Derek Smith (basketball)
Encyclopedia
Derek Ervin Smith was an American NBA player. He won a national championship with the Louisville Cardinals
in 1980, and spent nine years in the NBA in a career shortened by a knee injury. He would later become an assistant coach for the Washington Bullets
from 1994 until his death.
from 1979 to 1982. He was a member of the 1980 University of Louisville Cardinals basketball team
which won the NCAA championship
, defeating UCLA 59–54.
Smith is sometimes credited with popularizing the term "high five
" during the 1979–80 basketball season.
Smith was selected 35th overall, 13th in the second round, by the Golden State Warriors
in the 1982 NBA Draft
. He played for the Los Angeles Clippers
from 1983 to 1986. He averaged 22 points per game in 1984-85. He started 1985-86 on a 23-ppg clip before his season ended with an ACL
tear from which he would never fully recover. He played for the Sacramento Kings
from 1986–1989, for the Philadelphia 76ers
in 1989 and 1990, and the Boston Celtics
in 1991. During his NBA career he scored over 5,000 points.
Smith became an assistant coach for the Washington Bullets
in 1994.
ship MS Dreamward for season ticketholders of the Bullets and the Washington Capitals
. He took his family along. Smith and then-Bullets player Tim Legler
volunteered to hold basketball clinics during the cruise.
On August 9, 1996, while the ship was near Bermuda
and returning to New York City
, Derek Smith suddenly suffered an apparent massive heart attack during a farewall cocktail party in the presence of members of his team. Ship medics attempted to resuscitate him for 25 minutes before declaring him dead.
Smith was buried at Cave Hill Cemetery in Louisville, Kentucky
. His funeral was attended by the Bullets team and several former teammates.
. Nolan played college basketball for the Duke Blue Devils
. Like his father 30 years before him, Nolan made it to the Final Four of the 2010 NCAA D-I tournament
and he and his Duke Blue Devils won the 2010 National Championship just as his father did in 1980. Nolan has a tattoo of his father on his right arm.
Louisville Cardinals
The Louisville Cardinals are the athletic teams representing the University of Louisville. A member of the Big East Conference since 2005, they are known nationally as traditional powers in men's basketball, women's volleyball, and dance team...
in 1980, and spent nine years in the NBA in a career shortened by a knee injury. He would later become an assistant coach for the Washington Bullets
Washington Wizards
The Washington Wizards are a professional basketball team based in Washington, D.C., previously known as Washington Bullets. They play in the National Basketball Association .-Early years:...
from 1994 until his death.
Career
Smith attended the University of LouisvilleUniversity of Louisville
The University of Louisville is a public university in Louisville, Kentucky. When founded in 1798, it was the first city-owned public university in the United States and one of the first universities chartered west of the Allegheny Mountains. The university is mandated by the Kentucky General...
from 1979 to 1982. He was a member of the 1980 University of Louisville Cardinals basketball team
Louisville Cardinals men's basketball
The Louisville Cardinals men's basketball team is the 18th winningest college basketball team in NCAA Division I history and has the 10th best winning percentage in college basketball history. Currently coached by Rick Pitino, the Cardinals of the University of Louisville have been to 37 NCAA...
which won the NCAA championship
1980 NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Tournament
The 1980 NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Tournament involved 48 schools playing in single-elimination play to determine the national champion of men's NCAA Division I college basketball. It began on March 6, 1980, and ended with the championship game on March 24 in Indianapolis, Indiana...
, defeating UCLA 59–54.
Smith is sometimes credited with popularizing the term "high five
High five
The high five is a celebratory hand gesture that occurs when two people simultaneously raise one hand, about head high, and push, slide or slap the flat of their palm and hand against the palm and flat hand of their partner...
" during the 1979–80 basketball season.
Smith was selected 35th overall, 13th in the second round, by the Golden State Warriors
Golden State Warriors
The Golden State Warriors are an American professional basketball team based in Oakland, California. They are part of the Pacific Division of the Western Conference in the National Basketball Association...
in the 1982 NBA Draft
1982 NBA Draft
The 1982 NBA Draft took place on June 29, 1982 at the Felt Forum at Madison Square Garden in New York City, New York.-Key:-Draft:-Other picks:-External links:**...
