Elmore Smith
Encyclopedia
Elmore Smith is a retired American
professional
basketball
player. A 7'0" center
from Kentucky State University
, he played in the National Basketball Association
from 1971 to 1979. He was a member of the Buffalo Braves
, Los Angeles Lakers
, Milwaukee Bucks
, and Cleveland Cavaliers
.
In his first season, Smith averaged 17.3 points per game and 15.2 rebounds per game and was named to the NBA All-Rookie Team
. His rebounding average for that season is the eighth-highest ever recorded by an NBA rookie.
Smith is best remembered for his shot-blocking, earning him the nickname "Elmore the Rejector". He led the league in total blocked shots twice (in 1974
and 1975
), and holds the NBA record for most blocked shots in a game since 1973, with 17. He achieved this mark against the Portland Trail Blazers
on October 28, 1973, while playing for the Lakers. Smith's average of 4.85 blocks per game from the 1973-74 season (the first season blocked shots were officially recorded in the NBA) is the third highest ever. He was also a skilled rebounder
, and he averaged a double-double (13.4 points, 10.6 rebounds) over the course of his career.
Smith was one of four players the Lakers traded to Milwaukee (along Brian Winters
and draft picks Junior Bridgeman
and Dave Meyers
) in exchange for Kareem Abdul-Jabbar
after the 1974-75 NBA season
. He holds the Clippers' franchise record for rebounds per game (13.8).
During Smith's first two seasons, blocks and steals were not an officially recorded statistic.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
professional
Professional sports
Professional sports, as opposed to amateur sports, are sports in which athletes receive payment for their performance. Professional athleticism has come to the fore through a combination of developments. Mass media and increased leisure have brought larger audiences, so that sports organizations...
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 7'0" center
Center (basketball)
The center, colloquially known as the five or the post, is one of the standard positions in a regulation basketball game. The center is normally the tallest player on the team, and often has a great deal of strength and body mass as well...
from Kentucky State University
Kentucky State University
Kentucky State University is a four-year institution of higher learning, located in Frankfort, Kentucky, United States, the Commonwealth's capital. The school is an historically black university, which desegregated in 1954...
, he played in 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...
from 1971 to 1979. He was a member of the Buffalo Braves
Los Angeles Clippers
The Los Angeles Clippers are a professional basketball team based in Los Angeles, California, United States. They play in the Pacific Division of the Western Conference of the National Basketball Association...
, Los Angeles Lakers
Los Angeles Lakers
The Los Angeles Lakers are an American professional basketball team based in Los Angeles, California. They play in the Pacific Division of the Western Conference in the National Basketball Association...
, Milwaukee Bucks
Milwaukee Bucks
The Milwaukee Bucks are a professional basketball team based in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, United States. They are part of the Central Division of the Eastern Conference in the National Basketball Association . The team was founded in 1968 as an expansion team, and currently plays at the Bradley Center....
, and Cleveland Cavaliers
Cleveland Cavaliers
The Cleveland Cavaliers are a professional basketball team based in Cleveland, Ohio. They began playing in the National Basketball Association in 1970 as an expansion team...
.
In his first season, Smith averaged 17.3 points per game and 15.2 rebounds per game and was named to the NBA All-Rookie Team
NBA All-Rookie Team
The NBA All-Rookie Team is an annual National Basketball Association honor given since the 1962–63 NBA season to the top rookies during the regular season. Voting is conducted by the NBA head coaches; who are not allowed to vote for players on their own team. The All-Rookie Team is generally...
. His rebounding average for that season is the eighth-highest ever recorded by an NBA rookie.
Smith is best remembered for his shot-blocking, earning him the nickname "Elmore the Rejector". He led the league in total blocked shots twice (in 1974
1973-74 NBA season
The 1973–74 NBA season was the 28th season of the National Basketball Association. The season ended with the Boston Celtics winning the NBA Championship, beating the Milwaukee Bucks 4 games to 3 in the NBA Finals.- Notable occurrences :...
and 1975
1974-75 NBA season
The 1974–75 NBA season was the 29th season of the National Basketball Association. The season ended with the Golden State Warriors winning the NBA Championship, sweeping the Washington Bullets 4 games to 0 in the NBA Finals.-Notable occurrences:...
