Atlanta Hawks: Smith on verge of statitistical milestone
Vivlamore reporting.
* The Hawks are off today prior to opening the regular season Friday against the Rockets. Here is my story on Josh Smith that will appear in Friday’s print edition of the AJC. A special note of thanks to the Hawks’ crack PR staff for providing the names below of all 23 players in NBA history to have amassed 10,000 points, 5,000 rebounds, 2,000 assists and 1,000 blocks. The check is in the mail.
Josh Smith admits the chip is still squarely on his shoulder – even as he piles up statistics few in NBA history have amassed.
If he remains healthy for his ninth season Smith will become the 24th player in league history to reach 10,000 points, 5,000 rebounds, 2,000 assists and 1,000 blocks. There are only eight players to do it with one team.
Hawks forward Josh Smith reacts after a Game 1 victory over the Celtics in the playoff last season.
Smith has career totals of 9,044 points (needs 956), 4,768 rebounds (needs 232), 1,849 assists (needs 151) and 1,304 blocks. If he puts up his career averages this season, he will reach the points milestone in 53 games, the rebounds in 29 games and the assists in 50 games.
“I’ve definitely accomplished a lot of things that a lot of people didn’t think I would accomplish but I’ve always believed in myself,” said Smith, who insists he doesn’t pay attention to statistics. “I’m definitely confident. I’m a confident person and I have a hard work ethic.”
The Hawks used the 17th overall selection of the 2004 draft to pick Smith straight out of high school. The words of Jay Bilas on draft night still ring in Smith’s ears, even though he refuses to mention the ESPN analyst by name. At the time of the selection, 10 picks after the Hawks selected Josh Childress, Bilas said this of Smith: “If you had to pick which guy was most likely to be a bust in the first round, it would be this guy. He has no right hand and he can’t shoot.”
While some considered the pick a long-shot, Smith believes quite the opposite.
“I felt like I should have been drafted earlier but things happen,” Smith said. “I’m still here. There are a lot of people that went in front of me that aren’t in this league. When I got called, people said I was going to be the biggest bust in my draft. One particular person. It’s all good. I prevailed. I persevered through all the negativity. I will continue to keep working hard to continue to prove those people wrong.”
By comparison, Childress is playing with his third NBA team, with a stop in Greece, and has 3,534 career points. Of the 28 other first-round picks in his draft, 11 are not in the league. That includes four players taken ahead of Smith.
Smith likely won’t be the only player to reach the multiple milestones this season. Rasheed Wallace needs just 12 assists and Shawn Marion needs 140 assists.
Smith, who will become an unrestricted free agent following the season, will join Hakeem Olajuwon, David Robinson, Patrick Ewing, Karl Malone, Julius Erving, Tim Duncan, Dirk Nowitzki and Kevin Garnett to accomplish the feat with the same team.
“It really doesn’t matter what people think about me or say about me,” Smith said. “I just go out there and play and not worry about any outside distractions. It feels good to prove people wrong. I’m not going to lie to you on that. It feels good. I will always play with a chip on my shoulder. I’ve been fortunate to play with one ball club for this long. That’s a rarity in this league. I’m definitely blessed and fortunate to be a part of the Atlanta Hawks.”
Smith, who is from College Park and played at McEachern High before finishing at Virginia’s Oak Hill Academy, relishes being a part of the group that turned the fortunes of the organization. The team opens the regular season Friday in search of its sixth straight trip to the postseason. Being from the area, Smith said he remembers the lean times in the post-Dominique Wilkins era.
Larry Drew has been with the Hawks for Smith’s entire tenure, first as an assistant and now entering his third season has head coach. He has seen Smith mature – on and off the court – into a player he entrusts with a captaincy.
“He is certainly a player, one of the few players, who can impact the game on both ends of the floor,” Drew said. “But as a young man I’m proud of how he has matured. I notice something different about him every year we come back. You can see that he is going to take every challenge I throw at him. That is who he is.”
The Hawks and Smith will not talk contract during the season. They will wait until the summer when Smith can test free agency and the Hawks can offer extra years on a contract offer.
While his future in Atlanta has at least one more chapter to be written, Smith plans to keep his focus away from outside distractions. The stats they just keep coming.
MILESTONE MAKERS
Here is the list of the 23 players in NBA history to reach 10,000 points, 5,000 rebounds, 2,000 assists and 1,000 blocks.
