Real Madrid Baloncesto is currently in 7th place in the 2024-25 EuroLeague standings with 11 wins and nine losses. They are reportedly targeting an ex-NBA star to improve their ranking and move higher in the standings. According to a recent post by NBA Central on X (formerly Twitter), Dennis Smith Jr. is close to reaching a deal with Real Madrid.
Real Madrid had previously expressed interest in Devonte Graham; however, later reports indicated that those discussions did not lead to a deal. It will be interesting to see if the news regarding Smith results in a trade.
Smith was picked ninth overall in the 2017 NBA Draft by the Dallas Mavericks. After playing one full season with the Mavericks, he appeared in just 32 games during his second season before being traded to the New York Knicks on January 31, 2019. Following his time with the Knicks, he joined the Detroit Pistons, where he played 20 games.
Dennis Smith Jr. is nearing a deal with Real Madrid, per @Sportando pic.twitter.com/yCvBDeU1GW
— NBACentral (@TheDunkCentral) January 14, 2025
On September 23, 2021, Smith signed with the Portland Trail Blazers. However, after playing 37 games, he was diagnosed with a high-grade partial tear of the UCL in his right elbow, sidelining him for three to four weeks.
The Trail Blazers waived Smith on February 21. After his release, he contemplated shifting gears to the NFL as a defensive back rather than continuing his basketball career overseas. Instead, he received an invite to the Charlotte Hornets’ preseason camp and went on to play a season with the Hornets.
Later, he joined the Brooklyn Nets. Most recently, on December 20, 2024, the Ex-NBA Star signed with the Wisconsin Herd in the NBA G League. It would be incredible if Smith joined Real Madrid to play in the EuroLeague.
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Ex-NBA Star Smith Reveals His Top Five Point Guards He Ever Played Against
Smith played in the NBA for approximately seven years but did not achieve the recognition and accolades he had hoped for. Despite this, he had the opportunity to compete alongside and against some of the league’s top players. Recently, Smith appeared on Udonis Haslem’s podcast, The OGs, where he shared his list of the top five point guards he has ever faced.
Smith started by naming former NBA player Tyler Ulis as one of the best point guards he had ever faced. Smith highlighted Ulis’s skills during their matchups. Next, the ex-NBA star included Stephen Curry, the star of the Golden State Warriors, emphasizing that Curry is one of the toughest point guards to compete against.
The Ex-NBA Star also mentioned James Harden, specifically highlighting his time with the Houston Rockets. He also included Russell Westbrook and Kyrie Irving among the top point guards. However, Smith overlooked Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, the current leader on the KIA NBA MVP ladder, and Mavericks standout Luka Doncic. This exclusion may attract significant attention from analysts, and it will be interesting to see their reactions.
Also Read: Thunder Star Shai Gilgeous-Alexander Drops Giant Truth Bomb On His MVP Chances This Season
