Ishmael Larry Smith is a professional basketball player from the United States. Ish Smith is a simple man who believes in God. He is currently part of the Denver Nuggets roster.

Ish Smith has signed with the Washington Wizards through 2020, making him the twelfth franchise he has played for in the last eight seasons.

He played collegiate basketball for Wake Forest University before going undrafted in the NBA draught 2010. Ish is Wake Forest’s only player with 1,000 points and 600 assists.

Smith has shown to be a valuable asset to the clubs he has played. He is a solid player because of his ability to make rapid decisions, athleticism, defense, and attention to detail.

Despite going undrafted in 2010, he has spent enough time in the NBA.

The 6-foot-3-point guard has been in the NBA for a decade. 

>> Best betting sites (2024)

Quick Facts

Full Name	Ishmael Larry Smith
Birth Date	July 5, 1988
Birth Place	Charlotte, North Carolina
Age	34 years old
Nick Name	Ish
Religion	Christianity
Nationality	American
Ethnicity	African-American
Alma Mater	Wake Forest University Central Cabarrus High School
Horoscope	Cancer
Father’s Name	Larry Smith
Mother’s Name	Gwen Smith
Siblings	Gerald, Serlethea, and Lativia
Height	6’0″ (1.83 m)
Weight	79 kg
Profession	Professional basketball player
Position	Point guard
NBA draft	2010/ undrafted
Jersey Number	14 (Washington Wizards)
Relationship status	Single
Salary	$6,00,0000
Social Media	Facebook, Instagram & Twitter.

 

Early Life, Family & Education

Larry and Gwen Smith welcomed their first child, Ishmael “Ish” Smith, on June 5, 1988.

He was raised in Charlotte, North Carolina, with his brother Gerald and sisters Serlethea and Latvia. Smith went to Central Cabarrus High School in Concord, North Carolina.

Smith described his parents as “very spiritual people” who introduced him to the religion. He grew up going to Victory Christian Centre.

He was a member and part of the varsity of the high school basketball squad during his high school years. Smith graduated from high school with 1,775 points and a school-record 687 assists.

Furthermore, as a senior, he guided his school team, MECA-6 Conference, to the tournament title. 

In 2006, he was named MECA-6 Conference Player of the Year for his hard work during the tournament. He was also named All-Conference in 2005 and 2006.

During his senior year, Rivals ranked him the 28th best point guard in the USA, and Scout.com ranked him 17th.

College Career and Injury

He enrolled at Wake Forest University in 2006 after graduating from Central Cabarrus. He also participated in basketball for the squad and earned a bachelor’s degree in religion.

He started all 31 games as a rookie and finished as the team’s second-leading scorer. Furthermore, he broke Chris Paul’s previous assist record.

He started all 30 games as a point guard in his second year. He was elected team captain after leading the club in assists with 141.

During his junior year, Ish Smith was named team captain once more. He made 29 appearances and was voted the team’s Most Improved Player.

Athletes are no strangers to injuries, and Ish was no exception.

He missed the season’s first two matches after injuring a bone in his left foot in mid-September.

Smith returned to the court against Winston-Salem State in November. Despite his injuries, he finished the season with seven double-digit scoring games.

During his senior year, he had all 31 matches at point guard and was named team captain once more. The NABC called Ish to its second-team all-district squad.

Furthermore, collecting the Murray Greason and Team Assists Leader honor is the NBA player’s career highlight.

During the NCAA Tournament, the point guard completed his amateur career with four assists and two points. He is regarded as one of the best all-around players in school history.

Age, Height, And Weight

As of July 5, 2021, the NBA player will be 33 years old. Furthermore, the athlete maintains perfect health and diet. 

As a result, despite being in his 30s, Ish is in good shape and has a toned physique. Aside from that, the point guard stands 6 feet tall and weighs 175 lb (79 kg).

Professional Career

He joined the Houston Rockets after going undrafted in the 2010 NBA Draught. Smith was then assigned to the Rio Grande Valley Vipers on January 17, 2011, but was reassigned the following day, January 24.

He was moved to and played for the Memphis Grizzlies, Golden State Warriors, Orlando Magic, and Milwaukee Bucks between 2011 and 2013.

Phoenix Suns (2013-2014)

Smith was traded to the Phoenix Suns on August 29, 2013. He set a career-high with eight assists against the New Orleans Pelicans in only his third game.

He had a career-high 15 points against the San Antonio Spurs in February 2014. On July 15, 2014, the Suns waived him.

Oklahoma City Thunder (2014-2015)

On July 19, 2014, Ish signed with the Houston Rockets. But was later dropped in October. On the other hand, Smith signed with the Oklahoma City Thunder in November 2014.

Philadelphia 76ers (2015)

On February 22, 2015, the Thunder traded him to the Philadelphia 76ers. He set a career season high with 19 points and nine assists for the club, but they lost to the Toronto Raptors. 

On March 11, he set a career-high with 23 points. The team’s offensive numbers improved dramatically once they acquired Smith as their shooting guard.

New Orleans Pelicans (2015)

Smith joined the New Orleans Pelicans in October 2015 and debuted the following day. In the first game, he had 17 points and nine assists.

He had his first double-double and a career-high 12 assists against the Dallas Mavericks on November 10.

Ish set a new career best for assists for the third time on November 20 after scoring 17 points and dishing out 13 assists.

Philadelphia 76ers (2015-2016)

After being traded by the Pelicans, Ish Smith rejoined the Philadelphia 76ers. He contributed 14 points in his first game to the team’s second triumph over the Phoenix Suns.

On January 9, 2016, he set a career-high with 28 points for Philadelphia.=

Detroit Pistons (2016–2019)

On July 8, 2016, Smith joined his ninth professional basketball squad. Smith was on a three-year, $18 million contract.

