Zhaire Smith facts for kids

Zhaire Jahi-ihme Smith (born June 4, 1999) is an American professional basketball player. He last played for the Cleveland Charge in the NBA G League. Zhaire played college basketball for Texas Tech. He was picked 16th in the 2018 NBA draft by the Phoenix Suns. Soon after, he was traded to the Philadelphia 76ers.

Zhaire Smith's High School Basketball Journey

Zhaire Smith went to Lakeview Centennial High School. His coach there was J. T. Locklear. In his final year, he scored about 20 points per game. He also grabbed 6.6 rebounds and made 3 assists per game.

Smith was named the MVP for his district. Coaches in the Dallas area also voted him the best dunker. After high school, Zhaire was a highly sought-after player. He chose to play for Texas Tech.

College Basketball Career at Texas Tech

In his first year at Texas Tech, Zhaire played very well. He averaged 11.3 points and 5 rebounds per game. He was recognized as an honorable mention for the Big-12 conference. He also made the conference's All-Defensive team.

Zhaire helped lead Texas Tech to the Elite Eight in the NCAA Tournament. This is a big achievement in college basketball. They lost to Villanova, who later won the championship. Zhaire scored a career-high 21 points in a game against Iowa State. He also had 8 rebounds, 3 steals, and 2 assists.

In another big game, he almost got a triple-double. He had 18 points, 9 rebounds, and 7 assists. This was during a win against Florida in the NCAA Tournament. He also made many exciting dunks. After this great season, he decided to enter the 2018 NBA draft.

Professional Basketball Career

Playing for the Philadelphia 76ers (2018–2020)

On June 21, 2018, Zhaire Smith was picked 16th in the NBA draft. The Phoenix Suns chose him first. But he was quickly traded to the Philadelphia 76ers. The 76ers also got a future draft pick in return. Zhaire officially signed with the 76ers on July 2.

The 76ers coach, Brett Brown, saw great potential in Zhaire. He compared him to famous player Kawhi Leonard. Coach Brown wanted to help Zhaire become a strong wing player. Zhaire chose to wear jersey number 2. He said it was because Kawhi Leonard was his favorite player.

Overcoming Challenges and Debut

In August 2018, Zhaire broke his foot during a summer camp. He needed surgery to fix it. A month later, he had another medical procedure. This was due to a serious allergic reaction. These health issues made his recovery more difficult.

Despite these challenges, Zhaire worked hard to get back on the court. He made his debut in the NBA G League on March 1, 2019. He played for the Delaware Blue Coats. He averaged 7.2 points and 3 rebounds in 11 games.

Zhaire made his NBA debut on March 25, 2019. He scored 3 points in his first game against the Orlando Magic. In his first NBA season, he played in 6 games. He averaged 6.7 points per game. He even started in two games. In his final game of the season, he scored 17 points. Zhaire also played in two games during the 2019 NBA Playoffs.

Second Season and Beyond

Because of his allergic reaction, Zhaire lost some weight. He also worked on improving his basketball shot. He started his second season with the Blue Coats. He kept working hard to improve his game.

On November 23, 2020, Zhaire was traded to the Detroit Pistons. However, he was waived by the Pistons a week later. He then signed briefly with the Memphis Grizzlies in December 2020. He was waived by them the next day. Zhaire was also on the roster for the Memphis Hustle in 2021.

Playing for the Cleveland Charge (2023–2025)

In July 2023, Zhaire joined the Oklahoma City Thunder for the NBA Summer League. On September 15, 2023, he signed with the Cleveland Cavaliers. He was waived by them in October. A week later, he joined the Cleveland Charge of the NBA G League.

On February 11, 2024, Zhaire signed a 10-day contract with the Cavaliers. But he did not play in any games for them. He returned to the Charge on February 23. Zhaire signed with the Cavaliers again on September 24, 2024. He was waived on October 19. On October 26, he rejoined the Cleveland Charge. He was waived by the Charge on January 10, 2025.

Career Statistics

NBA Regular Season

NBA Playoffs

College Statistics

Personal Life

Zhaire Smith has allergies to peanuts and sesame. His father, Billy, also played college basketball. He played for the Kansas State Wildcats. Billy was a coach for many sports. In 2013, his father had a serious injury that changed his life.

See also

In Spanish: Zhaire Smith para niños