Tony Smith is a former professional basketball player who played in the NBA and overseas. He was born on June 14, 1968, in Los Angeles, California. Smith attended Pepperdine University, where he played college basketball for four years. During his college career, he was named the West Coast Conference Player of the Year in 1990 and was a two-time All-WCC selection.
After graduating from college, Smith was selected by the Los Angeles Lakers in the second round of the 1990 NBA draft. He played for the Lakers for two seasons, from 1991 to 1993. During his time with the Lakers, Smith played in 107 games and averaged 4.3 points, 1.5 rebounds, and 1.3 assists per game. He was known for his defensive skills and was often tasked with guarding the opposing team's best player.
In 1993, Smith was traded to the Miami Heat, where he played for one season. He then played for the Phoenix Suns for one season before being traded to the Atlanta Hawks in 1995. Smith played for the Hawks for two seasons before being traded to the Milwaukee Bucks in 1997. He played for the Bucks for one season before being traded to the Denver Nuggets in 1998. Smith played for the Nuggets for one season before being traded to the Orlando Magic in 1999. He played for the Magic for one season before being traded to the Golden State Warriors in 2000. Smith played for the Warriors for one season before retiring from the NBA in 2001.
After retiring from the NBA, Smith played overseas in Europe and Asia. He played for teams in Italy, Greece, Turkey, and China. Smith also played for the United States national team in the 1998 FIBA World Championship, where he helped the team win the bronze medal.
In addition to his basketball career, Smith has also worked as a basketball coach. He has coached at the high school and college levels, including at his alma mater, Pepperdine University. Smith has also worked as a basketball analyst for various media outlets, including ESPN and Fox Sports.
Overall, Tony Smith had a successful basketball career, playing in the NBA and overseas and representing the United States on the national team. He was known for his defensive skills and was a valuable asset to the teams he played for. After retiring from playing, Smith has continued to be involved in basketball as a coach and analyst.
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