In 2017, he became the first NBA player in Detroit history to have 15 assists off the bench in a 144-108 overtime victory.

Smith scored 25 points against the Miami Heat in February 2018, leading to a 111-107 victory.

Washington Wizards (2019-2021)

On July 9, 2019, Ish joined his eleventh team, the Washington Wizards. On October 23, 2019, he scored 7 points in his first game with Washington. 

Smith set a career-high with 32 points against the Denver Nuggets with the Washington Wizards. In January 2020, Troy Brown scored 25 points to lead the team to a 128-111 triumph. 

The Wizards recently announced that the athlete would be out for 6-8 weeks because of an injury to his right proximal quad. As a result, he requires rest to mend and recover from his injury. 

Charlotte Hornets (2021-2022) 

Smith signed a contract with his hometown team, the Charlotte Hornets, on August 7, 2021. Smith became the 12th player in NBA history to sign with a different team, joining Joe Smith, Chucky Brown, Jim Jackson, Kevin Ollie, and Tony Massenburg as the only players to do so.

Return to Washington (2022) 

Smith was returned to the Washington Wizards on February 10, 2022, along with Vernon Carey Jr., in exchange for Montrezl Harrell.

Denver Nuggets (2022-present)

Smith was dealt to the Denver Nuggets on July 6, 2022, along with Kentavious Caldwell-Pope, for Monté Morris and Will Barton. Smith made his first team appearance on October 19, 2022. This is his 13th NBA franchise in his career, making him the only NBA player to have played for at least 13 different teams.

Smith on Dunking

Smith is recognized for his solid crossovers and three-point shooting. But don’t expect to see him dunk.

It’s the first time he’s done it since the 2017-18 season. It’s not that he can’t, but he chooses not to. 

Smith has a long-term vision, which explains why he has unusually longevity in the NBA.

He believes that the negative implications of dunking are not worth it.

In an interview with N.B.C. Sports Washington, he stated, “I’m saving my legs.” The youthful Smith would dunk anytime he could, but he is now over it. 

Kevin Durant called Smith one of the NBA’s fastest players. Smith has always been quick on the field and considers it a gift.

His mother advised him to use his strength to his advantage, which he has always done. 

Salary, Contract, and Net Worth

Smith graciously accepted a three-year, $18 million contract with the Pistons in 2016.

Smith signed a two-year, $12 million contract with the Washington Wizards in 2019. The basic salary for Ish Smith in 2020-21 is expected to be $6,00,000. 

He was the Washington Wizards’ seventh highest-paid player in 2019-2020.

Furthermore, he is set to become the Washington Wizards’ fourth highest-paid player in 2020-2021. Smith has amassed considerable wealth and reputation during his career.

Although his net worth has not been released, it is thought to be in the $10 million range.

Smith Religion

Smith believes in God and feels that the trip takes part in God’s design.

The challenge is to put your faith to the test. Smith maintains his faith and feels things will continue to go well for him.

Smith admits that he wakes up every morning grateful to God for his blessings, opportunities, and capacity. 

He claims that majoring in religion gave him respect for all faiths. He reads the Bible frequently and prays before every game and before the national anthem.

Furthermore, in an interview, he stated that reading, whether the Bible or his parents’ daily devotions, has helped him grow as a Christian man.

Personality

Smith has an “all-star smile,” meaning he is constantly joyful and a humble, uncomplicated man. Furthermore, he is a dedicated and relentless player who has played nearly 40 minutes per game.

Smith lives a brief and humble life based on his social media. Smith joined his head coach in Capital One Arena to thank volunteers and meet voters ahead of the 2020 U.S. elections.

Relationship and Girlfriend

Maintaining a personal and private life while being a public figure is tough, but Smith appears to be doing so. He attempts to keep his life confidential and private.

As a result, little information about his dating life can be obtained online. There have been no stories about his relationship.

As a result, little information about his dating life can be obtained online. There is no information about his partner or his dating life.

He is said to be single and dedicated to his work and games.

Social Media Presence

Smith has a tiny yet devoted social media following. Nonetheless, as of 2020, he has 55,102 Facebook followers.

Similarly, he has 42.1 thousand Instagram followers and 3,432 Twitter followers. The player shares NBA-related news, highlights, and events on his social media pages. 

Frequently Asked Questions

How old is Ish Smith?

Since the player was born on July 5, 1988, he is 32 years old as of 2023. 

What is Ish Smith’s real name? Is he a free agent?

The point guard’s real name is Ishmael Larry Smith.

Ish Smith was a free agent but has agreed to a one-year contract with the Charlotte Hornet. 

What NBA team does Ish Smith play for? What is his rating?

Currently, the basketballer plays for the Washington Wizards. He has been a member of the team since 2019. Previously, he played for Detroit Pistons, Philadelphia 76ers, New Orleans Pelicans, etc. 

As of now, he stands at 73 in rating. 

What position is Ish Smith? What is his career statistic like?

Smith plays the position of a point guard. He maintains a career statistic of an average of 7.7 points, 2.5 rebounds, 3.9 assists, and 0.7 steals. 

Furthermore, he has played 654 career games and averaged 20.2 minutes per game. 

As for his 2020 season stat, Ish played 44 games in total, maintaining an average of 6.7 points, 3.4 rebounds, 3.9 assists, and 0.7 steals. Likewise, he has played an average of 21.0 minutes per game. 

How tall is Ish Smith?

The NBA player is 6 feet tall. 

When did Ish Smith get injured?

Ish got injured quite recently. A week ago, The Athletic writer Fred Katz wrote that Smith has a right proximal quad injury.

As a result, the NBA player has to sit out for six to eight weeks. Nevertheless, Smith is going to be re-evaluated in three weeks.