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Steve Smith (basketball)
Encyclopedia
Steven Delano "Steve" Smith (born March 31, 1969) is a retired American
basketball
player. He played with several teams in his 14-season National Basketball Association
career, including the Miami Heat
, the Portland Trail Blazers
and the San Antonio Spurs
, but is perhaps best known for his five-year stint with the Atlanta Hawks
which included an All-Star Game appearance in 1998. He won a championship
with the Spurs in 2003.
Smith was widely regarded as an excellent three-point shooter and an experienced veteran. He is one of three players to make seven 3 pointers in a quarter.
He joined the USA men's national basketball team in the 1994 FIBA World Championship
winning the gold medal. He won another gold medal at the 1999 Tournament of the Americas and an Olympic
gold medal
with the USA men's national basketball team at the 2000 Summer Olympics
with eleven other NBA All-Stars
.
Smith was selected fifth overall in the 1991 NBA Draft
by the Miami Heat for whom he played for three seasons before being traded two games into the 1994-95 season to the Atlanta Hawks. He spent five seasons with the Hawks before being traded to the Portland Trail Blazers in exchange for Jim Jackson
and Isaiah Rider.
He was traded to the Spurs for Derek Anderson in the off-season of 2001. He won an NBA title with the Spurs before signing as a free agent with the New Orleans Hornets in 2003 where he played for one season. He began the 2004-05 season
with the newly-formed Charlotte Bobcats
, where he was named team co-captain and scored the franchise's first 3-point field goal, but he was later re-acquired by the Heat at the February 24, 2005 trade deadline in exchange for Malik Allen
. He announced his retirement at the end of that season.
He holds career averages of 14.3 points, 3.2 rebounds and 3.1 assists per game while shooting 35.8 percent from behind the three-point line
. He holds the Hawks' single-game record for three-pointers with 9.
| align="left" | 1991–92
| align="left" | Miami
| 61 || 59 || 29.6 || .454 || .320 || .748 || 3.1 || 4.6 || 1.0 || .3 || 12.0
|-
| align="left" | 1992–93
| align="left" | Miami
| 48 || 43 || 33.5 || .451 || .402 || .787 || 4.1 || 5.6 || 1.0 || .3 || 16.0
|-
| align="left" | 1993–94
| align="left" | Miami
| 78 || 77 || 35.6 || .456 || .347 || .835 || 4.5 || 5.1 || 1.1 || .4 || 17.3
|-
| align="left" | 1994–95
| align="left" | Miami
| 2 || 2 || 31.0 || .379 || .167 || .773 || 3.0 || 3.5 || 1.0 || .5 || 20.5
|-
| align="left" | 1994–95
| align="left" | Atlanta
| 78 || 59 || 33.4 || .427 || .334 || .845 || 3.5 || 3.4 || .8 || .4 || 16.2
|-
| align="left" | 1995–96
| align="left" | Atlanta
| 80 || 80 || 35.7 || .432 || .331 || .826 || 4.1 || 2.8 || .8 || .2 || 18.1
|-
| align="left" | 1996–97
| align="left" | Atlanta
| 72 || 72 || 39.1 || .429 || .335 || .847 || 3.3 || 4.2 || .9 || .3 || 20.1
|-
| align="left" | 1997–98
| align="left" | Atlanta
| 73 || 73 || 39.1 || .444 || .351 || .855 || 4.2 || 4.0 || 1.0 || .4 || 20.1
|-
| align="left" | 1998–99
| align="left" | Atlanta
| 36 || 36 || 36.5 || .402 || .338 || .849 || 4.2 || 3.3 || 1.0 || .3 || 18.7
|-
| align="left" | 1999–00
| align="left" | Portland
