Elmore Smith facts for kids
Smith (left) and Wilt Chamberlain battle for a rebound, circa 1971
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| Personal information | |
|---|---|
| Born | May 9, 1949 Macon, Georgia, U.S. |
| High school | Ballard-Hudson (Macon, Georgia) |
| Listed height | 7 ft 0 in (2.13 m) |
| Listed weight | 250 lb (113 kg) |
| Career information | |
| College | Kentucky State (1968–1971) |
| NBA Draft | 1971 / Round: 1 / Pick: 3rd overall |
| Selected by the Buffalo Braves | |
| Pro career | 1971–1979 |
| Career history | |
| 1971–1973 | Buffalo Braves |
| 1973–1975 | Los Angeles Lakers |
| 1975–1977 | Milwaukee Bucks |
| 1977–1979 | Cleveland Cavaliers |
| Career highlights and awards | |
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| Career NBA statistics | |
| Points | 7,541 (13.4 ppg) |
| Rebounds | 5,962 (10.6 rpg) |
| Blocks | 1,183 (2.9 bpg) |
Elmore Smith (born May 9, 1949) is an American former professional basketball player. He was born in Macon, Georgia. Standing 7 feet tall, he played as a center in the National Basketball Association (NBA) from 1971 to 1979. Elmore Smith was known for his amazing shot-blocking skills, earning him the nickname "Elmore the Rejector." He played for the Buffalo Braves, Los Angeles Lakers, Milwaukee Bucks, and Cleveland Cavaliers. He even set an NBA record for the most blocks in a single game!
Contents
Early Life and Basketball Beginnings
Elmore Smith was born on May 9, 1949, in Macon, Georgia. He went to Ballard-Hudson High School in Macon. When he was a freshman in high school, he was 5 feet 11 inches tall. He didn't even make the basketball team because he didn't know how to play!
Over the next two years, Elmore grew a lot, reaching 7 feet tall. His principal actually told him he had to try out for basketball. Elmore also tried to join the military three times, but he was too tall.
Even after joining the team, he didn't play much at first. He had to learn how to dribble and shoot. He only got a few college scholarship offers just because he was tall and coordinated. He chose to go to Kentucky State University.
College Basketball Career
Elmore Smith quickly improved his basketball skills at Kentucky State University. He learned a lot from his coaches during practice. He became a key player for the Kentucky State team.
He helped his team win two championships in 1970 and 1971. These were the NAIA Championships. He was named an All-American player in both 1970 and 1971.
Elmore was an incredible rebounder in college. He is one of the best rebounders in college basketball history for his division. He grabbed 1,917 rebounds in his college career. This means he averaged 22.6 rebounds per game! In 1971, he set a record for the most rebounds in a single season with 799.
He averaged 21.3 points and 22.6 rebounds per game during his college career. He left college for the NBA in 1971, before his senior year. In 2017, he was inducted into the Small College Basketball Hall of Fame.
NBA Career Highlights
Elmore Smith was chosen by the Buffalo Braves (now the Los Angeles Clippers) in the first round of the 1971 NBA Draft. He was the 3rd player picked overall. He decided to sign with the Braves because he thought the NBA was the best league.
Playing for the Buffalo Braves
In his first season (1971-72), Elmore played as a center. He averaged 17.3 points and 15.2 rebounds per game. He was one of the best rookies that year and was named to the NBA All-Rookie Team. He was also among the top rebounders in the entire NBA.
He had some knee problems early in his career, which sometimes made it hard for him to play. After two seasons with the Braves, he was traded to the Los Angeles Lakers.
Time with the Los Angeles Lakers
Elmore joined the Los Angeles Lakers in 1973. He became the team's starting center. This was a big season for him because the NBA started officially recording blocked shots.
In the 1973–74 season, Elmore led the league in blocked shots. He averaged 4.9 blocks per game! He also set an amazing NBA record that still stands today: 17 blocks in a single game! This happened on October 28, 1973, against the Portland Trail Blazers.
He continued to be a strong player for the Lakers. In the 1974-75 season, he again led the league in total blocked shots.
Milwaukee Bucks and Cleveland Cavaliers
In 1975, Elmore Smith was part of a big trade. He was traded from the Lakers to the Milwaukee Bucks. He continued to play well, averaging 15.6 points, 11.6 rebounds, and 3.1 blocks per game in the 1975-76 season. He was again one of the top shot-blockers in the league.
In 1977, Elmore was traded to the Cleveland Cavaliers. He played as a backup center but still made a big impact. He was known for his strong defense and shot-blocking. He played for the Cavaliers until 1979.
