Editor’s note: This story was originally published prior to the NBA Draft and has been updated.
Although Nick Smith Jr.’s productivity on the basketball court was limited, the 19-year-old Arkansas star who was once the top high school player in the country is ready for the NBA.
Since his days as a one-and-done at Arkansas ended, he’s ramped up the intensity.
“The pre-draft process has been one of the best offseasons I’ve had in a long time,” Smith recently told For The Win. “I’m just working on my game each and every day and getting my body prepared for an 82-game season.”
Smith was a McDonald’s All-American who participated in the Jordan Brand Classic and the Nike Hoop Summit in 2022. After playing one season of college basketball at Arkansas, he is a projected lottery pick in Thursday’s 2023 NBA Draft.
Here are four things to know about Smith before the draft.
1
There is quite a bit that Smith wasn’t able to show while in college
Smith, unfortunately, dealt with a nagging knee injury during his one-and-done freshman campaign at Arkansas. His playing time was limited and his performance on the court was not as productive as expected.
“Before I got hurt, I was one of the quickest guards in the draft, hands down. If you ask anybody around me, I’m super fast,” Smith explained. “A lot of people don’t really see that, though.”
Even hampered by injury, Smith used his quickness to average 3.6 fastbreak points per 40 minutes. According to CBB Analytics, that ranked in the 93rd percentile among all Division I men’s college basketball players.
While he recorded just four dunks while at Arkansas, per Bart Torvik, he feels confident his excellent first step and his explosiveness will come back now that he has had a strong injury.
Smith, who led all players in assists during the King Cotton Holiday Classic in 2021, also feels that he can take a massive step forward as a playmaker.
“I didn’t really get to show a lot of people the reads I can make during the game,” Smith said. “I feel like throughout my career, I will be one of the top passers. … I can get to that level.”
2
Smith didn’t want to shut his season down after getting hurt
Smith missed the first six games of his collegiate career due to a knee injury and didn’t make his collegiate debut until Nov. 28. He then played just five games before he was ruled out indefinitely for “right knee management” and injury rehabilitation.
Following the injury aggravation, there were widespread rumors that Smith had played his final game for the Razorbacks. According to Smith, however, that was never even considered as an option.
“People in my circle, my friends, knew I was coming back,” Smith said. “They ain’t even have to ask me. That was just a done deal.”
Smith explained that once he felt healthy enough to get back on the court, that was his goal.
He returned to the team on Feb. 11 and managed to score 26 points against Georgia (Feb. 21), 24 points against Alabama (Feb. 25) and 25 points against Kentucky (Mar. 4) to close out the regular season.
“I was just worried about getting 100 percent and coming back to the team and trying to help the team as much as I can and try to win,” Smith said.
One of the main reasons he wanted to come back, according to Smith, was to continue learning from Arkansas head coach Eric Musselman. His time with Musselman proved to be incredibly valuable.
“I got stronger,” Smith said. “I got more mobile and I actually understood the importance of defense.”
3
Smith credits his parents and his grandparents for his work ethic
When he met with NBA teams during the pre-draft process, Smith wanted them to know how hard he works relative to all the other prospects.
“One thing I try to do is give myself no negotiations,” Smith explained. “The game of basketball is my life. I take the game very seriously.”
Smith said that he learned the meaning of hard work from his parents, Nick Smith Sr. and Candace Smith. He said that he learned from them and he saw his grandma work two jobs “just to pay the bills” and that inspired him to keep working harder.
“When I was young, for me to watch them get up and go to work every day was enough for me,” Smith said. “I don’t want them working, not for too long.”
Smith said he was in tenth grade when he realized he could turn this game into his career.
“[It was] how I treated the game and how sick I was about the game. I knew it was going to take me to a high level,” Smith explained. “I’m here now but just trying to grind every day, every day, every day.”
4
He is confidently the best ‘NBA 2K’ player in this draft class
When he isn’t on the basketball court or in the gym, basketball is still a part of his life.
A lot of basketball players also enjoy playing the NBA 2K video game. Smith, however, said it’s different for him. Smith said that once he turns the console on, it doesn’t matter if he’s playing as any random team selected. He still feels that he is going to win.
“I haven’t lost,” Smith exclaimed. “No, like, bro, seriously. I haven’t lost in like years.”
When pressed, the Arkansas star admitted that he did actually lose one game while playing against a friend. But he said that playing this video game is all he does when he’s not actually playing in real life.
“If you ask anybody, I’m the best 2K player,” Smith said confidently. “Like, in the draft, I’d probably be the best 2K player in there.”
Smith said that he enjoys playing online in the MyCareer mode and that he is often recognized by some of the basketball fans that he plays against. He may need to protect his digital identity so he can keep playing with relative anonymity after he turns pro.
“I got to change my name on my PS5,” Smith said. “It be kind of funny though.”
MORE:
- Meet NBA draft prospect Noah Clowney, the ‘always overlooked’ Alabama product
- Meet NBA draft prospect Kris Murray, who’s creating his own basketball identity separate from twin Keegan
- Meet NBA draft prospect Dereck Lively, the big man from Duke who is going to dominate on defense
- Meet NBA draft sleeper Kobe Brown, who projects as the perfect ‘glue guy’ at the next level
- Meet NBA draft sleeper Maxwell Lewis, the saxophone player turned prototypical NBA wing
- Meet NBA draft prospect Olivier-Maxence Prosper, who says he is ‘somebody that is electric’
- Meet NBA draft sleeper Brandin Podziemski, who used the transfer portal to make himself a pro