| 82 || 81 || 32.8 || .467 || .398 || .850 || 3.8 || 2.5 || .9 || .4 || 14.9
|-
| align="left" | 2000–01
| align="left" | Portland
| 81 || 36 || 31.4 || .456 || .339 || .890 || 3.4 || 2.6 || .6 || .3 || 13.6
|-
| align="left" | 2001–02
| align="left" | San Antonio
| 77 || 76 || 28.7 || .455 || .472 || .878 || 2.5 || 2.0 || .7 || .2 || 11.6
|-
| align="left" | 2002–03
| align="left" | San Antonio
| 53 || 18 || 19.5 || .388 || .331 || .833 || 1.9 || 1.3 || .5 || .2 || 6.8
|-
| align="left" | 2003–04
| align="left" | New Orleans
| 71 || 4 || 13.1 || .406 || .402 || .928 || 1.1 || .8 || .2 || .1 || 5.0
|-
| align="left" | 2004–05
| align="left" | Charlotte
| 37 || 1 || 17.2 || .427 || .422 || .870 || 1.3 || 1.5 || .3 || .2 || 7.9
|-
| align="left" | 2004–05
| align="left" | Miami
| 13 || 0 || 8.8 || .300 || .200 || .667 || 1.2 || 1.1 || .2 || .0 || 1.8
|-
| align="left" | Career
| align="left" |
| 942 || 717 || 30.6 || .440 || .358 || .845 || 3.2 || 3.1 || .8 || .2 || 14.3
|-
| align="left" | All-Star
| align="left" |
| 1 || 0 || 16.0 || .500 || .400 || .000 || 3.0 || .0 || .0 || .0 || 14.0
| align="left" | 1991–92
| align="left" | Miami
| 3 || 3 || 33.3 || .529 || .636 || .833 || 2.0 || 5.0 || 1.3 || .3 || 16.0
|-
| align="left" | 1993–94
| align="left" | Miami
| 5 || 5 || 38.4 || .413 || .409 || .840 || 6.0 || 2.2 || .8 || .4 || 19.2
|-
| align="left" | 1995–96
| align="left" | Atlanta
| 10 || 10 || 42.1 || .439 || .410 || .808 || 4.1 || 3.2 || 1.3 || 1.3 || 21.7
|-
| align="left" | 1996–97
| align="left" | Atlanta
| 10 || 10 || 42.1 || .396 || .327 || .824 || 3.9 || 1.7 || .4 || .1 || 18.9
|-
| align="left" | 1997–98
| align="left" | Atlanta
| 4 || 4 || 40.0 || .574 || .500 || .688 || 2.8 || 2.3 || .5 || .8 || 24.8
|-
| align="left" | 1998–99
| align="left" | Atlanta
| 9 || 9 || 39.6 || .353 || .273 || .907 || 3.4 || 3.3 || 1.6 || .2 || 17.3
|-
| align="left" | 1999–00
| align="left" | Portland
| 16 || 16 || 37.8 || .486 || .547 || .885 || 2.5 || 2.8 || 1.2 || .2 || 17.1
|-
| align="left" | 2000–01
| align="left" | Portland
| 3 || 3 || 40.7 || .471 || .364 || .938 || 4.3 || 2.3 || .7 || .3 || 17.0
|-
| align="left" | 2001–02
| align="left" | San Antonio
| 10 || 10 || 29.8 || .368 || .263 || .967 || 3.4 || 1.7 || .8 || .1 || 10.3
|-
| align="left" | 2002–03
| align="left" | San Antonio
| 9 || 0 || 7.3 || .208 || .167 || 1.000 || .8 || .7 || .1 || .0 || 1.8
|-
| align="left" | 2003–04
| align="left" | New Orleans
| 5 || 0 || 9.2 || .462 || .545 || .667 || 1.6 || .2 || .0 || .0 || 6.4
|-
| align="left" | 2004–05
| align="left" | Miami
| 3 || 0 || 2.7 || .000 || .000 || .000 || .0 || .0 || .0 || .0 || .0
|-
| align="left" | Career
| align="left" |
| 90 || 73 || 32.2 || .426 || .394 || .858 || 3.0 || 2.2 || .9 || .3 || 14.9
and on the Big Ten Network as a college basketball analyst. For the 2008 season, Smith took a position at NBA TV
, and was replaced for Hawks broadcasts by Dominique Wilkins
.
2.5 million gift in 1997 to his alma mater
, Michigan State University
, where he was a star guard under coach Jud Heathcote
. Smith's donation helped to fund the Clara Bell Smith Student Athlete Academic Center, which is named for his mother. This was the largest single donation by a professional athlete to his former school in history.
