Ish Smith

Smith became one of only three Suns backups since the 1980s to collect at least two 8-assist games in less than 20 minutes of playing time in a single season; the others being Jeff Hornacek and Goran Dragić.

Ishmael Larry "Ish" Smith (born July 5, 1988) is an American professional basketball player who last played for the Charlotte Hornets of the National Basketball Association (NBA).

He played college basketball for the Wake Forest Demon Deacons.

Smith holds the record of playing for the most NBA franchises, at 13.

He won an NBA championship with the Nuggets in 2023.

Smith attended Central Cabarrus High School playing under Scott Brewer.

He averaged 24.8 points and 9.8 assists per game as a senior and led Central Cabarrus to a 25–3 record and a Meca–6 Conference regular season and tournament title, which earned him the Meca–6 Conference Player of the Year in 2006, all-conference honors and being named Piedmont Player of the Year by The Charlotte Observer (he also earned the last two accolades as a junior).

When he graduated, he was ranked as the No. 28 point guard in the country according to Rivals.com while being rated by Scout.com as the No. 17 point guard and the No. 82 prospect nationally.

Smith played college basketball for Wake Forest, finishing second all-time for assists in school history.

In his four years with the Deacons he had averages of 9.2 points, 5.1 assists, 3.7 rebounds and 1.26 steals in 121 games.

He also stands as the only player in school history with 1,000 points (1,114) and 600 assists (612) in his career.

As a senior, Smith averaged 13.2 points, 6.0 assists, 4.9 rebounds and 1.68 steals.

He was named Second-Team All-ACC and earned Second-Team All-District honors from the NABC.

Smith also received the team’s Murray Greason Award and Team Assists Leader award after finishing third in the ACC and seventh nationally in assists per game in 2009–10.

After going undrafted on the 2010 NBA draft, Smith signed with the Houston Rockets on August 23, 2010.

Smith made 15 appearances for the Grizzlies in the 2010–11 season after the trade, all off of the bench.

On January 17, 2011, he was assigned to the Rio Grande Valley Vipers of the NBA Development League.

He was recalled by the Rockets on January 24, reassigned on February 1, and recalled again on February 7.

On February 24, 2011, Smith was traded to the Memphis Grizzlies along with teammate Shane Battier in exchange for Hasheem Thabeet, DeMarre Carroll and a future first-round draft pick.

On December 14, 2011, Smith was waived by the Grizzlies.

On December 16, 2011, Smith was claimed off waivers by the Golden State Warriors.

On December 28, he started for the Warriors in a win against the New York Knicks in place of the injured Stephen Curry, scoring 11 points, with 6 rebounds and 4 assists.

Smith was later waived by the Warriors on January 13, 2012.

On February 2, 2012, Smith signed with the Orlando Magic.

On August 15, 2012, he re-signed with the Magic.

On February 21, 2013, Smith was traded to the Milwaukee Bucks along with JJ Redick and Gustavo Ayón in exchange for Beno Udrih, Doron Lamb and Tobias Harris.

On August 29, 2013, Smith and Viacheslav Kravtsov were traded to the Phoenix Suns in exchange for Caron Butler.

In his third game with the Suns, Smith dished out a career-high 8 assists in a 104–98 win over the New Orleans Pelicans.

Smith matched his career-high in assists (along with 8 points, 2 rebounds and 3 steals) in a 116–100 win over the Milwaukee Bucks on January 4, 2014.

On February 21, 2014, he scored a then-career-high 15 points in a 106–85 win over the San Antonio Spurs.

On July 15, 2014, he was waived by the Suns.

On July 19, 2014, Smith signed with the Houston Rockets.

However, he was waived by the Rockets on October 27 after appearing in seven preseason games.

On November 7, 2014, Smith signed with the Oklahoma City Thunder to help the team deal with numerous injuries.

Oklahoma City had to use an NBA hardship exemption in order to sign him as he made their roster stand at 16, one over the allowed limited of 15.

After the team's hardship exemption expired, Smith was kept on the roster as the Thunder released Sebastian Telfair instead.

On February 19, 2015, Smith was traded, along with the rights to Latavious Williams, cash considerations and draft considerations, to the New Orleans Pelicans in exchange for further draft considerations.

He was subsequently waived by the Pelicans later that day.

On February 22, 2015, Smith signed with the Philadelphia 76ers.

On March 2, 2015, he recorded career highs of 19 points and 9 assists in a loss to the Toronto Raptors.