Where did Ish Smith go to college?

Ish Smith is an American professional basketball player who is currently a free agent. He last played for the Charlotte Hornets in the 2023/24 NBA season. Renowned for his unique distinction of playing for the most NBA teams in the league’s history i.e. impressive 13 NBA franchises throughout his career, Smith has solidified his status as a legendary journeyman in the league.

Undrafted in 2010, Smith's journey began with the Houston Rockets, setting the stage for a remarkable journeyman career characterized by adaptability to new teams and resilience. Embracing the role of a backup point guard, Smith's versatility and reliability made him a sought-after asset for various teams.

Throughout his 13-year career, Smith's contract was often tradeable which resulted in numerous trades and waivers for Ish. Yet he consistently found himself back on the court, providing stability and depth as a backup option for numerous NBA teams.

Despite starting only 172 out of 805 NBA games in his career, Ish Smith’s impact and contribution to each team have been widely appreciated. As Ish Smith enters free agency in 2024, speculation looms regarding which team will secure his services next.

Ish Smith College

Ish Smith had an illustrious college basketball career at Wake Forest University. During his four years with the Deacons, he made a lasting impact, ranking second all-time for assists in school history.

During his freshman season, under the guidance of coach Skip Prosser, Smith started in almost all the games (30 started out of 31), averaging 8.7 points, 3.8 rebounds, and 6 assists per game while logging an impressive 30 minutes per game. In his sophomore year, Smith's statistics remained consistent, demonstrating his reliability and steady performance on the court.

However, it was during his junior season that Smith's role completely changed, as he transitioned to a backup point guard role for the first time in his college career under coach Dino Gaudio. During the 2008-09 college season, Ish Smith started coming off the bench behind the preferred backcourt duo of L.D. Williams and future NBA player Jeff Teague.

Despite coming off the bench, Smith embraced this new role and learnt valuable lessons about impacting the game as a reserve. Eventually, this experience served as a blueprint for his future NBA career, providing valuable insights into how to make a meaningful contribution in a reserve role.

In his senior year, with Jeff Teague having departed for the NBA, Ish Smith reclaimed his starting position at point guard. With great experience of three years behind him, Smith rose to the occasion, and delivered several standout performances as the team's starting floor general.

Averaging 13.2 points, 6.0 assists, 4.9 rebounds, and 1.6 steals per game, Smith's outstanding performance earned him numerous accolades, including Second-Team All-ACC and Second-Team All-District honors from the NABC. Additionally, he received the team's Murray Greason Award and Team Assists Leader award, underscoring his leadership and playmaking abilities.

Overall, Ish Smith's impressive collegiate career saw him accumulate averages of 9.2 points, 5.1 assists, 3.7 rebounds, and 1.3 steals per game across 121 games for Wake Forest. His impact on the court was undeniable, and he remains the only player in Wake Forest history to achieve the milestone of 1,000 points and 600 assists (1114 points and 612 assists) in his NCAA Div I career.

With such a distinguished NCAA Div I career, there are hopes that Wake Forest may choose to retire Smith's jersey in recognition of his contributions to the program—a fitting tribute to a player who left an indelible mark on the university's basketball history.

Ish Smith Draft

Ish Smith wasn't picked in the 2010 NBA Draft. He tried out for several different NBA teams before joining the Houston Rockets on August 23, 2010, marking the beginning of his NBA career.

Ish Smith NBA Teams

Ish Smith has played for a total of 13 NBA teams throughout his 14-year NBA career. The teams he has played for are —

1. Houston Rockets (2010–2011)

2. Memphis Grizzlies (2011)

3. Golden State Warriors (2011–2012)

4. Orlando Magic (2012–2013)

5. Milwaukee Bucks (2013)

6. Phoenix Suns (2013–2014)

7. Oklahoma City Thunder (2014–2015)

8. Philadelphia 76ers (2015, 2015–2016)

9. New Orleans Pelicans (2015)

10. Detroit Pistons (2016–2019)

11. Washington Wizards (2019–2021, and in 2022)

12. Charlotte Hornets (2021–2022, and 2023–2024)

13. Denver Nuggets (2022-23)

Note: Smith also played in the G-League in 2011. He represented G-League team Rio Grande Valley Vipers in 2011.