Smith insisted that part of his $2.5 million donation be dedicated to create the Steve Smith Scholarship for Academic Achievement. In 2001, Smith donated another $600,000 to fully endow the scholarship, which provides a four-year academic scholarship to one student per year from Smith's former high school.
In recognition for his generosity, during the 1997-98 NBA season
, Smith received the J. Walter Kennedy Citizenship Award
, and in 2001-02
received the Joe Dumars
NBA Sportsmanship Award
.
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. He played with several teams in his 14-season 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...
career, including the Miami Heat
Miami Heat
The Miami Heat is a professional basketball team based in Miami, Florida, United States. The team is a member of the Southeast Division in the Eastern Conference of the National Basketball Association . They play their home games at American Airlines Arena in Downtown Miami...
, 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...
and the San Antonio Spurs
San Antonio Spurs
The San Antonio Spurs are an American professional basketball team based in San Antonio, Texas. They are part of the Southwest Division of the Western Conference in the National Basketball Association ....
, but is perhaps best known for his five-year stint with the Atlanta Hawks
Atlanta Hawks
The Atlanta Hawks are an American professional basketball team based in Atlanta, Georgia. They are part of the Southeast Division of the Eastern Conference in the National Basketball Association .-The first years:...
which included an All-Star Game appearance in 1998. He won a championship
NBA Finals
The NBA Finals is the championship series of the National Basketball Association . The series was named the NBA World Championship Series until 1986....
with the Spurs in 2003.
Smith was widely regarded as an excellent three-point shooter and an experienced veteran. He is one of three players to make seven 3 pointers in a quarter.
He joined the USA men's national basketball team in the 1994 FIBA World Championship
1994 FIBA World Championship
The 1994 FIBA World Championship was an international basketball competition hosted by Canada from August 4 to August 14, 1994. The tournament was held at SkyDome and Maple Leaf Gardens in Toronto as well as at Copps Coliseum in Hamilton...
winning the gold medal. He won another gold medal at the 1999 Tournament of the Americas and an Olympic
Olympic Games
The Olympic Games is a major international event featuring summer and winter sports, in which thousands of athletes participate in a variety of competitions. The Olympic Games have come to be regarded as the world’s foremost sports competition where more than 200 nations participate...
gold medal
Gold medal
A gold medal is typically the medal awarded for highest achievement in a non-military field. Its name derives from the use of at least a fraction of gold in form of plating or alloying in its manufacture...
with the USA men's national basketball team at the 2000 Summer Olympics
2000 Summer Olympics
The Sydney 2000 Summer Olympic Games or the Millennium Games/Games of the New Millennium, officially known as the Games of the XXVII Olympiad, were an international multi-sport event which was celebrated between 15 September and 1 October 2000 in Sydney, New South Wales, Australia...
with eleven other NBA All-Stars
Basketball at the 2000 Summer Olympics
-Group B:-Championship bracket:-Classification matches:-Preliminary round:The four best teams from each group advanced to the quarterfinal round.-Group A:-Group B:-Championship bracket:...
.
College career
Smith had finished his four-year career as the all-time leading scorer in Michigan State history, with 2,263 points. He ranks fourth on the school's all-time assists list (with 453) and fifth in rebounds (with 704). For his college career Smith averaged 18.5 points, 6.1 rebounds and 3.7 assists per contest in 122 games. He was named a First Team All-American as both a junior and a senior. Smith led the Spartans to a Big Ten Championship and Sweet Sixteen appearance in 1990 and hit a game-winning, last-second three-pointer to beat Wisconsin–Green Bay in the first round of the 1991 NCAA Tournament. He was inducted into Michigan State's Athletics Hall of Fame in 2001.NBA career
1991 NBA Draft
The 1991 NBA Draft took place on June 26, 1991 in New York City, New York. Dikembe Mutombo is regarded as the best overall pick in this draft, becoming one of the greatest defensive centers in the history of the league. He was a four-time NBA Defensive Player of the Year award winner and an eight...
by the Miami Heat for whom he played for three seasons before being traded two games into the 1994-95 season to the Atlanta Hawks. He spent five seasons with the Hawks before being traded to the Portland Trail Blazers in exchange for Jim Jackson
Jim Jackson (basketball)
James Arthur "Jim" Jackson is an American retired professional basketball player. Over his 14 NBA seasons, Jackson was on the active roster of 12 different teams, tying the league record. He is currently a basketball analyst on the Big Ten Network.-High school and college career:Jackson was a 6'6"...
and Isaiah Rider.
