Bingo Smith was a professional basketball player who played in the National Basketball Association (NBA) for 10 seasons. He was born on February 26, 1946, in Midway, Georgia, and attended the University of Tulsa, where he played college basketball.
Smith was drafted by the San Francisco Warriors in the second round of the 1969 NBA draft. He played for the Warriors for one season before being traded to the Cleveland Cavaliers, where he spent the majority of his career. Smith was known for his shooting ability and was a consistent scorer for the Cavaliers, averaging over 15 points per game in six of his nine seasons with the team.
In addition to his scoring, Smith was also a solid defender and was named to the NBA All-Defensive Second Team in 1976. He was a key player on the Cavaliers teams of the 1970s, helping the team reach the playoffs four times during his tenure.
After leaving the Cavaliers in 1979, Smith played one season for the San Diego Clippers before retiring from the NBA. He finished his career with averages of 12.8 points, 3.6 rebounds, and 2.1 assists per game.
Following his playing career, Smith worked as a coach and scout for several NBA teams, including the Cavaliers, Milwaukee Bucks, and Indiana Pacers. He was also inducted into the University of Tulsa Athletic Hall of Fame in 1992.
Overall, Bingo Smith was a talented basketball player who had a successful career in the NBA. He was a consistent scorer and solid defender who helped lead the Cleveland Cavaliers to several playoff appearances during the 1970s. After retiring from playing, Smith continued to contribute to the NBA as a coach and scout.
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