No one wants to jump with Dennis Smith Jr.
I still remember the wild debates Davion, Dhevin and I had about the 2003 draft class and which players would be the most fun to watch. Davion couldn’t wait to see LeBron James suit up for Cleveland, Dhevin still believes in Carmelo Anthony and I was sold on Dwyane Wade after watching him at Marquette. It was an easy choice for all of us, and our individual personalities somewhat aligned with the games of the players we chose. We’ve been doing the same thing every year since that draft class, but after the 2017 Summer League, there was no debate about who we were most excited to watch: Dennis Smith Jr.
After watching this past offseason’s Summer League, there were few players who seemed worth paying attention to more than Smith. What stood out most from early film of the Mavericks' rookie guard was how easily he was able to get to the rim at this level. He was incredibly patient in pick-and-roll sets and crafty when isolated. Smith finished with both hands and had the footwork to create space when he got in trouble. He shot relatively well in catch-and-shoot situations and used his ability to knock down shots from beyond the perimeter to take advantage of aggressive closeouts to get to the rim.
Since entering the league he’s become a linchpin to the continuance of those who exercise indomitable athleticism without compromise. There is a fraternity of men who create micro-moments that will last several lifetimes because their bodies dare to challenge what physics says is impossible.
Smith was born into this fraternity, inspiring just awe that fellow ballers inertly watch as he destroys rims. He is the future of his franchise and the apotheosis of this fantastic rookie class. He can create, he can shoot, and he is learning how to play without the ball and on the other side of the floor. There are few doubts that Smith can, and will, become a complete player in this league, but there is only one fact that we should care about in this rookie season: No one wants to jump with Dennis Smith Jr.
Nothing quite sums up Smith’s season so far as much as this first-quarter dunk against the San Antonio Spurs. He’s isolated at the top of the key with Pau Gasol as the primary defender. After a short hesitation dribble, Smith explodes through his first step, takes two dribbles and hammers down a vicious two-handed dunk off of two feet. It is a mere two seconds from hesitation dribble to dunk, an unconstitutional quickness.
What’s most important here is Danny Green, who spends the entirety of the play in great position to help, thinks about contesting but makes a business decision to stay put as Smith soars toward the rim.
Here again, you’ll find Smith flying through the lane — this time after Nerlens Noel grabs an offensive rebound and finds a cutting Smith, who seemingly hopes that DeMarcus Cousins tries to keep him from an incredibly violent two points. Boogie thinks about it but changes his mind at the last second to avoid internet musings.
Smith’s game is born out of the school of Steve Francis and Russell Westbrook: small guys who play so much bigger than their statures at the rim. Westbrook’s athleticism and how that athleticism is used is probably Smith’s closest comp, but he gets off the ground with an ease we've only seen in Zach LaVine and young Gerald Green in the last half-decade. It’s a special kind of explosiveness that we should appreciate as much as possible while he still has it.
There is more to his game, though. While he’s been slumping recently, Smith has proved that he can become a reliable shooter from beyond the arc. He shot 44 percent from distance in December and is shooting 38 percent on catch-and-shoot threes for the season. He’s also only one of five rookies to have an assist percentage above 25 with a minimum of 25 games played.
This draft class could go down as one of the best. Jayson Tatum has been doing great things for a very good Celtics team. Lonzo Ball and Kyle Kuzma are the future of the Lakers. Josh Jackson has been sneakily fantastic in the last two months while Lauri Markkanen looks like he’s going to be every bit as good as advertised. Donovan Mitchell may have beaten Smith in the Dunk Contest, but Smith is likely going to go down as the best in-game dunker in this class.
Smith clearly wants to leave a legacy that involves his antics at the rim, but so far the rest of the NBA has been unwilling to cooperate, moving out of the way instead of ending up on posters.
These are just a sampling of what Smith has done this season, and as he grows into a more complete player, the frequency with which we Smith soaring to his best will only increase. If there is anything to take from his career thus far, it's that no one wants to jump with Dennis Smith Jr.
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