Nick Horvath on the 2009 Dragons vs Tigers Championship and Becoming the Author of an Action Hero
April 11, 2025
Donta Smith
- Nationality: USA/VEN
- Date of Birth: 27/11/83
- Place of Birth: Louisville, Kentucky (USA)
- Position: G/F
- Height (CM): 201
- Weight (KG): 100
- Junior Assoc: None
- College: Southeastern Illinois (2002–2004)
- NBL DEBUT: 26/12/08
- AGE AT DEBUT: 25
- LAST NBL GAME: 13/03/09
- AGE AT LAST GAME: 25
- NBL History: South 2009
- Championships: 1
- South Dragons (2009)
BIO: Donta Smith was born in Louisville, Kentucky (USA) and played his high school basketball at Oldham County High School, in Buckner, Kentucky, where he was a standout forward on the high school team, and also a record-setting wide receiver on the football team.
NBL EXPERIENCE
Donta Smith made his NBL debut with the South Dragons at 25 years of age. He scored nine points in his first game.
The South Dragons were 16-4 when Donta Smith was axed from his Chinese team Shanxi Zhongyu to make room for NBA star Bonzi Wells. Brian Goorjian, the Dragon’s coach at the time, was aware of Smith from his time playing for the Atlanta Hawks and with current import Cortez Groves struggling to play due to injury, signing him mid-season was a no brainer.
Despite having 41 and 35 point games in China during his last weeks in China, Smith started his NBL campaign relatively slowly. Seven games in and Smith still was still coming off the bench and was yet to score over 14 in a game. His talent was never questioned however with his ability to fill the stat sheet in other areas ensured the Dragons finished the season on top of the ladder.
Once the playoffs began, and Goorjian increased Smith’s minutes we saw the brilliance of Smith’s play. A player who could impact the game at either end, the five-game NBL finals gave Smith the opportunity to showcase the skills which saw he make the NBA. With each Dragons victory, it seemed Smith was able to showcase another way he could help his team’s win in a unique style of play.
Dragons win game one – Smith delivers 19 points, 9 rebounds, and 5 assists while shooting 73% from the field.
Dragons win game three – Smith has a near triple-double with 18 points, 9 rebounds, 8 assists and 9 blocks while shooting 70% from the field.
Dragons win Game 5 – To deliver the final blow Smith filled the box score with 19 points, 10 rebounds, 7 assists, 2 steals and 1 block.
It was no surprise when Smith was named Finals MVP, averaging 18 points, 7 rebounds, 5 assists and 2 blocks across the five games.
In 2010/11 After axing import T.J.Campbell the Melbourne Tigers were looked at signing both Donta Smith and Corey Williams as replacements, ultimately going with Williams.
NBL TOTAL STATISTICS
| SEASON | AGE | TEAM | TEAM RECORD | GP | MINS | PTS | REB | AST | OR | DR | STL | BLK | TO | PF | FGM | FGA | FG% | 3PM | 3PA | 3P% | FTM | FTA | FT% | TS% | EFG% | HS |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2008-09 | 25 | South | 22-8 (1) | 18 | 487.0 | 270 | 94 | 64 | 20 | 74 | 20 | 18 | 45 | 38 | 93 | 178 | 52% | 14 | 45 | 31% | 70 | 100 | 70% | 60% | 56% | 25 | Totals | 18 | 487 | 270 | 94 | 64 | 20 | 74 | 20 | 18 | 45 | 38 | 93 | 178 | 52.2% | 14 | 45 | 31.1% | 70 | 100 | 70.0% | 61% | 56% | 25 |
NBL PER GAME STATISTICS
| SEASON | AGE | TEAM | TEAM RECORD | GP | MINS | PTS | REB | AST | OR | DR | STL | BLK | TO | PF | FGM | FGA | FG% | 3PM | 3PA | 3P% | FTM | FTA | FT% | TS% | EFG% | HS |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2008-09 | 25 | South | 22-8 (1) | 18 | 27.1 | 15.0 | 5.2 | 3.6 | 1.1 | 4.1 | 1.1 | 1.0 | 2.5 | 2.1 | 5.2 | 9.9 | 52% | 0.8 | 2.5 | 31% | 3.9 | 5.6 | 70% | 60% | 56% | 25 | Total | 18 | 27.1 | 15.0 | 5.2 | 3.6 | 1.1 | 4.1 | 1.1 | 1.0 | 2.5 | 2.1 | 5.2 | 9.9 | 52.2% | 0.0 | 0.0 | 31.1% | 0.8 | 2.5 | 70.0% | 61% | 56% | 25 |
CAREER HIGHS
| POINTS | REBOUNDS | ASSISTS | STEALS | BLOCKS | TURNOVERS | TRIPLE DOUBLES | 25 | 11 | 8 | 5 | 8 | 6 | 0 |
|---|
FIBA EXPERIENCE
In August 2013, Smith was naturalized as a Venezuelan, in order for him to be able to play with the Venezuelan national basketball team. He played with Venezuela at the 2013 FIBA Americas Championship.
NBA EXPERIENCE
Donta Smith was drafted by the Atlanta Hawks with pick #34 in the 2004 NBA Draft.
Smith was taken by the Atlanta Hawks in the second round of the 2004 NBA draft, after playing JUCO college basketball at Southeastern Illinois College, and he averaged 3.3 points per game for the Hawks during his two-season stint.
On December 2, 2005, the Hawks assigned Smith to their NBA Development League affiliate, the Arkansas RimRockers.
