Otis Smith (basketball) facts for kids
Smith at the Air Canada Centre in April 2008
|
|
| Personal information | |
|---|---|
| Born | January 30, 1964 Jacksonville, Florida, U.S. |
| High school | Nathan Bedford Forrest (Jacksonville, Florida) |
| Listed height | 6 ft 5 in (1.96 m) |
| Listed weight | 210 lb (95 kg) |
| Career information | |
| College | Jacksonville (1982–1986) |
| NBA Draft | 1986 / Round: 2 / Pick: 41st overall |
| Selected by the Denver Nuggets | |
| Pro career | 1986–1997 |
| Coaching career | 2014–present |
| Career history | |
| As player: | |
| 1986–1987 | Denver Nuggets |
| 1987–1989 | Golden State Warriors |
| 1989–1992 | Orlando Magic |
| 1996–1997 | Solna Vikings |
| As coach: | |
| 2014–2016 | Grand Rapids Drive |
| 2017–2018 | Detroit Pistons (assistant) |
| Career highlights and awards | |
|
|
| Career NBA statistics | |
| Points | 3,951 (10.5 ppg) |
| Rebounds | 1,416 (3.8 rpg) |
Otis Fitzgerald Smith, born on January 30, 1964, is a former professional basketball player from the United States. He played for six seasons in the National Basketball Association (NBA). Before joining the pros, he played college basketball for the Jacksonville Dolphins team. After his playing career, he became a coach and a leader for NBA teams.
Contents
Early Life and School
Otis Smith grew up in Jacksonville, Florida. He was a talented athlete at Forrest High School. He graduated from high school in 1982.
College Basketball Career
Smith played basketball at Jacksonville University from 1982 to 1986. He studied marketing and management during his time there. He became the only player in the school's history to score over 1,700 points and grab more than 900 rebounds. In 1986, he was named the Most Valuable Player (MVP) of the Sun Belt Conference men's basketball tournament. Jacksonville University honored him by retiring his jersey number in 2002.
Professional Playing Career
Starting in the NBA
The Denver Nuggets picked Otis Smith in the 1986 NBA draft. He was the 17th pick in the second round. He played for the Nuggets for about a season and a half. In the middle of the 1987-88 season, he was traded to the Golden State Warriors. He played the rest of that season and the 1988-89 season with the Warriors.
Slam Dunk Contests
Otis Smith was known for his exciting dunks. He competed in the NBA Slam Dunk Contest twice. In 1988, he finished in 4th place. He also took part in the 1991 contest, where he placed 7th.
Joining the Orlando Magic
On June 15, 1989, Otis Smith became a member of the Orlando Magic. He was one of 12 players chosen in the 1989 NBA Expansion Draft. This draft helped new teams get players. He was on the team for their very first game in the 1989-90 season. He played for the Magic until the 1991-92 season. In 1991, he had his best season with the Magic. He averaged 13.9 points and 5.2 rebounds per game.
Smith played in 375 NBA games. He averaged 10.5 points, 3.8 rebounds, and 1.8 assists per game. He retired from the NBA due to a knee injury after his sixth season.
Playing in Sweden
After taking a break from basketball for three years, Smith returned to play in 1996. He signed with the Solna Vikings in the Sweden Professional League. He was named the MVP of the Swedish League in 1997. After this success, he decided to retire from playing for good.
Life After Playing Basketball
Community Work and Management
After his playing career, Otis Smith stayed involved with basketball and his community. From 1996 to 1998, he was the Director of Community Relations for the Orlando Magic. He then worked for the Boys & Girls Club of Central Florida.
Missing basketball, he joined the Golden State Warriors Foundation in 1999. He was the executive director of Community Relations there until 2002. For the 2002–2003 season, he worked as the executive director of basketball operations for the Warriors.
Returning to the Orlando Magic
Smith returned to Florida and the Orlando Magic. He spent two years as the director of player development. Then, he was promoted to Co-General Manager for the 2005–2006 season. On May 3, 2006, he became the General Manager of the Orlando Magic. He was later named the Executive/President of the team.
He decided to step down from his role with the Orlando Magic on May 21, 2012. He chose to leave when his close friend and coach, Stan Van Gundy, was let go.
Coaching and Consulting Roles
Otis Smith later became the head coach of the Grand Rapids Drive. This team is part of the NBA Development League. He coached there for two years, from 2014 to 2016. He wanted to help players improve and reach their professional goals.
In 2016, Smith took on a dual role with the Detroit Pistons. He was both an assistant coach and the director of player development. In 2017, he was offered a vice president role with the Sacramento Kings. However, he turned it down to stay with his friend Stan Van Gundy in Detroit. After Van Gundy left the Pistons, Otis Smith joined the Houston Rockets as a management consultant.
Community Involvement
Otis Smith has always been dedicated to helping his community. Even in college, he worked with groups like Volunteers for Youth, Big Brothers Big Sisters, and the Boys and Girls Clubs of America.
In 1989, he started the Otis F. Smith Foundation. It was later renamed the Otis Smith Kids Foundation. This foundation began by offering free basketball clinics. It grew to include free summer day camps, tutoring, field trips, and health check-ups. Otis Smith also supported the Grand Rapids Community. He helped underprivileged children through organizations like Safe-Haven and Family Promise of Grand Rapids.
Awards and Recognitions
- In 1988, the Mayor of Jacksonville, Tommy Hazouri, gave him the key to the city.
- In June 1993, he received the FBI Directors Award for community service. Only 50 people in the U.S. received this award.
- He was an Official Torch Bearer for the 1996 Summer Olympics in Atlanta.
- He received the 1996 WTLV-TV 12 Who Care Council's Choice Award.
- On February 22, 2002, Jacksonville University gave him the Humanitarian of the Year award.
See also
In Spanish: Otis Smith para niños