), and holds the NBA record for most blocked shots in a game since 1973, with 17. He achieved this mark against the Portland Trail Blazers
Portland Trail Blazers
The Portland Trail Blazers, commonly known as the Blazers, are an American professional basketball team based in Portland, Oregon. They play in the Northwest Division of the Western Conference in the National Basketball Association . The Trail Blazers originally played their home games in the...
on October 28, 1973, while playing for the Lakers. Smith's average of 4.85 blocks per game from the 1973-74 season (the first season blocked shots were officially recorded in the NBA) is the third highest ever. He was also a skilled rebounder
Rebound (basketball)
A rebound in basketball is the act of successfully gaining possession of the basketball after a missed field goal or free throw. Rebounds in basketball are a routine part in the game, as all possessions change after a shot is successfully made...
, and he averaged a double-double (13.4 points, 10.6 rebounds) over the course of his career.
Smith was one of four players the Lakers traded to Milwaukee (along Brian Winters
Brian Winters
Brian Joseph Winters is a former NBA guard/forward, coach and former WNBA head coach. He attended academic and athletic powerhouse Archbishop Molloy High School in Queens, NY, graduating in 1970. He then played collegiately with the University of South Carolina and was the 12th pick in the 1974...
and draft picks Junior Bridgeman
Junior Bridgeman
Ulysses Lee "Junior" Bridgeman is a retired American basketball player.Born in East Chicago, Indiana, Bridgeman was a member of the 1971 East Chicago Washington High School Senators basketball team, which went undefeated and won the Indiana state high school basketball championship...
and Dave Meyers
David Meyers (basketball)
David William Meyers is a retired American college basketball forward/center at the University of California, Los Angeles and professional basketball player in the National Basketball Association for the Milwaukee Bucks...
) in exchange for Kareem Abdul-Jabbar
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar is a retired American professional basketball player. He is the NBA's all-time leading scorer, with 38,387 points. During his career with the NBA's Milwaukee Bucks and Los Angeles Lakers from 1969 to 1989, Abdul-Jabbar won six NBA championships and a record six regular season...
after the 1974-75 NBA season
1974-75 NBA season
The 1974–75 NBA season was the 29th season of the National Basketball Association. The season ended with the Golden State Warriors winning the NBA Championship, sweeping the Washington Bullets 4 games to 0 in the NBA Finals.-Notable occurrences:...
. He holds the Clippers' franchise record for rebounds per game (13.8).
Statistics
| SEASON | TEAM | GP | MPG | SPG | BPG | RPG | APG | PPG |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| '71-72 | BUF | 78 | 40.8 | 15.2 | 1.4 | 17.3 | ||
| '72-73 | BUF | 76 | 37.2 | 12.4 | 2.5 | 18.3 | ||
| '73-74 | LAL | 81 | 36.1 | 0.9 | 4.9 | 11.2 | 1.9 | 12.5 |
| '74-75 | LAL | 74 | 31.6 | 1.1 | 2.9 | 10.9 | 2.0 | 10.9 |
| '75-76 | MIL | 78 | 36.0 | 1.0 | 3.1 | 11.4 | 1.2 | 15.6 |
| '76-77 | CLE | 70 | 20.9 | 0.5 | 2.1 | 6.3 | 0.6 | 8.6 |
| '77-78 | CLE | 81 | 24.6 | 0.6 | 2.2 | 8.4 | 0.7 | 12.5 |
| '78-79 | CLE | 24 | 13.8 | 0.3 | 0.7 | 4.4 | 0.5 | 6.5 |
During Smith's first two seasons, blocks and steals were not an officially recorded statistic.