Mike Smith (basketball commentator)
Encyclopedia
Michael John Smith is a retired American
basketball
player. As a professional player in the 1990s, he spent two and a half seasons in the NBA, two and a half in the Liga ACB and one in LEGA Basket.
After attending Los Altos High School
in Hacienda Heights, California
, Smith was a standout basketball player at Brigham Young University
. He excelled in both football
and volleyball
before concentrating on basketball exclusively. Smith served two years (1984–86) as a Mormon
missionary in Argentina before returning to BYU
to finish his collegiate basketball career. He won the WAC Player of the Year in 1988 leading the team with 679 points and 248 rebounds. He finished his collegiate career as BYU's all-time leader in rebounds (922) and second to Danny Ainge
in career points (2319).
Smith was a first round draft pick of the Boston Celtics
in 1989 (13th overall)
as a 24-year-old. He played two seasons with the Celtics before being waived in 1991. He played the following season with Telemarket Brescia in LEGA Basket Serie A2 before returning to the States the following season to play in the CBA
, first for the Capital Region Pontiacs
and later, the Oklahoma City Cavalry
.
The next season, 1993-94, Smith played for Pamesa Valencia. He continued in Spain, playing the first part of the following season for Estudiantes Caja Postal. In January 1995, he left Postal and the following month joined the Los Angeles Clippers
, a club he remained under contract with until September. He next joined ACB club Gijón Baloncesto
.
Smith has been, for a few seasons now, color analyst for the Clippers
on Prime Ticket/Fox Sports West with longtime Clipper play-by-play announcer Ralph Lawler
.
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. As a professional player in the 1990s, he spent two and a half seasons in the NBA, two and a half in the Liga ACB and one in LEGA Basket.
After attending Los Altos High School
Los Altos High School (Hacienda Heights, California)
Los Altos High School is a comprehensive four-year public education high school located in the bedroom community of Hacienda Heights, California, which is located in eastern Los Angeles County. It was founded in 1958 originally as the second of seven high schools in the former La Puente Union High...
in Hacienda Heights, California
Hacienda Heights, California
Hacienda Heights is an unincorporated census-designated place in and below the Puente Hills of the San Gabriel Valley, in Los Angeles County, California, United States...
, Smith was a standout basketball player at Brigham Young University
Brigham Young University
Brigham Young University is a private university located in Provo, Utah. It is owned and operated by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints , and is the United States' largest religious university and third-largest private university.Approximately 98% of the university's 34,000 students...
. He excelled in both football
American football
American football is a sport played between two teams of eleven with the objective of scoring points by advancing the ball into the opposing team's end zone. Known in the United States simply as football, it may also be referred to informally as gridiron football. The ball can be advanced by...
and volleyball
Volleyball
Volleyball is a team sport in which two teams of six players are separated by a net. Each team tries to score points by grounding a ball on the other team's court under organized rules.The complete rules are extensive...
before concentrating on basketball exclusively. Smith served two years (1984–86) as a Mormon
Mormon
The term Mormon most commonly denotes an adherent, practitioner, follower, or constituent of Mormonism, which is the largest branch of the Latter Day Saint movement in restorationist Christianity...
missionary in Argentina before returning to BYU
BYU
-Education:* Brigham Young University, a university located in Provo, Utah, USA administered by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.**BYU Salt Lake Center, a satellite center in Salt Lake City, Utah, USA...
to finish his collegiate basketball career. He won the WAC Player of the Year in 1988 leading the team with 679 points and 248 rebounds. He finished his collegiate career as BYU's all-time leader in rebounds (922) and second to Danny Ainge
Danny Ainge
Daniel Ray "Danny" Ainge is an American basketball manager and retired professional basketball and baseball player, currently serving as President of Basketball Operations for the Boston Celtics....
in career points (2319).
Smith was a first round draft pick of the Boston Celtics
Boston Celtics
The Boston Celtics are a National Basketball Association team based in Boston, Massachusetts. They play in the Atlantic Division of the Eastern Conference. Founded in 1946, the team is currently owned by Boston Basketball Partners LLC. The Celtics play their home games at the TD Garden, which...
in 1989 (13th overall)
1989 NBA Draft
The 1989 NBA Draft took place on June 27, 1989 in New York City, New York, USA. It has been regarded as one of the worst drafts in NBA history, along with the 1986 NBA Draft and the 2000 NBA Draft. Though the draft produced talented players such as Shawn Kemp, Glen Rice, Sean Elliott, Nick...
as a 24-year-old. He played two seasons with the Celtics before being waived in 1991. He played the following season with Telemarket Brescia in LEGA Basket Serie A2 before returning to the States the following season to play in the CBA
Continental Basketball Association
The Continental Basketball Association was a professional men's basketball league in the United States, which has been on hiatus since the 2009 season.- History :...
, first for the Capital Region Pontiacs
Albany Patroons
The Albany Patroons were a professional basketball team that played in the Continental Basketball Association ....
and later, the Oklahoma City Cavalry
Oklahoma City Cavalry
The Lawton-Fort Sill Cavalry is a professional basketball team based in Lawton, Oklahoma. They played in the Premier Basketball League after having been in the Continental Basketball Association. They have one PBL championship and also are the two time champions of the CBA...
.
The next season, 1993-94, Smith played for Pamesa Valencia. He continued in Spain, playing the first part of the following season for Estudiantes Caja Postal. In January 1995, he left Postal and the following month joined the Los Angeles Clippers
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...
, a club he remained under contract with until September. He next joined ACB club Gijón Baloncesto
Gijón Baloncesto
Gijón Baloncesto S.A.D. is a basketball team based in Gijón, Asturias . The team ceased activity in 2009.-History:Gijón Baloncesto was established in 1982, after taking over the franchise of another local team, Real Grupo de Cultura Covadonga, who was undergoing financial difficulties...
.
Smith has been, for a few seasons now, color analyst for the Clippers
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...
on Prime Ticket/Fox Sports West with longtime Clipper play-by-play announcer Ralph Lawler
Ralph Lawler
Ralph Lawler is the television and radio voice of the National Basketball Association's Los Angeles Clippers. Going back to the franchise's six-year stint in San Diego , Lawler has broadcast virtually every Clippers game, whether it be radio and/or television...
.