Dennis Smith Jr.’s new coach has his back. It might pay off nicely for him and the Hornets
.JPG "Charlotte Hornets’ Dennis Smith Jr. (8) drives against San Antonio Spurs’ Jakob Poeltl during the first half of an NBA basketball game, Wednesday, Oct. 19, 2022, in San Antonio. Charlotte won 129-102. (AP Photo/Darren Abate)")
A final syllable of a query couldn’t finish rolling off the tongue fast enough before Steve Clifford knew precisely how to describe the play of a particular backup point guard.
“He was great,” the Charlotte Hornets coach said. “He was lights out now, I mean both ends of the floor. He changes things with his ball pressure. He’s a terrific competitor and obviously tonight, he shot the three ball. He’s been in the gym nonstop with (assistant coach) Bruce (Kreutzer) ever since he got here. He was really, really good.”
Those superlatives from Clifford were about Dennis Smith Jr., considered an afterthought by some just a few weeks ago. A late addition to the roster after inking a non-guaranteed one-year contract days before training camp commenced, Smith Jr. could prove to be a heady under-the-radar signing by the Hornets.
In Wednesday night’s season-opening 129-102 victory against San Antonio, Smith Jr. came off the bench and flourished in his reserve role. He posted 12 points to go with four assists, two rebounds, two steals and two blocks and drained 5 of 7 attempts – including both beyond the 3-point line.
“Like I said earlier from Day One,” Smith Jr. told The Charlotte Observer, “just a coach having faith in me, believing in me is a good feeling. So whatever the team needs me to do, I’m going to go out there and try my best to fulfill that.
“The shots falling down, it’s one game, but that’s just a byproduct of my work. ... All day and night I still get my work in. And then I’ve got a coach that when I catch it on the wing, he’s behind me saying, ‘Knock it down! Knock it down!’ So, it’s like that extra confidence. I’m thankful for it for real.”
The Fayetteville native who was drafted No. 9 overall by Dallas in 2017 after playing one season at N.C. State is slowly finding a home with the Hornets, the third team he’s been on since 2020 and his fifth overall pro employer. Smith Jr. hasn’t lived up to the grand expectations placed on him during his initial days in the NBA with the Mavericks.
He hasn’t cracked double figures in scoring average since his first season with New York when he tossed in 14.6 per game after being acquired by the Knicks as part of the Kristaps Porzingis trade. He’s averaged 10.7 points and 4.2 assists per game in six seasons, knocking down 44.2% of his shots.
Now, Smith Jr. may very well morph into the latest player to enjoy a career revival under Clifford’s tutelage. It’s early, but Smith Jr. could join the likes of Jeremy Lin, Jeremy Lamb, Al Jefferson, Terrance Ross and others who were renaissance men during Clifford’s watch by potentially reinventing himself.
“I’m excited for him,” Terry Rozier said. “He’s been through the highest of highs, lowest of the lows. He just keeps on trucking through, puts his head down and is super confident. I am a big fan, and I am happy for him. Definitely happy for him.”
Particular since he’s looked extremely comfortable in his short time with his new teammates. Aided by his time working out at the Hornets’ facility over the summer, Smith Jr. fit in quickly with them and then some.
“The (ninth) pick a couple of years ago and nothing changed for him,” Rozier said. “He’s got that mentality. It could change for a lot of guys, but he definitely keeps his head on and that’s good for him.”
With LaMelo Ball sidelined by a sprained left ankle, Smith Jr.’s role becomes more significant. His stature and defensive acumen bring a different dimension the Hornets haven’t previously enjoyed off the bench, giving them a varied appearance in the backcourt when he’s on the floor.
In his first instance to show he’s more than capable, Smith Jr. passed the litmus test.
“Melo is a big part of our team, an All-Star, great player,” Smith Jr. said. “And the thing about the league is always next man up. I think we are building team chemistry towards where we all want to play together. I didn’t really look at the scoring sheet after the game, but I seen it when I was sitting on the bench and I think it was pretty balanced scoring tonight and everybody playing off each other. Whenever you play like that you are going to win games.
“So, if we just keep doing that I think we will be all right.”
At least the Hornets got off to a fast start by dismantling the Spurs, giving them some much-needed positivity after a winless five-game preseason. The outside chatter grew to a crescendo and that could finally cease.
For at least 48 hours.
“It’s good,” Smith Jr. said. “Everybody was like, ‘Oh, they went 0-and-whatever in preseason,’ this, that and the third. We weren’t really paying attention to that. We knew all that time we were building good habits. And that’s all coach Clifford has been talking about: build good habits, learn to play the right way and then we’ll worry about winning when the regular season comes. And you saw it.”
This story was originally published October 20, 2022 at 7:28 AM.
