Dennis Smith Jr. is anxious to return from injury, help Hornets. So what’s the holdup?
.JPG "Charlotte Hornets guard Dennis Smith Jr., isn’t pleased with an officials lack of a call during second half action against the Washington Wizards at Spectrum Center in Charlotte, NC on Monday, November 7, 2022. The Wizards defeated the Hornets 108-100.")
Dennis Smith Jr. is in agony.
As a self-proclaimed basketball addict, being relegated to spectator status and unable to help the Charlotte Hornets since Thanksgiving following his solid start has Smith bummed out. Shaking off the effects of a pesky sprained right ankle while working toward a return puts his frustrations at peak levels.
The first word that rolls off his tongue describes how he’s felt since Nov. 23.
“Miserable,” Smith said. “I’ve got to do certain things to keep my mind away from it. I wouldn’t say I’m depressed, because I know people that deal with mental health and things of that nature. But it (messes) with you a little bit.”
Smith was enjoying a renaissance before going down against Philadelphia, fighting through a couple of tweaks on an ankle that’s given him trouble since training camp. He slid into the main point guard spot when LaMelo Ball and Terry Rozier were out with injuries, starting in all but four of the 15 games he appeared in and averaging 9.3 points, 5.7 assists and 3.3 rebounds.
Smith also took on duties that probably would otherwise have been reserved for Cody Martin, the team’s top defender, and served more than adequately with Martin on the mend. He hounded whomever he was matched guarded, picking up full court on occasion. That bulldog mentality is missed.
“I think he can make a difference on both ends,” coach Steve Clifford said. “He was playing so well. He can guard primary scorers, he’s also a very good pick-and-roll player defensively. So, he’ll help us on both ends of the ball.”
That time can’t come soon enough for Smith.
“I want to be out there competing,” he said. “And it’s the same thing I told my pops. I haven’t had a coach like Cliff, so I want to go out there and compete for him. And any time I’m missing time, I feel like I’m letting him down, I’m letting my team down. So, it’s not a good feeling.”
Smith spoke to The Observer about what he’s discovered while working toward a return from injury, how much he’s looking forward to teaming with Ball, finding a home with the Hornets and more.
Roderick Boone: What are you doing to rehab? How are you trying to get back on the floor?
Dennis Smith: Just trying to find balance between working and giving it time to heal. And that’s the hard part, just finding that balance. I’m coming around.
Q: I know you wanted to play because there were so many injuries. Do you think you came back too early when you look back at all the tweaks?
A: Exactly. Because you think about it, the first time I sprained it was against the Nets and I played the next game, which was two days later. I didn’t take no time off. I was playing. And then I want to say five days later (did it again) against the Heat and I missed a week. And then I played again and the last time I sprained it was noncontact. So, that means I’m coming back too fast and I’m not giving the ligaments time to heal and things of that nature. So, like I said, understanding that rest is a part of training, that’s been big for me.
Q: I’m sure you also want to see what it’s like to be on the floor with LaMelo. How anxious are you to do that?
A: I’m looking forward to it. We’ve never had a rep together. Not one rep. Training camp … not a single rep, not even in practice. So it’s crazy, but I’m looking forward to it. I’ve been excited about the way he’s been playing. He’s one of those guys, he’s so good he can make the right play every time. And me being able to be out there, a guy that’s been in the league for six years and been in different situations, I think I can help him and he can help me as well. And I look forward to me and him playing off of each other.
Q: You seemed to be in a groove and carving out a role before your injury. Can you describe the frustrations given how you had kind of settled in?
A: It’s real tough if you think about it. But like I said, I just keep my mind on my work. I keep my mind on my rest, I keep my mind on my family. I’m still a basketball junkie. I watch basketball all day. I’m learning something new whenever I’m watching, so I’m ready to get back out there and try to implement that in the team. So, I don’t look (at it) glass half full. And I’ve learned to be like that over the years with all the (stuff) that I’ve been through. That’s why I’m thankful for my journey. A lot of people would have took this situation way different, but I’m glass half full. So, I’m just looking forward to getting back.
Q: You’ve been questionable for the past few games and people see you warming up in pregame. How will you know when it’s time to return?
A: I think people have got to understand, there’s nobody on this earth that wants me to play more than I do. If you know everything that I went through last season and this summer with not having nowhere to play and how hard I had to work there’s no reason for me to not want to play. So, people are going to speculate and things of that nature, and they can say what they want to. But I know the kind of intensity and effort I’ve got to bring to this team.
And me coming out there at 50%, it wouldn’t be beneficial to the team. And like I said, I was doing that early and then sprained it noncontact. So I’ve definitely got to rest and then once I get out there everybody knows I’m going 110. And my teammates are looking forward to that and I’m looking forward to that as well.
Q: You feel like you’ve found a home here. Just how comfortable are you with this organization and the situation you are in?
A: It’s funny. I was telling my homeboy about this the other day because Mark Williams asked me, he was like, ‘Damn, every team you play you know like three or four guys on the team.’ I played for a lot of teams, but I’m telling him when you are just a real guy, just a genuine person that goes a long way.
... I never hated on anybody, I never threw salt on nobody and I always waited my turn. I stayed ready, stayed professional and I always have been able to earn the respect of my teammates. And that’s something that means a lot to me. It’s a lot of guys in the league that people say are stars and stuff, but they don’t even get along with their teammates.