Hakeem Olajuwon*
David Robinson*
Patrick Ewing*
Karl Malone*
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar
Robert Parish
Elvin Hayes
Julius Erving*
Bob Lanier
Tim Duncan*
Shaquille O’Neal
Dirk Nowitzki*
Kevin Garnett*
Mychal Thompson
Larry Nance
Vlade Divac
Elton Brand
Pau Gasol
Chris Webber
Horace Grant
Clifford Robinson
Sam Lacey
Jack Sikma
* – Done with same team
- Story by Chris Vivlamore
LATEST NEWS
* Smith, Horford are interim captains
* Five things we learned from the preseason
* Teague, Pachulia return to full-contact practice, ready for opener
* Failure not an option for Tolliver
* Hawks ownership ‘extremely’ fortunate to keep stake in team
* Anderson, James waived in final cuts
* Video: Hawks still implementing new offense
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181 comments Add your comment
soullrenaissance
November 1st, 2012
3:25 pm
WOW outside of Elton Brand, that isa Hall of Fame list – Great company to be in. Glad he is a Hawk.
jlewis
November 1st, 2012
3:32 pm
@truth…where was fesenko’s last job and what has he done in the league. Barbosa and Fesenko is like apples and wooden nickels, he has a track record in the league, and he didnt try out, Boston signed him. Eddie Curry is pure garbage, he proved it again last night.
Slimjr
November 1st, 2012
3:38 pm
Texas Pete, Josh seems to get less love than other players who put up less [nimbers] on this blog…
Josh is an Allstar regardless of what these know it all NBA coaches think..
Slimjr
November 1st, 2012
3:41 pm
“When James Harden was traded to the Houston Rockets on Saturday night, it shook the NBA from coast to coast. While the Atlanta Hawks were not directly affected by the deal, their players weighed in on it to Peachtree Hoops.
Lou Williams had perhaps the most colorful comments about that trade and how it benefited himself in the Sixth Man of the Year race.
“He’s a starter now, so we’ll see what happens with that. My competition just went down a little bit.”
Several other members of the Hawks shrugged off the deal and said it won’t impact how they prepare for the season.
Atlanta will get the first shot at Harden and the Rockets, as the two teams will meet to open the season Nov. 2.
Harden has played in five games in his career against Atlanta and is averaging 12.4 points per game versus the Hawks.
The season opener against the Rockets will begin at 7:30 p.m. ET on Friday.” -David Cassilo, SB Nation-
Harden vs. Stevenson…. Oh the Humanity…..
High-sider
November 1st, 2012
3:42 pm
Congrats J-Smoove on the [potential] statistical milestone. Austin Rivers looks like he’s already “drying up” early and appears he might be a “quick” bust; now that’s one overrated player [pun was definitely intended].
Slimjr
November 1st, 2012
3:43 pm
Nique on [The Game] 92.9 FM right now in studio!
soullrenaissance
November 1st, 2012
3:43 pm
The names on that list outside of Brand is Hall of Fame pedigree – Smith is in great company.
Ken Strickland
November 1st, 2012
3:45 pm
KEVINM/HANKIE ARON-I wasn’t hating on Republicans or calling anyone names, I was merely STATING THE OBVIOUS. I noticed neither of you had a damned thing to say about anything those abortion nuts had to say, or the fact that I was absolutely correct in the fact that the Republican Party has been systematically attacking each of the issues I mentioned.
If you agree with those ANAL MINDED MORONS I referenced, or the new Republican Platform that seeks to abolish or drastically modify those issues I mentioned, than I was taking about you. If not, why all the concern and/or hurt feelings?
Jae Evolution
November 1st, 2012
3:49 pm
People forget that the Rockets didn’t even play their 3 talented rookies last night in the win.
T. Jones > M. Morris
R. White > G. Smith
S. Machado > T. Douglas
And Motiejunas will play back-up to Asik when McHale feels ready for him to play.
Ken Strickland
November 1st, 2012
3:56 pm
SLIMJR-I agree, Josh is an Allstar based on production. However, his attitude and shot selection has been used to keep him form his due, and even then he’s gotten a raw deal. His attitude certainly hasn’t been any worse than former Allstars Rasheed Wallace and Dennis Rodman. And we all know they weren’t penalized for their negative attitudes, even though it kept them at or near the top among league leaders in technical fouls.
Sautee
November 1st, 2012
4:01 pm
“Harden vs. Stevenson…. Oh the Humanity…..” – slimjr
Funny, didn’t you say that about Matt Ryan vs. the Eagles pass rush?
doc
November 1st, 2012
4:05 pm
shoot, i see some find amm is derogatory. man that is just pure healthy acknowledgement and a compliment from ken s.
josh isnt in the same category as sheed. when sheed got tired he just got his second t and was in the showers. such a waste of talent. he also would not be able to have gotten away with it in the present nba. i wish it would have come earlier for him, his team and fans because sheed would have been forced to become a hof. he shouldnt sniff it now.
if al and josh stay together for a career it could be some awesome nimbers both together and individually. but we would rather rag on them rather that accept them for the hard workers they both are.
