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Donta Smith

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Donta Smith
Smith with Hapoel Jerusalem, 2015
Maccabi Haifa
PositionSmall forward
LeagueIsraeli Premier League
Personal information
Born (1983-11-27) November 27, 1983 (age 41)
Louisville, Kentucky
NationalityAmerican / Venezuelan
Listed height6 ft 7 in (2.01 m)
Listed weight220 lb (100 kg)
Career information
High schoolOldham County (Buckner, Kentucky)
CollegeSoutheastern Illinois (2002–2004)
NBA draft2004: 2nd round, 34th overall pick
Selected by the Atlanta Hawks
Playing career2004–present
Career history
2004–2006Atlanta Hawks
2005–2006→Arkansas RimRockers
2007Academic Sofia
2008Shanxi Zhongyu
2008–2009South Dragons
2009Gigantes de Carolina
2009–2010Shanxi Zhongyu
2010Marinos de Anzoátegui
2010Vaqueros de Bayamón
2010Espartanos de Margarita
2010–2011Liaoning Dinosaurs
2011Marinos de Anzoátegui
2011Fuerza Regia
2012Indios de Mayagüez
2012–2014Maccabi Haifa
2014–2016Hapoel Jerusalem
2017Bucaneros de La Guaira
2017Piratas de Quebradillas
2017–2018Brindisi
2018Santeros de Aguada.
2018–2019Élan Béarnais Pau-Orthez
2019–2020Levallois Metropolitans
2020–presentMaccabi Haifa
Career highlights and awards
Stats at NBA.com Edit this at Wikidata
Stats at Basketball Reference Edit this at Wikidata

Donta Lamont Smith (born November 27, 1983) is an American-Venezuelan professional basketball player for Maccabi Haifa of the Israeli Premier League.

High school

Smith played his high school basketball at Oldham County High School, in Buckner, Kentucky, where he was a standout forward on the high school team, and also a record-setting wide receiver on the football team. He also played on the Kentucky (high school) All-Stars in their annual two-game series against the Indiana All-Stars.

College career

After two years of playing junior college basketball at Southeastern Illinois College, Smith was rated as one of the top JUCO prospects, and he committed to play NCAA Division I college basketball for Rick Pitino at the University of Louisville, with the Louisville Cardinals. However, Smith backed out of the commitment, and entered the 2004 NBA Draft instead.

Professional career

Smith was taken by the Atlanta Hawks in the second round of the 2004 NBA draft, after playing JUCO college basketball at Southeastern Illinois College, and he averaged 3.3 points per game for the Hawks during his two-season stint. On December 2, 2005, the Hawks assigned Smith to their NBA Development League affiliate, the Arkansas RimRockers.[1]

In January 2007, Smith signed a one-month contract with Bulgarian champions Academic Sofia, which could possibly be extended to five months. On December 24, 2008, Smith signed with the South Dragons of the Australian National Basketball League. He had previously been with the Chinese Basketball Association's Shanxi Zhongyu but was waived to make roster space available for Bonzi Wells.[2]

In 2009, Smith went on to win the 2009 NBL championship with the South Dragons, and was named Finals MVP after starring for the team in the 5-game series. After one season with the South Dragons, Smith would return to the Shanxi Zhongyu for the 2009–10 season. In December 2010 he signed with the Liaoning Dinosaurs.[3]

In 2011, Smith signed with Fuerza Regia in Mexico.[4] He later played for the Indios de Mayaguez of Puerto Rico,[5] and Maccabi Haifa of Israel.[6]

Smith led Haifa to its first Israeli Super League title ever during the 2012–13 season, his first with his team, along with teammate Gal Mekel. In the following season, 2013–14, Smith was awarded the Israeli Basketball League's Most Valuable Player Award, after leading Haifa to the finals for the second time in a row. Haifa, however, could not win the title again, after losing the finals to EuroLeague superpower Maccabi Tel Aviv. In 2014, he was chosen the MVP of the Israeli All-Star game.

In June 2014, after two successful seasons with Haifa, Smith signed a three-year contact with Israeli team Hapoel Jerusalem. In his first season with the team, he was instrumental in its winning its first ever national championship. He left Hapoel Jerusalem in July 2016 after losing the opportunity for a second title to Maccabi Rishon LeZion BC.

On November 23, 2017, Smith signed with New Basket Brindisi for the rest of the 2017–18 LBA season.[7]

On June 4, 2018, Smith signed with Santeros de Aguada for the rest of the 2018 BSN Season.[8]

On July 9, 2018, Smith signed with the French team Élan Béarnais Pau-Lacq-Orthez for the 2018–19 season.[9]

On August 31, 2019, he has signed 3-months deal with Levallois Metropolitans of the LNB Pro A.[10] Smith averaged 8.7 points, 4.4 rebounds and 4.6 assists per game. On July 15, 2020, he signed with Maccabi Haifa of the Israeli Premier League.[11]

National team career

In August 2013, Smith was naturalized as a Venezuelan, in order for him to be able to play with the Venezuelan national basketball team.[12] He played with Venezuela at the 2013 FIBA Americas Championship.

References

  1. ^ HAWKS ASSIGN DONTA SMITH TO NBA D-LEAGUE
  2. ^ South Dragons welcome recruit Donta Smith
  3. ^ Good to go: Liaoning signs its second import, Donta Smith
  4. ^ Fuerza Regia brings in Donta Smith
  5. ^ Mayagez signs Donta Smith
  6. ^ Maccabi Tel Aviv, Jerusalem, Maccabi Haifa and Ashdod in the semifinals
  7. ^ Happy Casa Brindisi signs Donta Smith
  8. ^ "Donta Smith signs with Santeros de Aguada". Sportando.basketball. 4 June 2018. Retrieved 6 June 2018.
  9. ^ "Pau-Orthez signs Donta Smith". Sportando.basketball. July 9, 2018. Retrieved July 9, 2018.
  10. ^ "Metropolitans sign Donta Smith". Sportando. August 31, 2019. Retrieved September 2, 2019.
  11. ^ "Forward Donta Smith returns to Maccabi Haifa". Sportando. July 15, 2020. Retrieved July 15, 2020.
  12. ^ "Donta Smith se nacionaliza y se ofrece para jugar con Venezuela". Archived from the original on 2014-12-13. Retrieved 2013-08-25.
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