His career ended due to a knee injury that required surgery. Even though his career was shorter than some, he made a lasting impression. In 2014, he was inducted into the Greater Cleveland Sports Hall of Fame.
Elmore's Legacy
Elmore Smith is best remembered for his incredible shot-blocking. His nickname, "Elmore the Rejector," perfectly describes his skill. His career average of 2.9 blocks per game is one of the best in NBA history. He led the league in total blocks twice. He also holds the NBA record for most blocks in a game with 17.
He was also a great rebounder. Throughout his career, he averaged a double-double, meaning he averaged double-digit points (13.4) and double-digit rebounds (10.6) per game.
Life After Basketball
After his basketball career, Elmore Smith stayed in the Cleveland area. He started a barbecue sauce business in 2006. His sauces are served at Elmore Smith's Smokehouse Restaurant in Cleveland's Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse. He is often seen at Cleveland Cavaliers games.
Honors and Awards
- Inducted into the Kentucky State Athletics Hall of Fame (2002)
- Inducted into the Georgia Hall of Fame (2008)
- Inducted into the Greater Cleveland Sports Hall of Fame (2014)
- Inducted into the Small College Basketball Hall of Fame (2017)
- Named to the NAIA’s 50th and 75th Anniversary teams (2012)
NBA Career Statistics
| Legend | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| GP | Games played | GS | Games started | MPG | Minutes per game |
| FG% | Field goal percentage | 3P% | 3-point field goal percentage | FT% | Free throw percentage |
| RPG | Rebounds per game | APG | Assists per game | SPG | Steals per game |
| BPG | Blocks per game | PPG | Points per game | Bold | Career high |
Regular Season Games
| Year | Team | GP | GS | MPG | FG% | 3P% | FT% | RPG | APG | SPG | BPG | PPG |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1971–72 | Buffalo | 78 | - | 40.8 | .454 | - | .534 | 15.2 | 1.4 | - | - | 17.3 |
| 1972–73 | Buffalo | 76 | - | 37.2 | .482 | - | .558 | 12.4 | 2.5 | - | - | 18.3 |
| 1973–74 | Los Angeles | 81 | - | 36.1 | .457 | - | .590 | 11.2 | 1.9 | 0.9 | 4.9* | 12.5 |
| 1974–75 | Los Angeles | 74 | - | 31.6 | .493 | - | .485 | 10.9 | 2.0 | 1.1 | 2.9 | 10.9 |
| 1975–76 | Milwaukee | 78 | - | 36.0 | .518 | - | .632 | 11.4 | 1.2 | 1.0 | 3.1 | 15.6 |
| 1976–77 | Milwaukee | 34 | - | 23.2 | .447 | - | .581 | 6.1 | 0.9 | 0.6 | 2.0 | 8.4 |
| 1976–77 | Cleveland | 36 | - | 18.8 | .504 | - | .519 | 6.4 | 0.4 | 0.4 | 2.1 | 8.7 |
| 1977–78 | Cleveland | 81 | - | 24.6 | .497 | - | .663 | 8.4 | 0.7 | 0.6 | 2.2 | 12.5 |
| 1978–79 | Cleveland | 24 | - | 13.8 | .531 | - | .692 | 4.4 | 0.5 | 0.3 | 0.7 | 6.5 |
| Career | 562 | - | 31.8 | .482 | - | .579 | 10.6 | 1.4 | 0.8 | 2.9 | 13.4 | |
Playoff Games
| Year | Team | GP | GS | MPG | FG% | 3P% | FT% | RPG | APG | SPG | BPG | PPG |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1973–74 | Los Angeles | 5 | - | 34.2 | .477 | - | .706 | 10.6 | 1.2 | 1.4 | 1.6 | 19.2 |
| 1975–76 | Milwaukee | 3 | - | 34.7 | .556 | - | .667 | 7.3 | 0.3 | 0.7 | 3.7 | 14.7 |
| 1976–77 | Cleveland | 3 | - | 18.7 | .545 | - | .625 | 8.0 | 0.3 | 1.7 | 1.0 | 13.7 |
| 1977–78 | Cleveland | 2 | - | 28.0 | .458 | - | .500 | 9.5 | 0.0 | 1.5 | 1.5 | 12.5 |
| Career | 13 | - | 29.8 | .500 | - | .654 | 9.1 | 0.6 | 1.3 | 1.9 | 15.8 | |
See also
In Spanish: Elmore Smith para niños