KevinM
November 1st, 2012
4:06 pm
“If you agree with those ANAL MINDED MORONS I referenced, or the new Republican Platform that seeks to abolish or drastically modify those issues I mentioned, than I was taking about you. If not, why all the concern and/or hurt feelings?’
You didn’t hurt my feelings…all you said was what you’ve been listening to….not a single original idea in there coming from you.
I have no opinion on abortion; I am not a woman in that situation. I don’t speak for others; I speak for myself. Your attempts to keep calling out people who don’t agree with you is the problem here. Good for you in you thinking what’s best for something that unless you’re a woman, what do you know about how women should handle the issues?
For someone who makes sense on some things, your other thoughts and comments about morons sure make you sound small. Take your rhetoric somewhere else because you simply repeat what you hear..and its not related to the Hawks.
I hope the moderators here remind you of that.
To soulstar, its not a hate of Marvin, it’s the impression that this organization keeps sending him out there looking for different results.
Admit your mistake, and move on.
They finally did, 5 years too late.
doc
November 1st, 2012
4:06 pm
aj co-sign 3:12. not many get lost on 285.
Slap Dog Hoops
November 1st, 2012
4:08 pm
The crazy thing about that list is that all of those players have been selected to the All Star game at least once. Smith will most likely surpass most of those players and has yet to be honored with an All star selection.
Slimjr
November 1st, 2012
4:11 pm
Hehehehe Sautee…
Man the Eagles look like the Lakers right now.. The coaching is out to lunch..
In fact Ryan had enough time to prepare a Ham Sandwich in the pocket? WTF?
Falcons 35 Cowboys 23, Romo throws at least 2 more picks on SUNDAY NIGHT!
Ray
November 1st, 2012
4:17 pm
Man why is Jeff Teague at SG and why the Freak is Korver starting?
Looking at ESPN depth chart that ish better be wrong darn it.
The Truth
November 1st, 2012
4:25 pm
“@truth…where was fesenko’s last job and what has he done in the league” – jlewis
Fesenko has been in the league 5 years and admittedly still raw. His last job was Utah. Here’s his career avg 36 min stats:
pts = 9.9
steals = .6
blks = 1.7
total rebound = 8.7
assist = 1.3
FG % = 49.6%
According to his DRtg stats, his defense is better than Petro
doc
November 1st, 2012
4:26 pm
now i am worried if slimj is getting on the falcon train.
how many weeks (or years) has he done the opposite?
Melvin
November 1st, 2012
4:27 pm
Astro,
I believe the Pistons and Rockets will be home watching the playoffs. However, I do like Harden, Monroe and Drummond from those teams.
Astro Joe
November 1st, 2012
4:32 pm
doc, bringing back Jordan Schafer is like bringing back Acie Law. Why?
Melvin, okay. That is the point I was making earlier. Kevin was hoping the Rockets would make the playoffs so we would get their draft pick but based on a single game sample, I don’t see how that happens. Some talented players but not nearly enough to expect a playoff berth.
Slim has Romnesia. Yes, Sautee, I said it!
Slimjr
November 1st, 2012
4:33 pm
Larry is going with Korver to start, then he’ll probably yank him by the 6 min mark and bring in Stevenson.. Lets hope they have leads and not deficits at that point…
Yea Ken, Josh has never been a [leader] in Technical fouls.. I believe [Jay Ahole Bill Less] owes him an apology. That was pure hatred what he spewed out of his mouth before Josh ever stepped on an NBA court!..Imho, Josh has never had a fair shake from these Coaches around the League and Jay may had more to do with that then even he probably believes…
Just a hunch? Hmmmmmm
As doc eluded too, it’s a different game 10 years later.. Sheesh….
Slimjr
November 1st, 2012
4:34 pm
JT is being interviewed right now on 92.9 FM The Game!
terrell
November 1st, 2012
4:38 pm
“Marvin looked like a #2 pick last night”. lol. A #2 pick in his 1st year maybe. lol
Slimjr
November 1st, 2012
4:42 pm
“Slim has Romnesia” -AJ-
HAHAHAHa…That’s funny! lol……
Astro Joe
November 1st, 2012
4:45 pm
92.9 is the only sports talk station for Atlanta basketball fans (IMO). My guess is that the Hawks contract is expiring soon and they plan to outbid The Fan to win the rights. Or maybe, I am just wishfully hoping that happens. It would be great if the Hawks flagship actually promoted the Hawks.
