Larry Smith (basketball, born 1958) facts for kids
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Smith with the Golden State Warriors during the 1987-88 season
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| Personal information | |
|---|---|
| Born | January 18, 1958 Rolling Fork, Mississippi, U.S. |
| High school | Simmons (Hollandale, Mississippi) |
| Listed height | 6 ft 8 in (2.03 m) |
| Listed weight | 215 lb (98 kg) |
| Career information | |
| College | Alcorn State (1976–1980) |
| NBA Draft | 1980 / Round: 2 / Pick: 24th overall |
| Selected by the Golden State Warriors | |
| Pro career | 1980–1993 |
| Coaching career | 1993–2011 |
| Career history | |
| As player: | |
| 1980–1989 | Golden State Warriors |
| 1989–1992 | Houston Rockets |
| 1992–1993 | San Antonio Spurs |
| As coach: | |
| 1993–2003 | Houston Rockets (assistant) |
| 2003–2004 | Atlanta Hawks (assistant) |
| 2004–2005 | Los Angeles Lakers (assistant) |
| 2005–2006 | Albuquerque Thunderbirds (assistant) |
| 2006–2007 | Anaheim Arsenal |
| 2007 | Austin Toros (assistant) |
| 2008 | Los Angeles Sparks (assistant) |
| 2008–2011 | Alcorn State |
| Career highlights and awards | |
As player
As assistant coach:
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| Career statistics | |
| Points | 5,904 (6.7 ppg) |
| Rebounds | 8,125 (9.2 rpg) |
| Assists | 941 (1.1 apg) |
Larry Smith, born on January 18, 1958, is an American who used to play professional basketball. He was a 6-foot-8-inch forward/center from Alcorn State University. Larry played for 13 seasons in the National Basketball Association (NBA) from 1980 to 1993. He played for the Golden State Warriors, Houston Rockets, and San Antonio Spurs.
Larry was known as "Mr. Mean" because he looked very serious and focused on the court, especially when grabbing rebounds. But off the court, he was a kind and quiet person. He was so popular that fans in Golden State and Houston even had fan clubs for him! They would wear hard hats and hold up signs that said "Larry's Local 13."
Contents
Larry Smith's Playing Career
Larry Smith was a fantastic player, especially known for his rebounding skills. Rebounding is when a player gets the ball after someone misses a shot. He was one of the best rebounders in the 1980s.
Early Achievements
In 1981, Larry was named to the NBA All-Rookie Team. This means he was one of the best new players in the league that year. He also led all college players in rebounding in 1980. Before joining the NBA, he was named the Southwestern Athletic Conference (SWAC) Player of the Year twice, in 1979 and 1980.
NBA Highlights
During his time in the NBA, Larry averaged 9.2 rebounds per game. This shows how good he was at getting the ball back for his team. He even holds an NBA record for getting 11 offensive rebounds in just one quarter! This happened in a game against the Denver Nuggets on March 23, 1986. He shares this record with another famous player, Charles Barkley.
Larry was a very important player for his teams. When Hakeem Olajuwon, a star player for the Houston Rockets, was injured, Larry stepped up and played a big role in helping the team.
Larry Smith's Coaching Career
After his playing career, Larry Smith became a basketball coach. He helped many teams, especially as an assistant coach.
Winning NBA Championships
From 1993 to 2002, Larry was an assistant coach for the Houston Rockets under head coach Rudy Tomjanovich. During this time, the Rockets won two NBA championships in a row! They won in the 1993-94 and 1994-95 seasons. This was a huge achievement for the team and for Larry as a coach.
Coaching Other Teams
After his time with the Rockets, Larry continued coaching. He was an assistant coach for the Atlanta Hawks in 2003. In 2004, he joined the Los Angeles Lakers as an assistant coach. He also coached in the NBA D-League (now called the G-League) for teams like the Albuquerque Thunderbirds and the Austin Toros. He even became the head coach for the Anaheim Arsenal.
In 2008, Larry became an assistant coach for the Los Angeles Sparks in the Women's National Basketball Association (WNBA).
Coaching at Alcorn State
On May 8, 2008, Larry Smith was announced as the head basketball coach for his old college, Alcorn State University. He coached there until 2011. After that, he took on a new role as the director of athletic development for the school.
See also
In Spanish: Larry Smith (baloncestista de 1958) para niños
- List of NBA single-game rebounding leaders
- List of NCAA Division I men's basketball season rebounding leaders