He was traded to the Spurs for Derek Anderson in the off-season of 2001. He won an NBA title with the Spurs before signing as a free agent with the New Orleans Hornets in 2003 where he played for one season. He began the 2004-05 season
2004-05 NBA season
The 2004–05 NBA season was the 59th season of the National Basketball Association . It began on November 2, 2004 and ended June 23, 2005. The season ended with the San Antonio Spurs defeating defending champion Detroit Pistons 4–3 in the NBA Finals....
with the newly-formed Charlotte Bobcats
Charlotte Bobcats
The Charlotte Bobcats is a professional basketball team based in Charlotte, North Carolina. They play in the Southeast Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Basketball Association. The Bobcats were established in 2004 as an expansion team, two seasons after Charlotte's previous NBA...
, where he was named team co-captain and scored the franchise's first 3-point field goal, but he was later re-acquired by the Heat at the February 24, 2005 trade deadline in exchange for Malik Allen
Malik Allen
Malik Omar Allen is an American professional basketball player who last played for the Orlando Magic.After four years at Villanova University Allen went undrafted in the 2000 NBA Draft. He began his career in the ABA with the San Diego Wildfire and in the International Basketball League with...
. He announced his retirement at the end of that season.
He holds career averages of 14.3 points, 3.2 rebounds and 3.1 assists per game while shooting 35.8 percent from behind the three-point line
Three-point field goal
A three-point field goal is a field goal in a basketball game, made from beyond the three-point line, a designated arc radiating from the basket...
. He holds the Hawks' single-game record for three-pointers with 9.
Regular Season
|-| align="left" | 1991–92
| align="left" | Miami
Miami Heat
The Miami Heat is a professional basketball team based in Miami, Florida, United States. The team is a member of the Southeast Division in the Eastern Conference of the National Basketball Association . They play their home games at American Airlines Arena in Downtown Miami...
| 61 || 59 || 29.6 || .454 || .320 || .748 || 3.1 || 4.6 || 1.0 || .3 || 12.0
|-
| align="left" | 1992–93
| align="left" | Miami
| 48 || 43 || 33.5 || .451 || .402 || .787 || 4.1 || 5.6 || 1.0 || .3 || 16.0
|-
| align="left" | 1993–94
| align="left" | Miami
| 78 || 77 || 35.6 || .456 || .347 || .835 || 4.5 || 5.1 || 1.1 || .4 || 17.3
|-
| align="left" | 1994–95
| align="left" | Miami
| 2 || 2 || 31.0 || .379 || .167 || .773 || 3.0 || 3.5 || 1.0 || .5 || 20.5
|-
| align="left" | 1994–95
| align="left" | Atlanta
Atlanta Hawks
The Atlanta Hawks are an American professional basketball team based in Atlanta, Georgia. They are part of the Southeast Division of the Eastern Conference in the National Basketball Association .-The first years:...
| 78 || 59 || 33.4 || .427 || .334 || .845 || 3.5 || 3.4 || .8 || .4 || 16.2
|-
| align="left" | 1995–96
| align="left" | Atlanta
| 80 || 80 || 35.7 || .432 || .331 || .826 || 4.1 || 2.8 || .8 || .2 || 18.1
|-
| align="left" | 1996–97
| align="left" | Atlanta
| 72 || 72 || 39.1 || .429 || .335 || .847 || 3.3 || 4.2 || .9 || .3 || 20.1
|-
| align="left" | 1997–98
| align="left" | Atlanta
| 73 || 73 || 39.1 || .444 || .351 || .855 || 4.2 || 4.0 || 1.0 || .4 || 20.1
|-
| align="left" | 1998–99
| align="left" | Atlanta
| 36 || 36 || 36.5 || .402 || .338 || .849 || 4.2 || 3.3 || 1.0 || .3 || 18.7
|-
| align="left" | 1999–00
| align="left" | Portland
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...
