Doug Smith (basketball)
Douglas Smith is an American former professional basketball player. He was selected by the Dallas Mavericks as the sixth overall pick in the NBA draft.
College career
Smith is a 1987 graduate of Detroit's Mackenzie High School; he played collegiate basketball for the University of Missouri, where his number 34 is retired. Smith was named the Big Eight Conference Men's Basketball Player of the Year for the 1989-90 and 1990-91 seasons and led his team to the Big Eight Conference Championship.Professional career
Smith played in five NBA seasons, for the Mavericks and the Boston Celtics and averaged 8.0 ppg in his NBA career.Drafted 6th overall in the 1991 NBA Draft, the Mavericks hoped Smith would compliment or eventually replace starting forward Roy Tarpley but Roy was banned by the NBA on October 17, 1991.However, Doug did not make the most of his opportunity: he missed his rookie training camp due to a contract dispute and did not sign his rookie contract until November 2nd, a day after the 1991-92 NBA season began.
His success in college didn't continue in the NBA: he was mired with foul trouble on the defensive end, didn't stay in shape, and was seen as a bust.
He was selected by the Toronto Raptors in the 1995 expansion draft, but was released before playing
any games. On October 4, 1995, signed with the Boston Celtics. He lasted the entire season in Boston, appearing in just 17 games while averaging a new career low in points per game with 1.9. Doug was waived in July 1996 by the Celtics, ending his NBA career.
Smith won Continental Basketball Association (CBA) championships with the Oklahoma City Cavalry in 1997 and Quad City Thunder in 1998. He was named to the All-CBA Second Team in 1998.