The Rise of Dennis Smith Jr: Breaking Down His Basketball Journey and Future Potential
I remember watching Dennis Smith Jr. during his rookie season with the Dallas Mavericks back in 2017, and even then, you could see the raw athleticism that made him such an intriguing prospect. Standing at 6'2" with a reported 48-inch vertical leap - though some scouts argued it was closer to 45 inches - he immediately became one of the most explosive guards in recent memory. His journey through the NBA has been anything but linear, marked by flashes of brilliance followed by stretches where he seemed to disappear from the rotation entirely. What fascinates me about Smith's career trajectory is how it reflects the modern NBA's complicated relationship with athletic point guards who haven't quite mastered the shooting aspect of the game.
When I look at Smith's statistics from his time with the Mavericks, Knicks, Pistons, and now the Nets, the numbers tell a story of inconsistency that's both frustrating and hopeful. His rookie season showed promise with 15.2 points and 5.2 assists per game, but that three-point percentage hovering around 31% has always been the elephant in the room. I've always believed that shooting can be developed with the right coaching and repetition, but Smith's case makes me wonder if some players are just destined to be non-shooters in today's spacing-obsessed league. What's interesting is how his defensive metrics have improved dramatically over the years - his steal rate of 2.8% last season placed him among the elite perimeter defenders, a testament to his incredible physical tools and growing basketball IQ.
The recent news about Byron Scott coaching in the Philippines actually gives me an interesting perspective on Smith's development. Scott, who won three championships as a player and coached Chris Paul during his formative years, represents exactly the type of veteran voice that could help unlock Smith's potential. I can't help but think that if Smith had worked with a coach like Scott earlier in his career, we might be looking at a completely different player today. Scott's emphasis on defense and his experience developing young guards could have provided the structure Smith needed during those crucial early years. Instead, Smith went through multiple coaching changes and systems before finding his current role in Brooklyn.
What really stands out to me about Smith's game is how his athleticism translates differently than someone like Ja Morant or Derrick Rose in their prime. While those players use their explosiveness primarily for scoring, Smith's leaping ability seems to serve him better on the defensive end and in transition opportunities. I've noticed he's developed a knack for chasedown blocks that reminds me of a younger Dwyane Wade, though he's still learning when to gamble for steals versus maintaining defensive positioning. His assist numbers don't jump off the page, but when you watch him play, you see flashes of brilliant court vision that suggest he could develop into a more consistent playmaker if given the right system and consistent minutes.
Looking at Smith's future, I'm cautiously optimistic that he can carve out a meaningful role as a defensive specialist and transition threat. The modern NBA values versatile defenders who can switch across multiple positions, and Smith's physical tools give him the potential to be exactly that type of player. His three-point shooting has shown slight improvement - up to 33.5% last season on limited attempts - but he'll need to get that number closer to 36% to become a truly reliable offensive threat. I'd love to see him model his game after players like Marcus Smart, who leveraged defensive excellence into a crucial role on contending teams despite not being a traditional scoring point guard.
The reality is that Smith's window as a potential starter might be closing, but I believe he can have a long career as a valuable rotation player if he continues to hone his defensive skills and makes incremental improvements to his shooting. At 26 years old, he's entering what should be the prime of his career, and we've seen numerous players make significant leaps at this stage when they find the right situation and coaching staff. The Nets seem to recognize what they have in Smith, and I'm hopeful that their development program can help him maximize the considerable talent that made him the 9th overall pick back in 2017. His journey serves as a reminder that player development isn't always linear, and sometimes the players who take the longest to find their footing end up providing the most value in unexpected ways.
