Willie Smith (basketball)

Willie Smith
Personal information
Born	October 26, 1953 (age 71); Las Vegas, Nevada
Nationality	American
Listed height	6 ft 2 in (1.88 m)
Listed weight	170 lb (77 kg)
Career information
High school	Ed W. Clark (Las Vegas, Nevada)
College	Seminole State (1972–1974); Missouri (1974–1976);
NBA draft	1976: 2nd round, 18th overall pick
	Selected by the Chicago Bulls
Playing career	1976–1984
Position	Point guard
Number	11, 8
Career history
1976	Chicago Bulls
1977	Indiana Pacers
1978	Kentucky Stallions
1978–1979	Las Vegas Dealers
1978–1979	Portland Trail Blazers
1979	Jersey Shore Bullets
1979–1980	Cleveland Cavaliers
1980–1981	Montana Golden Nuggets
1982–1983	Rochester Zeniths
1983–1984	Sarasota Stingers
Career highlights and awards
	CBA Most Valuable Player (1981); CBA steals leader (1983); Second-team All-American – USBWA (1976); Third-team All-American – NABC (1976); Big Eight Player of the Year (1976); 2× First-team All-Big Eight (1975, 1976); No. 30 retired by Missouri Tigers;
	Stats at NBA.com
	Stats at Basketball Reference

William C. Smith (born October 26, 1953) 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, where he earned All-America honors. Smith, nicknamed "Mister Magic", averaged 25.3 points per game during the 1976 season as he led Mizzou to a Big Eight Conference basketball championship.^[1]

Professional career

Smith played in the NBA from 1976 to 1980 after being selected with the 1st pick in the second round of the 1976 NBA draft by the Chicago Bulls.^[2] In his four-season NBA career, Smith 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.

Post-NBA

Since his time in the NBA, Smith has been involved with a number of business ventures and currently resides in Columbia, Missouri. On November 1, 2012, it was announced that Smith would be inducted into the Missouri Sports Hall of Fame on November 15.^[1]

References

^ ^a ^b "Willie Smith and Derrick Chievous are headed to the Missouri Sports Hall of Fame". Associated Press via KTVO-TV website. November 1, 2012. Retrieved November 1, 2012.
^ 1976 NBA Draft, basketballreference.com

External links

Willie Smith NBA stats @ basketballreference.com

This biographical article relating to a United States basketball player, coach, or other figure born in the 1950s is a stub. You can help Wikipedia by expanding it.

[Hall-1] "Willie Smith and Derrick Chievous are headed to the Missouri Sports Hall of Fame". Associated Press via KTVO-TV website. November 1, 2012. Retrieved November 1, 2012.

[2] 1976 NBA Draft, basketballreference.com

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