Belus Smawley
Encyclopedia
Belus Van Smawley was an American
basketball
player.
A 6'1" guard/forward from Rutherford County, North Carolina
, Smawley was one of the first basketball players to regularly use the jump shot. Smawley developed his shot in an abandoned train depot near his home that was fashioned into a basketball court. Basketball historian John Christgau
has concluded that Smawley and Kenny Sailors of rural Wyoming
were using jump shots as early as 1934.
Smawley was an All-American basketball player at Appalachian State University
before becoming one of the early stars of the Basketball Association of America (which became the National Basketball Association
in 1949.) From 1946 to 1952, Smawley competed for the St. Louis Bombers
, Syracuse Nationals
, and Baltimore Bullets, averaging 12.7 points per game
. During the 1948–49 BAA season, Smawley ranked sixth in the league in total points and fourth in field goals
made.
After his playing career ended, Smawley served as a school principal and basketball coach. He was inducted into the North Carolina Sports Hall of Fame in 1992.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
basketball
Basketball
Basketball is a team sport in which two teams of five players try to score points by throwing or "shooting" a ball through the top of a basketball hoop while following a set of rules...
player.
A 6'1" guard/forward from Rutherford County, North Carolina
Rutherford County, North Carolina
-Demographics:As of the census of 2000, there were 62,899 people, 25,191 households, and 17,935 families residing in the county. The population density was 112 people per square mile . There were 29,535 housing units at an average density of 52 per square mile...
, Smawley was one of the first basketball players to regularly use the jump shot. Smawley developed his shot in an abandoned train depot near his home that was fashioned into a basketball court. Basketball historian John Christgau
John Christgau
John Frederick Christgau is an American author of fiction and non-fiction. He was born inPolk County, Minnesota, then moved to California, where he attended San Francisco State University. He taught at several high schools and coached the Crestmoor High School's first varsity basketball team, in...
has concluded that Smawley and Kenny Sailors of rural Wyoming
Wyoming
Wyoming is a state in the mountain region of the Western United States. The western two thirds of the state is covered mostly with the mountain ranges and rangelands in the foothills of the Eastern Rocky Mountains, while the eastern third of the state is high elevation prairie known as the High...
were using jump shots as early as 1934.
Smawley was an All-American basketball player at Appalachian State University
Appalachian State University
Appalachian State University is a comprehensive , public, coeducational university located in Boone, North Carolina, United States. Appalachian State, also referred to as Appalachian, App State, or simply App, is the sixth largest institution in the University of North Carolina system...
before becoming one of the early stars of the Basketball Association of America (which became the National Basketball Association
National Basketball Association
The National Basketball Association is the pre-eminent men's professional basketball league in North America. It consists of thirty franchised member clubs, of which twenty-nine are located in the United States and one in Canada...
in 1949.) From 1946 to 1952, Smawley competed for the St. Louis Bombers
St. Louis Bombers (NBA)
The St. Louis Bombers were a National Basketball Association team based in St. Louis, Missouri, founded in 1946. The team ceased operations in 1950.- Franchise history :...
, Syracuse Nationals
Syracuse Nationals
The Syracuse Nationals were an American professional basketball team that existed from 1946 to 1963 as part of the National Basketball League and National Basketball Association . They are currently known as the Philadelphia 76ers, and are the NBA's oldest continued franchise.The team began in...
, and Baltimore Bullets, averaging 12.7 points per game
Points per game
Points per game, often abbreviated PPG, is the average number of points scored by a player per game played in a sport, over the course of a series of games, a whole season, or a career. It is calculated by dividing the total number of points by number of games. The terminology is often used in...
. During the 1948–49 BAA season, Smawley ranked sixth in the league in total points and fourth in field goals
Field goal (basketball)
In basketball, the term field goal refers to a basket scored on any shot or tap other than a free throw, worth two or three points depending on the distance of the attempt from the basket. "Field Goal" is the official terminology used by the National Basketball Association in their rule book,...
made.
After his playing career ended, Smawley served as a school principal and basketball coach. He was inducted into the North Carolina Sports Hall of Fame in 1992.