| 82 || 81 || 32.8 || .467 || .398 || .850 || 3.8 || 2.5 || .9 || .4 || 14.9
|-
| align="left" | 2000–01
| align="left" | Portland
| 81 || 36 || 31.4 || .456 || .339 || .890 || 3.4 || 2.6 || .6 || .3 || 13.6
|-
| align="left" | 2001–02
| align="left" | San Antonio
San Antonio Spurs
The San Antonio Spurs are an American professional basketball team based in San Antonio, Texas. They are part of the Southwest Division of the Western Conference in the National Basketball Association ....
| 77 || 76 || 28.7 || .455 || .472 || .878 || 2.5 || 2.0 || .7 || .2 || 11.6
|-
| align="left" | 2002–03
| align="left" | San Antonio
| 53 || 18 || 19.5 || .388 || .331 || .833 || 1.9 || 1.3 || .5 || .2 || 6.8
|-
| align="left" | 2003–04
| align="left" | New Orleans
| 71 || 4 || 13.1 || .406 || .402 || .928 || 1.1 || .8 || .2 || .1 || 5.0
|-
| align="left" | 2004–05
| align="left" | Charlotte
Charlotte Bobcats
The Charlotte Bobcats is a professional basketball team based in Charlotte, North Carolina. They play in the Southeast Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Basketball Association. The Bobcats were established in 2004 as an expansion team, two seasons after Charlotte's previous NBA...
| 37 || 1 || 17.2 || .427 || .422 || .870 || 1.3 || 1.5 || .3 || .2 || 7.9
|-
| align="left" | 2004–05
| align="left" | Miami
Miami Heat
The Miami Heat is a professional basketball team based in Miami, Florida, United States. The team is a member of the Southeast Division in the Eastern Conference of the National Basketball Association . They play their home games at American Airlines Arena in Downtown Miami...
| 13 || 0 || 8.8 || .300 || .200 || .667 || 1.2 || 1.1 || .2 || .0 || 1.8
|-
| align="left" | Career
| align="left" |
| 942 || 717 || 30.6 || .440 || .358 || .845 || 3.2 || 3.1 || .8 || .2 || 14.3
|-
| align="left" | All-Star
| align="left" |
| 1 || 0 || 16.0 || .500 || .400 || .000 || 3.0 || .0 || .0 || .0 || 14.0
Playoffs
|-| align="left" | 1991–92
1992 NBA Playoffs
NBA Champions: Chicago BullsThe 1992 NBA Playoffs was the postseason tournament following the National Basketball Association's 1991-1992 season. The tournament concluded with the Eastern Conference champion Chicago Bulls winning their second consecutive NBA championship by defeating the Western...
| align="left" | Miami
Miami Heat
The Miami Heat is a professional basketball team based in Miami, Florida, United States. The team is a member of the Southeast Division in the Eastern Conference of the National Basketball Association . They play their home games at American Airlines Arena in Downtown Miami...
| 3 || 3 || 33.3 || .529 || .636 || .833 || 2.0 || 5.0 || 1.3 || .3 || 16.0
|-
| align="left" | 1993–94
1994 NBA Playoffs
The 1994 NBA Playoffs was the postseason tournament of the National Basketball Association's 1993-94 season. The tournament concluded with the Western Conference champion Houston Rockets defeating the Eastern Conference champion New York Knicks 4 games to 3 in the NBA Finals...
| align="left" | Miami
| 5 || 5 || 38.4 || .413 || .409 || .840 || 6.0 || 2.2 || .8 || .4 || 19.2
|-
| align="left" | 1995–96
1996 NBA Playoffs
The 1996 NBA Playoffs was the postseason tournament of the National Basketball Association's 1995-1996 season. The tournament concluded with the Eastern Conference champion Chicago Bulls winning their first NBA championship in three years by defeating the Western Conference champion Seattle...
| align="left" | Atlanta
Atlanta Hawks
The Atlanta Hawks are an American professional basketball team based in Atlanta, Georgia. They are part of the Southeast Division of the Eastern Conference in the National Basketball Association .-The first years:...
