Willie Smith (basketball)
Encyclopedia
William C. Smith (born October 26, 1955, in Las Vegas, Nevada
) is a retired American
professional basketball
player. He was a 6'2" (1.88 m) 170 lb (77 kg) guard and played collegiately at Seminole Junior College
and the University of Missouri
. He played in the NBA
from 1976 to 1980.
Smith was selected with the 1st pick in the second round of the 1976 NBA Draft
by the Chicago Bulls
. In his four season NBA career, he played with the Bulls, Indiana Pacers
, Portland Trail Blazers
and Cleveland Cavaliers
, averaging 4.6 points, 1.7 rebounds
and 3.6 assists
per game.
He was arrested in Columbia, Missouri
on March 9, 2009 after police responded to a restaurant burglar alarm; he was charged with resisting arrest
and obstructing law enforcement. Smith filed a formal complaint with the police department, alleging police used excessive force on him and did not allow him to explain why he was in the area before spraying him with Mace
and handcuffing him.
Las Vegas, Nevada
Las Vegas is the most populous city in the U.S. state of Nevada and is also the county seat of Clark County, Nevada. Las Vegas is an internationally renowned major resort city for gambling, shopping, and fine dining. The city bills itself as The Entertainment Capital of the World, and is famous...
) is a retired American
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
professional 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 was a 6'2" (1.88 m) 170 lb (77 kg) guard and played collegiately at Seminole Junior College
Seminole Community College
Seminole State College of Florida is a public state college located in Sanford, Florida, United States...
and the University of Missouri
University of Missouri
The University of Missouri System is a state university system providing centralized administration for four universities, a health care system, an extension program, five research and technology parks, and a publishing press. More than 64,000 students are currently enrolled at its four campuses...
. He played in the NBA
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...
from 1976 to 1980.
Smith was selected with the 1st pick in the second round of the 1976 NBA Draft
1976 NBA Draft
The 1976 NBA Draft was the 30th annual draft of the National Basketball Association . The draft was held on June 8, 1976 before the 1976–77 season. In this draft, 18 NBA teams took turns selecting amateur U.S. college basketball players and other eligible players, including international players...
by the Chicago Bulls
Chicago Bulls
The Chicago Bulls are an American professional basketball team based in Chicago, Illinois, playing in the Central Division of the Eastern Conference in the National Basketball Association . The team was founded in 1966. They play their home games at the United Center...
. In his four season NBA career, he played with the Bulls, Indiana Pacers
Indiana Pacers
The Indiana Pacers are a professional basketball team based in Indianapolis, Indiana. They are members of the Central Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Basketball Association...
, 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 Cleveland Cavaliers
Cleveland Cavaliers
The Cleveland Cavaliers are a professional basketball team based in Cleveland, Ohio. They began playing in the National Basketball Association in 1970 as an expansion team...
, averaging 4.6 points, 1.7 rebounds
Rebound (basketball)
A rebound in basketball is the act of successfully gaining possession of the basketball after a missed field goal or free throw. Rebounds in basketball are a routine part in the game, as all possessions change after a shot is successfully made...
and 3.6 assists
Assist (basketball)
In basketball, an assist is attributed to a player who passes the ball to a teammate in a way that leads to a score by field goal, meaning that he or she was "assisting" in the basket. There is some judgment involved in deciding whether a passer should be credited with an assist...
per game.
He was arrested in Columbia, Missouri
Columbia, Missouri
Columbia is the fifth-largest city in Missouri, and the largest city in Mid-Missouri. With a population of 108,500 as of the 2010 Census, it is the principal municipality of the Columbia Metropolitan Area, a region of 164,283 residents. The city serves as the county seat of Boone County and as the...
on March 9, 2009 after police responded to a restaurant burglar alarm; he was charged with resisting arrest
Resisting arrest
Resisting arrest is a term used to describe a criminal charge against an individual who has committed, depending on the jurisdiction, at least one of the following acts:* threatening a police officer with physical violence while being arrested...
and obstructing law enforcement. Smith filed a formal complaint with the police department, alleging police used excessive force on him and did not allow him to explain why he was in the area before spraying him with Mace
Mace (spray)
Chemical Mace is a tear gas in the form of an aerosol spray which propels a lachrymatory agent mixed with a volatile solvent. It is sometimes used as a self-defense device...
and handcuffing him.
External links
- Willie Smith NBA stats @ basketballreference.com