NBA.com: Michael Smith Bio

Michael Smith has earned notice in his first four pro seasons as a forward who is a solid rebounder and only attempts shots he can make. A second-round selection of the Sacramento Kings in 1994, Smith and fellow rookie forward Brian Grant brought energy and muscle to the Kings, helping them to 39 wins in 1994-95 and a playoff berth in 1995-96. Smith led the Kings in rebounding and field goal percentage in 1996-97, but was traded to the Vancouver Grizzlies in February, 1998. As a senior in 1989-90 at Dunbar High School in Washington, D.C., Smith earned McDonald's, Parade and Converse All-America honors. He attended Providence College and was a powerful rebounder in the Big East Conference, snaring 11.0 rebounds per contest in his three seasons (he sat out his freshman year), ranking second all-time in the conference in total rebounds and placing first in rebounding average in Big East play. Smith once outrebounded the entire Boston College squad, 18-17. In another game he pulled down 26 boards to establish the school's highest single-game total since Marvin Barnes in 1974. Smith's average of 11.5 boards per outing as a senior led the conference and ranked 11th nationwide. As a senior, Smith averaged 12.9 points per contest while shooting .605 from the field and was named to the All-Big East Second Team for the second straight season. The Kings went into the 1994 NBA Draft looking for rebounding help and came away with Smith and Grant, both of whom immediately strengthened the Kings' front line and improved the team's defense. As a rookie, Smith averaged 6.9 points and 5.9 rebounds in 21.2 minutes per game and shot .542 from the field. And he came back in his second season to average 5.5 ppg and 6.0 rpg in 21.3 mpg, shooting a team-high .605 from the field--a mark that would have led the NBA if he had made enough shots to qualify. Smith averaged a team-high 9.5 rebounds in 1996-97, ranking 14th in the NBA, and led the Kings by shooting .539 from the field. He also was second on the team with 1.01 steals per game. Injuries limited his playing time early in 1997-98, and on February 18, 1998 he was traded to Vancouver along with Bobby Hurley for veteran power forward Otis Thorpe and guard Chris Robinson. Smith started 29 of 30 games for the Grizzlies following the trade and led them in rebounding for the month of March, finishing the year at 5.2 ppg and 6.4 rpg with the two teams. After being traded to the Orlando Magic as part of a three-team, 11-player deal on August 27, 1999, Smith was waived by the Magic prior to the 1999-2000 season.

1999-2000 REGULAR SEASON
Placed on the injured list on 2/23 Scored 20 points in a 123-113 win over Indiana on 1/21 Posted 17 points and 6 assists in a 130-129 OT loss in Milwaukee on 1/8 Totaled 12 points and 14 rebounds in a 96-94 loss in Cleveland on 12/29 Tallied 10 points and 15 rebounds in a 99-89 win in San Antonio on 12/11 Snared 13 boards in an 85-78 win in New Jersey on 11/30 Registered 12 points and 10 rebounds in a 92-81 victory over Toronto on 11/18

1998-1999 REGULAR SEASON
Totaled 11 points and a team-high 14 against the Sacramento Kings on 5/5 Recorded 8 points and a game-high 12 rebounds against the Golden State Warriors on 4/18 Registered 10 points (3-4 FG) and a game-high 14 rebounds against the Sacramento Kings on 4/11 Posted 12 points and 11 rebounds against the San Antonio Spurs on 4/1 Totaled 10 points and 11 rebounds against the L.A. Lakers on 3/29 Recorded 6 points, a team-high 11 rebounds and 3 assists against the Seattle SuperSonics on 3/16 Grabbed a game-high 13 rebounds, adding 4 points and 4 assists, against the Boston Celtics on 2/17

1997-1998 REGULAR SEASON
Recorded 12 points (5-6 FG) and a career-high 18 rebounds in a 106-95 victory over the L.A. Clippers on 3/23 Posted 12 points and 11 rebounds against the New Jersey Nets on 2/24 Scored 14 points (4-6 FT, 6-7 FT), in his Grizzlies debut, against the Atlanta Hawks on 2/20 Traded by the Kings with Bobby Hurley to the Vancouver Grizzlies for Otis Thorpe and Chris Robinson on 2/18 On the injured list from 11/10 to 1/19 due to a fractured scaphoid bone in his right wrist Registered 12 points (6-7 FG), 12 rebounds and 3 assists against the Vancouver Grizzlies on 11/1

1996-1997 REGULAR SEASON
Smith became Sacramento's leading rebounder in 1996-97, ranking 14th in the NBA at 9.5 rpg. He also led the team by shooting .539 from the field, which would have ranked eighth in the NBA if he had enough field goals to qualify. He contributed 6.6 points, a career-high 2.4 assists, 1.01 steals (second on the team) and 0.74 blocks in 31.2 minutes per game, appearing in 81 games with 52 starts. Though he shot ,496 from the free throw line, it was the highest percentage of his three pro seasons. Smith led the Kings in rebounding a team-high 34 times and reached double figures 44 times, posting 12 double-doubles. He twice matched his career-high of 17 rebounds, in a 110-94 loss to Seattle on Nov. 11 and a 97-90 loss to New Jersey on Feb. 25. He scored a season-high 16 points in a 109-93 victory over Vancouver on April 8. He averaged 7.9 rpg in the first 19 games and 10.3 rpg the remainder of the season.

1995-1996 REGULAR SEASON
Smith averaged 5.5 points and 6.0 rebounds in his second pro season and shot .605 from the field, a figure that would have led the NBA if he had made enough shots to qualify. His rebounding average was the highest among players with no starts--he came off the bench in all 65 games in which he played. His field goal percentage was the third-highest in franchise history, but his free throw percentage of .384 was the lowest in franchise history. He scored in double figures 10 times, with a season-high 15 points twice--at Dallas on April 2 and at Seattle on April 10. He reached double figures in rebounding 10 times (the Kings went 9-1 in those games), tying his career-high with 13 against Golden State in the season finale on April 21. He sat out 10 games due to a shoulder injury, five because of an ankle sprain and two because of a suspension. The Kings were only 6-11 in those games.

1994-1995 REGULAR SEASON
A rookie forward selected in the second round, Michael Smith quickly found a place in the NBA in 1994-95. Known as "the Animal" for his beastly play, Smith provided size, strength, and rebounding in a reserve role. He turned out to be one of the more shrewd picks of the 1994 NBA Draft. He logged more minutes than any other 1994-95 second-round pick, and he played better basketball than about half of the first-round picks. Smith teamed with fellow rookie Brian Grant to energize the Sacramento Kings, who won 11 more games than they had the previous season. Were it not for the outstanding play of Grant, Smith might have won a starting job on the Kings' front line. As it was, he played in all 82 games, averaging 21.2 minutes, 6.9 points, and 5.9 rebounds-all highs among Sacramento bench players. His rebounding average and total rebounds ranked third on the squad behind Olden Polynice and Grant. Smith shot .542 from the field, the highest mark for the rookie class, but he didn't attempt enough shots to qualify for the league leaders. He registered highs of 18 points and 13 rebounds during the season. Smith was the first Kings rookie since Otis Thorpe in 1984-85 to play in all 82 games. Both Smith and Grant played in the Rookie Game at NBA All-Star Weekend in Phoenix.