| 10 || 10 || 42.1 || .439 || .410 || .808 || 4.1 || 3.2 || 1.3 || 1.3 || 21.7
|-
| align="left" | 1996–97
1997 NBA Playoffs
The 1997 NBA Playoffs was the postseason tournament of the National Basketball Association's 1996–97 season. The tournament concluded with the Eastern Conference champion Chicago Bulls winning the NBA championship by defeating the Western Conference champion Utah Jazzfour games to two...
| align="left" | Atlanta
| 10 || 10 || 42.1 || .396 || .327 || .824 || 3.9 || 1.7 || .4 || .1 || 18.9
|-
| align="left" | 1997–98
1998 NBA Playoffs
The 1998 NBA Playoffs was the postseason tournament of the National Basketball Association's 1997-98 NBA season. The tournament concluded with the Eastern Conference champion Chicago Bulls winning their sixth championship of the decade by defeating the Western Conference champion Utah Jazz four...
| align="left" | Atlanta
| 4 || 4 || 40.0 || .574 || .500 || .688 || 2.8 || 2.3 || .5 || .8 || 24.8
|-
| align="left" | 1998–99
1999 NBA Playoffs
The 1999 NBA Playoffs was the postseason tournament of the National Basketball Association's 1998-99 season. The tournament concluded with the Western Conference champion San Antonio Spurs by defeating the eighth-seeded Eastern Conference champion New York Knicks four games to one...
| align="left" | Atlanta
| 9 || 9 || 39.6 || .353 || .273 || .907 || 3.4 || 3.3 || 1.6 || .2 || 17.3
|-
| align="left" | 1999–00
2000 NBA Playoffs
The 2000 NBA Playoffs was the postseason tournament of the National Basketball Association's 1999–2000 season. The tournament concluded with the Western Conference champion Los Angeles Lakers win their first championship in twelve years by defeating the Eastern Conference champion Indiana Pacers...
| align="left" | Portland
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...
| 16 || 16 || 37.8 || .486 || .547 || .885 || 2.5 || 2.8 || 1.2 || .2 || 17.1
|-
| align="left" | 2000–01
2001 NBA Playoffs
The 2001 NBA Playoffs was the postseason tournament of the National Basketball Association's 2000–01 season. The tournament concluded with the Western Conference champion Los Angeles Lakers winning their second consecutive championship by defeating the Eastern Conference champion Philadelphia 76ers...
| align="left" | Portland
| 3 || 3 || 40.7 || .471 || .364 || .938 || 4.3 || 2.3 || .7 || .3 || 17.0
|-
| align="left" | 2001–02
2002 NBA Playoffs
The 2002 NBA Playoffs were the postseason tournament of the National Basketball Association's 2001–02 season. This would be the final postseason that held a best-of-5 first-round series; next year's postseason would see those series expanded to a best-of-7 format...
| align="left" | San Antonio
San Antonio Spurs
The San Antonio Spurs are an American professional basketball team based in San Antonio, Texas. They are part of the Southwest Division of the Western Conference in the National Basketball Association ....
| 10 || 10 || 29.8 || .368 || .263 || .967 || 3.4 || 1.7 || .8 || .1 || 10.3
|-
| align="left" | 2002–03
2003 NBA Playoffs
The 2003 NBA playoffs was the postseason of the National Basketball Association's 2002-03 NBA season. This postseason was notable for being the first time all series were conducted in a best-of-7 format. It was also the only time in playoff history that no team was swept in a first-round series....
| align="left" | San Antonio
| 9 || 0 || 7.3 || .208 || .167 || 1.000 || .8 || .7 || .1 || .0 || 1.8
|-
| align="left" | 2003–04
2004 NBA Playoffs
The 2004 NBA Playoffs were the postseason of the National Basketball Association's 2003–04 season. Consisting of 16 teams in two conferences, the playoffs involved about two months of play. The playoffs were conducted in seven-game series, with the team with the better record holding home court...
| align="left" | New Orleans
| 5 || 0 || 9.2 || .462 || .545 || .667 || 1.6 || .2 || .0 || .0 || 6.4
|-
| align="left" | 2004–05
2005 NBA Playoffs
The 2005 NBA Playoffs was the postseason of the National Basketball Association's 2004–05 season.The San Antonio Spurs, the number two ranked team in the Western Conference, won the 2005 NBA Playoffs by defeating the defending champions, the Detroit Pistons, 4-3 in the NBA Finals...
