Michael Jordan Saves Former Dallas Mavericks Star, Who Was ‘Jobless and Frustrated’, And Thought of Switching to Football
Michael Jordan has turned savior again as he signed Dennis Smith Jr. to Charlotte Hornets in the summer. The player was thinking of switching the sport due to being jobless during the NBA off-season. Dennis Smith Jr., who was previously seen as the main reward for dealing with Kristaps Porzingis, started preparing for the NFL during the summer after becoming unemployed and dissatisfied. The redemption tour for Dennis Smith Jr. is going really well.
Smith Jr. of the Charlotte Hornets is one of the stars of the opening of the regular season, according to NBA analysts, media, and fans. In LaMelo Ball’s absence, the 24-year-old guard, selected ninth overall in the 2017 draft, is starting for the Charlotte Hornets. On Wednesday, he recorded 14 points and 11 assists in a 134-131 overtime defeat to the New York Knicks.
ALSO READ: WATCH: Nets fan throws cup at Mavericks superstar Luka Doncic, gets arrested
Michael Jordan and his Hornets stopped Dennis Smith Jr from joining NFL
“I told my previous agent, ‘I’m not going overseas,'” Smith said.
“If shit don’t work out, I’m just going to the NFL. And I was dead-ass serious. I put on hella weight. I was gonna try.”
Up till the Hornets arrived. He only had a single one-way ticket in September, had one year remaining on his contract, and had few other choices. Only then did Smith Jr. take the initiative. He assumed responsibilities on defense and has developed into the ideal addition to the Charlotte team.
Dennis Smith Jr. was already working on a backup plan 👀 pic.twitter.com/up2lDuPhmq
— Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) October 27, 2022
Smith Jr. said that if it weren’t for the fact that he was one of the best basketball prospects in the country, he excelled in high school and would have played college football. Although it never materialized, his goal was to play defensive back in the NFL.
In the midst of Smith’s second season, the Dallas Mavericks moved him to the New York Knicks as part of the Kristaps Porzingis exchange. At first, he took over as New York’s starting point guard, but he was unable to maintain his health, shoot threes, or otherwise hold down a position in the rotation.
Dennis Smith Jr. this season:
13.5 PPG
6.3 APG
2.3 RPG
2.3 SPG
0.8 BPG
52% FG
50% 3P
28.4 MPG pic.twitter.com/PQwzlyRDBJ— Hoop Central (@TheHoopCentral) October 27, 2022
He was traded by the Knicks to the Detroit Pistons in February 2021 along with a second-round selection for seasoned player Derrick Rose. After the season ended, Detroit moved on, and in the summer of 2021, the Portland Trail Blazers acquired him on a training-camp contract. While he was out with an elbow injury in February 2022, the Blazers released him.
More NBA news:
