The Rise and Fall of Dennis Smith Jr's Basketball Career: What's Next?

2025-11-16 10:00

I remember watching Dennis Smith Jr's explosive debut season with the Dallas Mavericks back in 2017-18, thinking we were witnessing the birth of the next great NBA point guard. The kid from North Carolina State averaged 15.2 points and 5.2 assists that rookie year, displaying the kind of athleticism that made highlight reels must-watch material. His 48-inch vertical leap became the stuff of legend, and I genuinely believed he'd be a franchise cornerstone for years to come. Fast forward to today, and Smith's career trajectory has been anything but linear—a cautionary tale about how quickly professional sports can humble even the most gifted athletes.

The parallels between Smith's journey and what's happening in other basketball leagues worldwide are striking. Just look at the MPBL situation in the Philippines, where JUNTHY Valenzuela had to step up to become head coach of the Cebu Greats after the team suffered through those embarrassing early-season losses. I've followed international basketball long enough to recognize these patterns—when teams struggle, changes happen fast, and careers can pivot dramatically. Smith experienced similar turbulence when the Mavericks traded him to the New York Knicks just two seasons into his NBA career, a move that fundamentally altered his development path. What fascinates me about these transitions is how they reveal character—both in coaches like Valenzuela taking over struggling squads and players like Smith adapting to new environments.

Smith's time in New York was particularly tough to watch. His shooting percentages plummeted—from 39.5% with Dallas to 41% in his first Knicks season, though his three-point percentage dipped to a concerning 29%. I've always believed that confidence is the invisible stat in basketball, and Smith's body language during that period suggested his was crumbling. The game seemed to slow down for him in all the wrong ways, and his decision-making suffered. Meanwhile, back in the MPBL, Valenzuela was facing his own challenges, taking over a Cebu Greats team that had lost five of their first seven games by an average margin of 18 points. Both situations demonstrate how organizational instability can derail promising basketball careers, whether you're a player or a coach.

What surprises me most about Smith's journey is how he's become something of a basketball nomad. Since leaving Dallas, he's worn five different NBA uniforms in six seasons, including stints with Detroit, Portland, and Charlotte. The numbers tell a sobering story—his career averages have settled at around 9.5 points and 4.2 assists, far from those promising rookie numbers. I can't help but compare this to coaches like Valenzuela, who face different but equally challenging career uncertainties. When you're constantly adapting to new systems, new teammates, and new expectations, it's incredibly difficult to establish rhythm or identity.

The Detroit chapter particularly stood out to me because it represented both redemption and limitation. Smith started 23 games for the Pistons in the 2020-21 season, averaging 6.7 points and 3.3 assists—hardly spectacular numbers, but he showed flashes of the defensive intensity that could keep him in the league. This reminds me of how coaches like Valenzuela have to find value in different aspects of their team's performance when wins aren't coming easily. Sometimes survival in professional basketball means reinventing your role and embracing what you do well rather than trying to be everything to everyone.

Looking at Smith's current situation, I'm struck by the reality that he's still only 26 years old—younger than many players entering their prime. Yet he's already become something of a veteran presence, a former lottery pick fighting for roster spots alongside undrafted players. There's a certain humility required in that transition that I respect immensely. Similarly, coaches like Valenzuela demonstrate adaptability when taking over struggling teams mid-season, focusing on incremental improvements rather than immediate turnarounds.

What's next for Dennis Smith Jr? Personally, I believe his best path forward lies in fully embracing the defensive specialist role while continuing to develop as a playmaker. His athletic tools remain elite—he recorded 1.3 steals per game last season in limited minutes, proving he can disrupt offenses. The overseas option always exists, but something tells me Smith still has NBA value if he finds the right situation. Much like how Valenzuela stepped into his coaching role unexpectedly, sometimes careers find new life when we stop trying to force our original vision and instead respond to what the game needs from us now.

The truth is, basketball careers rarely follow straight lines. Smith's story—like Valenzuela's sudden coaching promotion—reminds me that adaptability often matters more than raw talent in the long run. I've followed enough players to know that sometimes the most meaningful growth happens during the struggles, not the successes. Smith's next chapter might not include All-Star appearances, but it could still feature valuable contributions to winning basketball. And in a league that increasingly values role players, that might be exactly the redemption story worth following.