Ish Smith facts for kids

Quick facts for kids
Ish Smith

Smith with the Washington Wizards in 2020
Washington Wizards
Scout
Personal information
Born	(1988-07-05) July 5, 1988 (age 36) Charlotte, North Carolina, U.S.
High school	Central Cabarrus (Concord, North Carolina)
Listed height	6 ft 0 in (1.83 m)
Listed weight	175 lb (79 kg)
Career information
College	Wake Forest (2006–2010)
NBA Draft	2010 / Undrafted
Pro career	2010–2024
League	NBA
Career history
2010–2011	Houston Rockets
2011	→Rio Grande Valley Vipers
2011	Memphis Grizzlies
2011–2012	Golden State Warriors
2012–2013	Orlando Magic
2013	Milwaukee Bucks
2013–2014	Phoenix Suns
2014–2015	Oklahoma City Thunder
2015	Philadelphia 76ers
2015	New Orleans Pelicans
2015–2016	Philadelphia 76ers
2016–2019	Detroit Pistons
2019–2021	Washington Wizards
2021–2022	Charlotte Hornets
2022	Washington Wizards
2022–2023	Denver Nuggets
2023–2024	Charlotte Hornets
Career highlights and awards
NBA champion (2023) Second-team All-ACC (2010)
Career NBA statistics
Points	5,712 (7.1 ppg)
Rebounds	1,920 (2.4 rpg)
Assists	3,044 (3.8 apg)

Ishmael Larry "Ish" Smith (born July 5, 1988) is an American who used to play professional basketball. He was a point guard in the National Basketball Association (NBA). Ish Smith played for the most NBA teams ever, with 13 different teams! He even won an NBA championship with the Denver Nuggets in 2023. After his playing career, he became a scout for the Washington Wizards.

High School Basketball Days

Ish Smith went to Central Cabarrus High School and played basketball there. In his last year, he was amazing! He scored about 25 points and made almost 10 assists per game. His team had a perfect season, winning all 28 games.

He was named the best player in his conference in 2006. Experts thought he was one of the top point guards in the whole country.

College Basketball Journey

Ish Smith played college basketball for Wake Forest University. He was a fantastic passer, ending up second all-time in assists for his school. During his four years, he scored over 1,000 points and made over 600 assists. He is the only player in Wake Forest history to do both!

In his final year, he averaged 13.2 points and 6.0 assists per game. He was recognized as one of the best players in the Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC).

Playing in the NBA

Ish Smith played for many teams during his time in the NBA. He was known for his speed and passing skills. Let's look at some of his stops!

Starting with the Houston Rockets

After college, Ish Smith joined the Houston Rockets in 2010. He also spent some time playing for their minor league team, the Rio Grande Valley Vipers.

Moving to Memphis and Golden State

In 2011, Ish was traded to the Memphis Grizzlies. He played 15 games for them. Later that year, he joined the Golden State Warriors. He even started a game for them when Stephen Curry was injured!

Time with Orlando and Milwaukee

Ish then played for the Orlando Magic from 2012 to 2013. He later moved to the Milwaukee Bucks as part of a trade.

Playing for the Phoenix Suns

In 2013, Ish Smith was traded to the Phoenix Suns. He showed off his great passing skills there, making 8 assists in a game twice. He also scored a career-high 15 points in a game against the San Antonio Spurs.

Short Stints with Oklahoma City and Philadelphia

Ish signed with the Oklahoma City Thunder in 2014. He helped the team when many players were injured. In 2015, he joined the Philadelphia 76ers. He quickly became their starting point guard. His teammates really liked playing with him. He set new career highs with 19 points and 9 assists in one game. He even scored 23 points twice!

Back to New Orleans and Philadelphia

In late 2015, Ish signed with the New Orleans Pelicans. He had some great games there, including his first "double-double" with 17 points and 12 assists. He even made a career-high 13 assists in another game. Later that year, he was traded back to the Philadelphia 76ers. He continued to play well, scoring a career-high 28 points in a game.

Years with the Detroit Pistons

Smith with the Detroit Pistons in 2016

Ish Smith joined the Detroit Pistons in 2016. This was his tenth team in seven seasons! He was a key player for them, often coming off the bench to provide energy. He once had 15 assists in a game, which was a big deal for a player coming off the bench. He also scored 25 points in a game against the Miami Heat.

Joining the Washington Wizards

Ish Smith in October 2019

In 2019, Ish Smith signed with the Washington Wizards. This was his 11th NBA team! He played for them for two seasons.

Playing for His Hometown Team

In 2021, Ish Smith signed with the Charlotte Hornets, his hometown team! This made him one of only a few players to play for 12 different NBA teams.

Return to Washington and Denver

In 2022, Ish was traded back to the Washington Wizards. Later that year, he was traded to the Denver Nuggets. When he played his first game for the Nuggets, it marked his 13th NBA team. This set a new NBA record! The best part? Ish Smith and the Denver Nuggets won the NBA championship in 2023!

Final Stop in Charlotte

Ish Smith returned to the Charlotte Hornets in 2023 for his final season. He was waived by the team in February 2024.

Life After Playing Basketball

After a long and exciting career, Ish Smith retired from playing basketball on October 2, 2024. He didn't leave the sport completely, though! He became a professional scout for the Washington Wizards. This means he helps find new talent for the team.

Personal Life

Ish Smith is the son of Gwen and Larry Smith. He has three siblings. He is a very religious person and often reads the Bible. He even prays during the national anthem before games.

See also

In Spanish: Ish Smith para niños