Slimjr
November 1st, 2012
4:46 pm
Chris Tucker from Decatur on 92.9FM right now,,,Funny Dude..
Another Friday movie coming?
“And you know this man”
KevinM
November 1st, 2012
4:53 pm
Lou Williams is talking like he’s coming off the bench huh?
If Josh could get his free throw percentage back to above average, he would be a serious threat. And Lou will get plenty of attempts at the line this year also.
Slimjr
November 1st, 2012
4:56 pm
lol at doc..
Hey doc, Romo is on the road and he’s an automatic pick waiting to happen…
But your right a win in the NFL is a win regardless or previous records…
Tough League..
Worst NFL team would destroy ALABAMA!
Thats was I love the Pro game…
Slimjr
November 1st, 2012
4:58 pm
[of]^^^^
Slimjr
November 1st, 2012
4:58 pm
[why]^^^^
BIG DOG
November 1st, 2012
4:59 pm
Marvin William, HA
Next time Marvin score 20points it will be in the month of january.
BIG DOG IN THE HOUSE
BIG DOG
November 1st, 2012
5:13 pm
This big dummy coach will starte 2 PG at same dame time, JUST DAM
BIG DOG IN THE HOUSE
doc
November 1st, 2012
5:13 pm
aj did i miss something, j schafer?
hate to point it out, all the falcons games going forward are winnable except maybe the giants. but things change so quick in the nfl. really it is a coaching game along with avoiding too many injuries in today’s world.
doc
November 1st, 2012
5:16 pm
you are the elusive one slimj, as i allude to often. heh heh
Ken Strickland
November 1st, 2012
5:16 pm
KEVINM-I have an opinion on abortion, and I’m against it. However, that doesn’t mean I’m going to ot be foolish enough to make it a political issue. You see, I’m old enough, intelligent enough, and knowledgeable enough to know that making it illegal won’t stop it from happening, any more than prohibition stopped the sale and consumption of liquor.
I remember when young girls were dying or being permanently scared, especially on college campuses, by having all sorts of illegal abortions. I remember a joke Joan Rivers told about knowing that her mother didn’t want her because she was born with a coat hanger in her ear.
It might have been a joke, but it spoke rather matter of factly about what was going on. And during prohibition there was no quality control, like abortion will be if it’s not legal, and people died by the thousands from lead and devil lye poisoning. So being Pro Life doesn’t mean you’re all about saving lives. In most instances it just means you want to determine whether it will be done LEGALLY or ILLEGALLY.
I think the idea that human life begins at conception is pure BS. I can make an argument that human life begins with the formation of the egg cell and sperm cell, which are both living cells. Actually, conception can’t be accomplished unless the LIVING egg cells and LIVING Sperm cellsl come together and achieve fertilization.
Conception isn’t the beginning of the life cycle, or when life is created, it’s just another phase of the life cycle. So, for all of you men out there who claim or think you’re PROLIFE, you can say you’re destroying life everytime you masturbate.
BIG DOG
November 1st, 2012
5:17 pm
This should be the starters
Teague, Lou, Josh, Horford, Zaza
BIG DOG IN THE HOUSE
BIG DOG
November 1st, 2012
5:20 pm
Danny so call genius have only 1 guy on the team.
6′11 Zaza
Horford 6′10
I BE DAM THE SMALLEST TEAM IN THE NBA
BIG DOG IN THE HOUSE
Slimjr
November 1st, 2012
5:27 pm
Big Dog, he ma
Slimjr
November 1st, 2012
5:29 pm
Yea Teague mentioned they are running this year because they are smaller than last year.. Oh Boy..
BIG DOG, perhaps Danny is trying to imitate the World Champs?
Dept. Of Unintended Irony
November 1st, 2012
5:33 pm
“I believe [Jay Ahole Bill Less] owes him an apology. That was pure hatred what he spewed out of his mouth before Josh ever stepped on an NBA court!”
As if what’s within the brackets is not pure hatred? Gotta love the Irony.
Slimjr
November 1st, 2012
5:35 pm
Scoring should not be a problem. Defense? Now that’s another story..
BTW, David Stern will be on 92.9FM tomorrow @ 15:00hrs. That is 3pm for the rest of ya’ll…
Slimjr
November 1st, 2012
5:37 pm
Ah the [PAIN IN HIS OWN AZZ] is back!