| align="left" | Miami
Miami Heat
The Miami Heat is a professional basketball team based in Miami, Florida, United States. The team is a member of the Southeast Division in the Eastern Conference of the National Basketball Association . They play their home games at American Airlines Arena in Downtown Miami...
| 3 || 0 || 2.7 || .000 || .000 || .000 || .0 || .0 || .0 || .0 || .0
|-
| align="left" | Career
| align="left" |
| 90 || 73 || 32.2 || .426 || .394 || .858 || 3.0 || 2.2 || .9 || .3 || 14.9
Post-NBA career
Smith worked as an announcer on Atlanta Hawks games with Bob RathbunBob Rathbun
Bob Rathbun is a sports television announcer. He has been the announcer for the Atlanta Hawks basketball games on FSN South since 1996. He is currently partnered with Dominique Wilkins...
and on the Big Ten Network as a college basketball analyst. For the 2008 season, Smith took a position at NBA TV
NBA TV
NBA TV is a television specialty channel that is dedicated to showcasing the sport of basketball in the United States. The network is financially backed by the National Basketball Association , which also uses NBA TV as a way of advertising their out of market package NBA League Pass, and partner...
, and was replaced for Hawks broadcasts by Dominique Wilkins
Dominique Wilkins
Jacques Dominique Wilkins is a retired American professional basketball player who primarily played for the Atlanta Hawks of the NBA...
.
Charitable work
Smith is well known for his charitable pursuits, including a USDUnited States dollar
The United States dollar , also referred to as the American dollar, is the official currency of the United States of America. It is divided into 100 smaller units called cents or pennies....
2.5 million gift in 1997 to his alma mater
Alma mater
Alma mater , pronounced ), was used in ancient Rome as a title for various mother goddesses, especially Ceres or Cybele, and in Christianity for the Virgin Mary.-General term:...
, Michigan State University
Michigan State University
Michigan State University is a public research university in East Lansing, Michigan, USA. Founded in 1855, it was the pioneer land-grant institution and served as a model for future land-grant colleges in the United States under the 1862 Morrill Act.MSU pioneered the studies of packaging,...
, where he was a star guard under coach Jud Heathcote
Jud Heathcote
George Melvin "Jud" Heathcote is a former college basketball coach. He was a head coach for 24 seasons at the collegiate level: five at Montana and 19 at Michigan State...
. Smith's donation helped to fund the Clara Bell Smith Student Athlete Academic Center, which is named for his mother. This was the largest single donation by a professional athlete to his former school in history.
Smith insisted that part of his $2.5 million donation be dedicated to create the Steve Smith Scholarship for Academic Achievement. In 2001, Smith donated another $600,000 to fully endow the scholarship, which provides a four-year academic scholarship to one student per year from Smith's former high school.
In recognition for his generosity, during the 1997-98 NBA season
1997-98 NBA season
The 1997–98 NBA season was the 52nd season of the National Basketball Association. The season ended with the Chicago Bulls winning their third straight championship and sixth in the last eight years, beating the Utah Jazz 4 games to 2 in the 1998 NBA Finals...
, Smith received the J. Walter Kennedy Citizenship Award
J. Walter Kennedy Citizenship Award
The J. Walter Kennedy Citizenship Award is an annual National Basketball Association award given since the 1974–75 NBA season to a player, coach, or trainer who shows "outstanding service and dedication to the community"...
, and in 2001-02
2001-02 NBA season
-Statistics leaders:-Yearly awards:*Most Valuable Player: Tim Duncan, San Antonio Spurs*Rookie of the Year: Pau Gasol, Memphis Grizzlies*Defensive Player of the Year: Ben Wallace, Detroit Pistons...
received the Joe Dumars
Joe Dumars
Joe Dumars III , nicknamed Joe D, is a retired American basketball player in the NBA, and currently the Detroit Pistons' President of Basketball Operations....
NBA Sportsmanship Award
NBA Sportsmanship Award
The National Basketball Association's Sportsmanship Award is an annual National Basketball Association award given since the 1995–96 NBA season, to the player who most "exemplifies the ideals of sportsmanship on the court—ethical behavior, fair play and integrity"...
.