippers broadcasts. Prior to his permanent move to the Clippers television broadcast team, Smith served as the Clippers radio play-by-play voice for four seasons. When his playing days ended in 1996, Smith began his broadcasting career as a color analyst working for KSL in Salt Lake City calling all of his alma maters televised basketball games at BYU.
Smith began his broadcast career just as his playing career came to a close. Chronically sore knees and a young familys duties led him to begin a new life after three seasons in the NBA and another four overseas in Europe. Originally drafted by the Celtics in 1989 as the 13th overall pick, Smith played in Boston for two seasons. He then played in Europe between 1991-1995, leading the Spanish League in scoring and free throw percentage for two different seasons. In 1995, Smith returned to the Clippers for one season. While this stint was brief, it allowed him the opportunity to return to the city where he had excelled in his early days. Smith attended Los Altos High School in Hacienda Heights, where he set CIF football records for yardage, attempts, completions, and the single-game record for TDs (8) as a quarterback on the way to the championship. That year he was chosen the National Male High School Athlete of the Year by the Dial Corporation. Smith was recruited by virtually every university in the country to play football, basketball and/or volleyball. He chose BYU and basketball. Accolades at the college level continued: he was an All-American his junior year and led the team to a 26-6 record, led the conference in scoring three times, was a two-time WAC Player of the Year, led the nation in free throw percentage his senior year, and was a three-time First Team Academic All American, majoring in Spanish with a minor in Communications.
Smith and his family reside in South Orange County.