Smith played 61 games in the NBA. He averaged 2.7 points, 1.1 rebounds, and 0.8 assists per game over his NBA career.
NBA TRANSACTIONS:
- June 24, 2004: Drafted by the Atlanta Hawks in the 2nd round (34th pick) of the 2004 NBA Draft.
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November 20, 2005: Assigned to the Arkansas RimRockers of the G-League.
| Season | Team | PTS | AST | STL | BLK | FGM | FGA | FG% | 3PM | 3PA | 3P% |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 0 | 83% | 92% | 85% | 93% | ||||||
| 2 | 0 | 25 | 8 | 5 | 8 | ||||||
| Total | 93 | 178 | 52.2% | 14 | 45 | 31.1% |
NBA TOTAL STATISTICS
| YEAR | AGE | TEAM | POS | GP | GS | MINS | PTS | TRB | AST | ORB | DRB | STL | BLK | TOV | PF | FG | FGA | FG% | 3P | 3PA | 3P% | FT | FTA | FT% | TS% | EFG% |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2005-06 | 22 | Atlanta | SG | 23 | 0 | 127 | 38 | 14 | 9 | 3 | 11 | 8 | 0 | 4 | 20 | 15 | 27 | 56% | 2 | 4 | 50% | 6 | 12 | 50% | 59% | 59% |
| 2004-05 | 21 | Atlanta | SG | 38 | 0 | 433 | 127 | 52 | 39 | 19 | 33 | 23 | 5 | 25 | 50 | 44 | 113 | 39% | 6 | 22 | 27% | 33 | 48 | 69% | 47% | 42% | Total | 61 | 0 | 560 | 165 | 66 | 48 | 22 | 44 | 31 | 5 | 29 | 70 | 59 | 140 | 42% | 8 | 26 | 31% | 39 | 60 | 65% |
NBA PER GAME STATISTICS
| YEAR | AGE | TEAM | POS | GP | GS | MINS | PTS | TRB | AST | ORB | DRB | STL | BLK | TOV | PF | FG | FGA | FG% | 3P | 3PA | 3P% | FT | FTA | FT% | TS% | EFG% |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2005-06 | 22 | Atlanta | SG | 23 | 0 | 5.5 | 1.7 | 0.6 | 0.4 | 0.1 | 0.5 | 0.3 | 0.0 | 0.2 | 0.9 | 0.7 | 1.2 | 56% | 0.1 | 0.2 | 50% | 0.3 | 0.5 | 50% | 59% | 59% |
| 2004-05 | 21 | Atlanta | SG | 38 | 0 | 11.4 | 3.3 | 1.4 | 1.0 | 0.5 | 0.9 | 0.6 | 0.1 | 0.7 | 1.3 | 1.2 | 3.0 | 39% | 0.2 | 0.6 | 27% | 0.9 | 1.3 | 69% | 47% | 42% | Total | 61 | 0 | 9.2 | 2.7 | 1.1 | 0.8 | 0.4 | 0.7 | 0.5 | 0.1 | 0.5 | 1.1 | 1.0 | 2.3 | 42% | 0.1 | 0.4 | 31% | 0.6 | 1.0 | 65% |
INTERNATIONAL EXPERIENCE
- Bulgaria - Academic Sofia (2007–2008) | China - Shanxi Zhongyu (2008, 2009–2010), Liaoning (2010–2011) | France - Élan Béarnais Pau-Orthez (2018–2019), Levallois Metropolitans (2019–2020) | Israel - Maccabi Haifa (2012–2014, 2020–2021), Hapoel Jerusalem (2014–2016) | Italy - Brindisi (2017–2018) | México - Fuerza Regia (2011) | Puerto Rico - Gigantes de Carolina (2009), Vaqueros de Bayamón (2010), Indios de Mayagüez (2012), Piratas de Quebradillas (2016–2017), Santeros de Aguada (2017–2018), Cangrejeros de Santurce (2020–2021) | Venezuela - Marinos (2010, 2011), Espartanos de Margarita (2010), Bucaneros de La Guaira (2017), Trotamundos (2021–2026)
Name: Smith, Donta | college: Southeastern Illinois (2002–2004)| Additional Info: Smith played two seasons of junior college basketball at Southeastern Illinois College from 2002 to 2004, building his reputation quickly enough that he was later described as one of the top JUCO prospects in the country during his time there.
During the 2003–04 season at Southeastern Illinois College, NJCAA Division I leader listings credit Smith with 783 total points across 30 games, a 26.1 points-per-game average that placed him among the national scoring leaders at that level, while other contemporary reports from the same season described him as averaging around 25 points per game.
By the end of that 2003–04 JUCO campaign, Smith’s production had him in the national conversation for junior-college accolades, with Louisville-focused recruiting coverage later describing him as the junior college Player of the Year in 2004 while also stating he averaged 26 points and 8 rebounds that season at Southeastern Illinois College.
After two years of playing junior college basketball at Southeastern Illinois College, Smith was rated as one of the top JUCO prospects, and he committed to play NCAA Division I college basketball for Rick Pitino at the University of Louisville, with the Louisville Cardinals.
However, Smith backed out of the commitment, and entered the 2004 NBA Draft instead, with national reporting on May 7, 2004 noting that Louisville and Pitino were caught off guard by the decision, that Smith had planned on attending Louisville until early that week, and that he submitted his paperwork to make himself eligible for the draft while still having the option to withdraw because he had not hired an agent at that time.
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