. He played for the Los Angeles Clippers
Los Angeles Clippers
The Los Angeles Clippers are a professional basketball team based in Los Angeles, California, United States. They play in the Pacific Division of the Western Conference of the National Basketball Association...
from 1983 to 1986. He averaged 22 points per game in 1984-85. He started 1985-86 on a 23-ppg clip before his season ended with an ACL
Anterior cruciate ligament
The anterior cruciate ligament is a cruciate ligament which is one of the four major ligaments of the human knee. In the quadruped stifle , based on its anatomical position, it is referred to as the cranial cruciate ligament.The ACL originates from deep within the notch of the distal femur...
tear from which he would never fully recover. He played for the Sacramento Kings
Sacramento Kings
The Sacramento Kings are a professional basketball team based in Sacramento, California, United States. They are currently members of the Western Conference of the National Basketball Association...
from 1986–1989, for the Philadelphia 76ers
Philadelphia 76ers
The Philadelphia 76ers are a professional basketball team based in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. They play in the Atlantic Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Basketball Association . Originally known as the Syracuse Nationals, they are one of the oldest franchises in the NBA...
in 1989 and 1990, and the Boston Celtics
Boston Celtics
The Boston Celtics are a National Basketball Association team based in Boston, Massachusetts. They play in the Atlantic Division of the Eastern Conference. Founded in 1946, the team is currently owned by Boston Basketball Partners LLC. The Celtics play their home games at the TD Garden, which...
in 1991. During his NBA career he scored over 5,000 points.
Smith became an assistant coach for the Washington Bullets
Washington Wizards
The Washington Wizards are a professional basketball team based in Washington, D.C., previously known as Washington Bullets. They play in the National Basketball Association .-Early years:...
in 1994.
Death
In August 1996, Smith went on a cruise on the Norwegian Cruise LineNorwegian Cruise Line
Norwegian Cruise Line is a company operating cruise ships, headquartered in unincorporated Miami-Dade County, Florida. It began operations in 1966 under the name Norwegian Caribbean Line. The company is best known for its Freestyle Cruising concept, which means that there are no set times or...
ship MS Dreamward for season ticketholders of the Bullets and the Washington Capitals
Washington Capitals
The Washington Capitals are a professional ice hockey team based in Washington, D.C. They are members of the Southeast Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League . Since their founding in 1974, "The Caps" have won one conference championship to reach the 1998 Stanley Cup...
. He took his family along. Smith and then-Bullets player Tim Legler
Tim Legler
Timothy Eugene Legler is a retired American professional basketball player who played in the NBA. He is currently an ESPN basketball analyst.-La Salle:...
volunteered to hold basketball clinics during the cruise.
On August 9, 1996, while the ship was near Bermuda
Bermuda
Bermuda is a British overseas territory in the North Atlantic Ocean. Located off the east coast of the United States, its nearest landmass is Cape Hatteras, North Carolina, about to the west-northwest. It is about south of Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada, and northeast of Miami, Florida...
and returning to New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
, Derek Smith suddenly suffered an apparent massive heart attack during a farewall cocktail party in the presence of members of his team. Ship medics attempted to resuscitate him for 25 minutes before declaring him dead.
Smith was buried at Cave Hill Cemetery in Louisville, Kentucky
Louisville, Kentucky
Louisville is the largest city in the U.S. state of Kentucky, and the county seat of Jefferson County. Since 2003, the city's borders have been coterminous with those of the county because of a city-county merger. The city's population at the 2010 census was 741,096...
. His funeral was attended by the Bullets team and several former teammates.
Family
Derek was married to Monica, who has since re-married, and had two children; a daughter, Sydney, and a son, NolanNolan Smith
Nolan Derek Smith is an American professional basketball player for the NBA's Portland Trail Blazers, having been selected with the 21st pick in the 2011 NBA Draft after four years at Duke University. As a senior, he was named a first team AP All-American and the ACC Player of the Year...
. Nolan played college basketball for the Duke Blue Devils
Duke Blue Devils men's basketball
The Duke Blue Devils men's basketball team is the college basketball program representing Duke University in the Atlantic Coast Conference of NCAA Division I...
. Like his father 30 years before him, Nolan made it to the Final Four of the 2010 NCAA D-I tournament
2010 NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Tournament
The first and second round games were played at the following sites:*March 18 / 20*March 25 / 27*March 26 / 28Each regional winner advanced to the Final Four, held on April 3 and 5 in Indianapolis, Indiana at Lucas Oil Stadium, hosted by the Horizon League and Butler University, as per the NCAA's...
and he and his Duke Blue Devils won the 2010 National Championship just as his father did in 1980. Nolan has a tattoo of his father on his right arm.