Josh smith played in the 03 RCS with the Atlanta Celtics, a team that featured Dwight Howard, Brandon Rush, and more. He is considered one of the best shotblockers and finishers in the NBA.
NBA BIO:
LAST SEASON (2006-07): Quietly establishing himself as one of the NBA’s top young stars, Smith is poised to elevate his game to All-Star level following his emergence as the Hawks key performer during the absence of All-Star guard Joe Johnson • Smith not only raised his scoring average every month of the ’06-’07 season, he tallied 20.3 ppg in March and 21.1 ppg in April • On the year, he averaged 16.4 points, 8.6 rebounds, 2.9 blocks, 3.3 assists, 1.4 steals and 36.8 minutes (.439 FG%, .250 3FG%, .693 FT%) in 72 games (all starts) • Smith was 2nd in the NBA with 2.9 blocked shots per game (trailing Denver’s Marcus Camby) – clearly serving notice he should have received more consideration for the league’s All-Defensive Team – and 19th in steals with 1.4 spg • He was one of only three players (along with Phoenix’s Shawn Marion and Chicago’s Ben Wallace) who ranked in the Top 20 in rebounds (14th), steals and blocks • Not only did he lead the club in blocks and rebounds, he finished 2nd in scoring and steals, and 3rd in assists and minutes played • Smith had a team-best 32 double-doubles (t19th in the NBA, pts/rebs), and finished one point shy of his first career triple-double (9 pts/12 rebs/10 assts (career high)) against Sacramento (3/19) • Nine days earlier, he recorded a personal-best 32 points on a career-high 12 FGM v/Minnesota (3/10) • His most impressive double-double came three nights later v/Philadelphia (3/13) when he garnered 26 points and 17 boards • On Mar. 3, Smith became the youngest player in NBA history (21 years/88 days) to reach the 500 career block level • Also set or tied career highs in minutes (51), steals (5) and assists (10) • He led the team in scoring 19 times, rebounding 35 occasions and assists 15 times • Scored 20 or more points 27 times, and reached personal milestones of 2,000 points and 1,000 career rebounds • Recipient of the team’s Lou Hudson Award (Most Improved Player) for the second straight season • In 6th place entering this season on the Hawks all-time blocked shots list at 559 • Smith missed eight games due to injury (hernia surgery, 12/26 - 1/10) • SEASON HIGHS: 32 pts v/Minn (3/10/07), 18 rebs v/Milw (4/6/07), 10 assts v/Sac (3/19/07), 5 stls v/Bos (1/15/07), 7 blks (2x), 51 mins v/Mia (11/18/06), 12 FGM (2x), 4 3FGM @Tor (11/10/06), 10 FTM (2x).
PROFESSIONAL CAREER: Heading into his fourth year in the NBA, Smith has averages of 12.4 points, 7.1 rebounds, 2.4 blocks and 2.5 assists (.439 FG%, .267 3FG%, .700 FT%) in 226 career games • Became the youngest player in NBA history (20 years, 107 days) to reach 300 career blocked shots (at Philadelphia on 3/22/06) • He has missed 13 career games because of injury or illness, two for a league suspension (flagrant foul) and two due to team suspension • CAREER HIGHS: 32 pts v/Minn (3/10/07), 18 rebs v/Milw (4/6/07), 10 assts v/Sac (3/19/07), 5 stls v/Bos (1/15/07), 10 blks @Dall (12/18/04), 51 mins v/Mia (11/18/06), 12 FGM (2x), 4 3FGM (2x), 10 FTM (3x) • 2005-06: Elevated his game tremendously from the flashy slam-dunker that brought him the most attention as a rookie, Smith expanded his talents on both ends of the floor • Averaged 11.3 points, 6.6 rebounds, 2.6 blocks, 2.4 assists and 32.0 minutes (.425 FG%, .309 3FG%, .719 FT%) in 80 games (73 starts) during his second NBA season • He led the Hawks in blocked shots, finishing 2nd in the NBA in total rejections (208) and 4th in blocks per game • Smith