Mark Worthington
July 23, 2020
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.
Donta Smith played one season in the NBL. He averaged 15 points, 5.2 rebounds, and 3.5 assists in 18 NBL games.
HIGHLIGHTS:
Dan Boyce is a die-hard Sydney Kings fan who grew up in Melbourne during the roaring 90's of Australian Basketball and spent far too much time collecting Futera NBL Basketball cards.
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 | 27.0 | 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% |
| 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% |
| 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% |
| 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% | 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% |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 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% |
| 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% | 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 (2007/08) | China - Shanxi Zhongyu (2008, 2009-2010), Lia Oning (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), Quebradillas (2017), Santeros de Aguada (2018) | USA (ABA) - Arkansas (2005–2006) | Venezuela - Marinos (2010, 2011), Espartanos de Margarita (2010), Bucaneros de La Guaira (2017)
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.
AWARDS
- 1x time NBL Finals MVP (2009) - Israeli Super League MVP (2014)
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2× Israeli Super League Quintet (2014, 2016)
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2× Israeli Super League champion (2013, 2015)
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BSN champion (2012)
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BSN Most Valuable Player (2012)
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BSN First Team (2012)
BSN Defensive First Team (2012)
BSN All-Star (2012)
LPB champion (2011)
LPB Grand Final MVP (2011)
NBL champion (2009)
NBL Grand Final MVP (2009)
First-team NJCAA All-American (2004)
Related
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