Derek Smith (basketball)

Derek Smith
Derek Smith
Born	Derek Ervin Smith; Template:Birth date; Corinth, Georgia, U.S.
Died	August 9, 1996 (aged 34); Near Bermuda (onboard MS Dreamward)
Occupation(s)	Professional basketball player, assistant coach
Years active	1982–1991 (player), 1994–1996 (assistant coach)
Known for	NCAA champion (1980), NBA player for nine seasons

Derek Ervin Smith (November 1, 1961 – August 9, 1996) was a professional basketball player from the United States. He secured a national title with the Louisville Cardinals in 1980 and competed in the National Basketball Association (NBA) for nine seasons, though his career was curtailed by a knee injury. Later on, he worked as an assistant coach for the Washington Bullets from 1994 until his passing.

Early life

Raised in Corinth, Georgia, Derek Smith attended Hogansville High School, where he contributed to winning two state basketball titles despite not being prominently featured in college recruitment materials.

At age 15, he caught the attention of Louisville Cardinals assistant coach Bill Olsen, who recruited him following a recommendation from Kenny Robinson, a Louisville football player also originating from Hogansville.

College career

Smith enrolled at the University of Louisville between 1978 and 1982, beginning his collegiate journey at just 16 years old. He was a starting player on the 1980 University of Louisville Cardinals squad that clinched the NCAA championship, overcoming UCLA with a score of 59–54.

He is occasionally credited with helping to popularize the term "high five" during the 1979–80 basketball season.

Golden State Warriors (1982–1983)

In the 1982 NBA draft, Smith was chosen as the 35th overall pick by the Golden State Warriors. His rookie season saw limited action as a power forward, totaling just 154 minutes across 27 games. Following this period, he was released and became a free agent.

San Diego/Los Angeles Clippers (1983–1986)

Upon recommendation from Portland Trail Blazers GM Stu Inman, Smith tried out for the San Diego Clippers. After impressing head coach Jim Lynam, he secured a minimum salary contract for the 1983–84 season. He started as shooting guard for the final 20 games, averaging 17.3 points per contest.

The subsequent season (1984–85) marked significant progress, with Smith posting averages of 22.1 points and 5.3 rebounds per game. He earned three Player of the Week honors and was considered a potential participant in the 1985 NBA All-Star Game. His play drew commendation from Michael Jordan, who regarded him as one of the NBA’s most underrated players.

Smith began the next campaign by scoring an average of 27.1 points over nine games before sustaining a cartilage tear in his left knee. His season was curtailed to just 11 games and further hampered by an episode of mononucleosis.

Latter career years

Following increasing tensions with the Clippers organization, Smith signed a five-year contract offer with the Sacramento Kings. However, ongoing injuries and tendinitis in his left knee restricted his effectiveness. He represented the Kings from 1986 through 1989 before brief stints with the Philadelphia 76ers (1989–1990) and the Boston Celtics in 1991, during which his statistics declined. Although he appeared in only two regular-season games for the Celtics, Smith is notably remembered for his impactful performance in game 5 of the 1991 playoffs—contributing 12 points off the bench and delivering strong defensive efforts against Chuck Person. This performance, aided by a knee injection, earned accolades from teammate Larry Bird.

Death

In August 1996, Smith participated in a cruise aboard the Norwegian Cruise Line vessel MS Dreamward alongside family members and supporters holding season tickets for the Bullets. During the voyage, Smith and Bullets player Tim Legler conducted basketball clinics. On August 9, while near Bermuda, Smith experienced a severe heart attack during a farewell cocktail event. Despite medical personnel on board providing resuscitation efforts for 25 minutes, he was declared deceased. His interment took place at Cave Hill Cemetery in Louisville, Kentucky, with attendance from the Bullets organization and former teammates.

Family

Smith was married to Monica and fathered two children: a daughter named Sydney and a son, Nolan. Nolan played collegiate basketball for the Duke Blue Devils and was selected by the Portland Trail Blazers in the NBA draft. In 2010, Nolan achieved a National Championship with Duke, echoing his father's 1980 victory with the Louisville Cardinals. To pay tribute to his father, Nolan has a tattoo on his right arm. Continuing the family tradition, Nolan became part of Louisville’s coaching staff in April 2022, representing his father's alma mater.

External links

NBA & College stats