became only the fourth Hawk – and first non-center – to post 200 blocks in one year, joining Dikembe Mutombo, Theo Ratliff and Tree Rollins • Among team leaders, Smith ranked 3rd on the club in rebounds (t37th in NBA), and 4th in scoring and assists • In the month of April (11 games), put up 17.5 points, 7.6 rebounds, 4.2 assists, 3.4 blocks and 1.5 steals • After falling short in three-pointers made over the first 49 games, Smith knocked down 34 triples over the final 31 games • He notched 11 double-doubles on the season • In an Apr. 15 game at Milwaukee, scored 28 points, and posting seven rebounds, seven assists and three blocks • Grabbed 15 rebounds, to go along with 17 points, seven assists, three blocks and two steals v/Minn (4/5) • Reached double-figures in points 41 times and rebounds on 17 occasions • Posted team-high rebounding honors 16 times • Presented with the Hawks’ inaugural Lou Hudson Award (for being considered the Most Improved Player) after the final regular season game • Missed two games in December as a result of a league-imposed suspension • Named to the NBA All-Rookie second team (2004-05) after averaging 9.7 points, 6.2 rebounds, 2.0 blocks, 1.7 assists and 27.7 minutes (.455 FG%, .688 FT%) in 74 games • Led the Hawks in blocked shots, was 12th in the NBA and first among all rookies • He finished 5th on the club in points and 2nd in rebounding • Among rookies, finished 8th in scoring, 3rd in rebounding, tied for 12th in assists, 10th in steals, tied for 9th in field goal percentage and 5th in efficiency rating • Posted 10 double-doubles (fourth among rookies) • In his 59 starts, Smith put up 10.7 points, 6.9 rebounds, 1.9 assists and 2.2 blocks (.450 FG%, .686 FT%) • During a December (18th) game at Dallas, he rejected an NBA season-high 10 shots -- becoming the youngest player in league history to achieve that feat • In addition, he was the third NBA player to ever block 10 or more without committing a personal foul • Won the Sprite Rising Stars Slam Dunk contest on All-Star weekend in Denver – joining former Hawks high-flyers Dominique Wilkins (1985 and 1990) and Anthony “Spud” Webb (1986) as Slam Dunk champs • Smith also participated in the got milk? Rookie Challenge that weekend, totalling 12 points, 6 rebounds, 2 assists and 1 block in 24 minutes (4-8 FGs, 4-4 FTs).
HIGH SCHOOL CAREER: Smith transferred to Oak Hill Academy (Mouth of Wilson, VA) for his senior season, after attending McEachern High School in Powder Springs, GA for three years • Originally committed to play at Indiana University before declaring for the draft • Named a 2004 McDonald's All-American and played in the McDonald's High School All-America game • Named to the PARADE All-America Team, and was selected to the 2004 USA Men's Junior National Select Team • Excelled in several postseason all-star games, including the EA Sports Roundball Classic (15 points) and the Nike Hoop Summit (27 points), where he was named the MVP after leading the USA Select Team to a 99-79 win over the World Select squad • As a senior (2003-04) at Oak Hill, Smith set a single-season school record for most points scored with 980 • He was a finalist for the 2004 Naismith Award, leading the team to a 38-0 mark and a No. 1 national ranking • Averaged 25.8 ppg, 7.4 rpg, 6.0 bpg and 3.0 spg, shooting 61 percent from the field and 70 percent from the charity stripe • In his junior season (2002-03), put in 20.6 ppg, 11.6 rpg, 6.0 bpg and 4.0 apg • Was named MVP of the ABCD Camp in the summer of 2003 • Tallied 19.8 ppg, 9.4 rpg and 3.5 apg as a sophomore (2001-02) • Smith was a two-time All-State selection at McEachern.