BIG DOG
November 1st, 2012
5:41 pm
When your tallest player on the team is 6′11 then you as and organization will have major issues.
2 BIG DOG IN THE HOUSE Slimjr and BIG DOG
BIG DOGS IN THE HOUSE
Slimjr
November 1st, 2012
5:46 pm
Dept. of the intended…. YAWN
I MUS WRITE
November 1st, 2012
5:47 pm
Marvin had 21 in his season debut ….Now he will diappear for the next 4 jazz games, Marvin is who we thought he was a below avg NBA player…….. Im glad I ont have to spend another season watching that guy.
@I am soulstar, When did you see J Jankins at MJQ, Thats my spot I go about once or twicea month. Probably slide thru after the game lets out tomorrow.
Slimjr
November 1st, 2012
5:59 pm
SB Nation
Commentary
Are the Atlanta Hawks overrated?
26
By Jason Walker on Nov 1, 12:01p
Brian Spurlock-US PRESSWIRE
“Given the unprecedented love the Atlanta Hawks are getting in the previews of the upcoming season longtime Hawks fans have to wonder — Can this team deliver?
From the careful-what-you-wish-for chronicles comes the almost universal approval, nationally, of an Atlanta Hawks team that I thought would be underrated coming into the season.
When camp started, we heard media asking questions about the Hawks rebuilding, a notion quickly rebuffed by players like Louis Williams. Such a mindset allowed for a modest opinion of the good guys as a team that would be on the cusp of .500 and fighting for a playoff spot.
Recently, however, every savvy NBA talking head (that means, guys I like to read) has bought into the statistics that show, on paper, that this Hawks team shouldn’t be much worse than last year’s 50 win pace ballclub. Hollinger, Basketball Prospectus, The Basketball Jones guys, Bill Simmons — they all concur — watch out for the Hawks.
So, finally, national writers are saying watch out for the Hawks and people are not taking this team lightly, looking deeper into the team and predicting the same 45-48 wins that most of us on the site has predicted for the club.
So why worry?
Because what’s on paper doesn’t always translate to what happens on the court. Yes, the Hawks have brought in some very efficient scorers to replace Joe Johnson and Marvin Williams — but we’ve yet to see if the aggregation of statistical substitutes can actually make that happen in real game action.
Translation? Can you throw a half dozen new rotational players and two new starters in the mix and still reach the level of success established prior? Will the more efficient offense balance a potential hit defensively?
With everyone so enthusiastically on the bandwagon now, my eeyorish tendencies regarding let down, too many people on one side of an argument combined with a severe case of Devil’s Advocate Syndrome leads me to brace myself for the worst.
Also, look at how this new band of brothers break in the new season:
Game 1: Home against the Houston Rockets
James Harden is hot but the Rockets themselves are breaking in a new lineup.
Game 2: At Oklahoma City Thunder
I think they might still have some talent even after dealing Harden.
Game 3: Home against the Indiana Pacers
One of the many East teams given a chance for home court by the pundits — at worst, a playoff caliber team.
Game 4: Home against the Miami Heat
Yup.
Games 5, 6, 7 and 8: A six day, four game west coast swing to take on the Los Angeles Clippers (Paul and Blake), Portland Trail Blazers (Lillard Fever!), Golden State Warriors (dangerous at home) and wrap up against the Sacramento Kings.
Whew — We could very well see folks swing from “Watch out for the Hawks!” to “Watch out for falling Hawks!” in the national mindset before the first month wraps up.
The silver lining is that, after seeing this crew play such stiff competition early on, we should get a good idea of if the foundation is there to make good on all the optimism — or if there is a serious problem.
Exit Question: Do you think the Hawks will deliver on the optimism the national opinion has for the team?”
Ans. We can only hope so..It will not take very long to find out……
doc
November 1st, 2012
6:24 pm
aj agreed
just saw whatyou were referring to
worthless so far
had a bad year witha bad team
if they want a reformed drug addict outfielder think big and go for josh hamilton
KevinM
November 1st, 2012
7:00 pm
Well if you wanna make a statement about getting a big contract, Harden did it better than anyone ever has.
Harden will be good for that team and gives them a legit weapon, something their previous assets couldn’t give them.
LD will determine if we’ll have a chance to be a contender this year. There are plenty of bodies but if there enough talent to offset the mistakes they will make?
Slimjr
November 1st, 2012
7:20 pm
Anthony Morrow on 92.9FM The Game..
“Shoot the J! Shoot it!” -Dave Chappelle-