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
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* 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
doc
November 1st, 2012
7:42 pm
nice human eulogy or ode to perez by mb today.
Big Ray
November 1st, 2012
8:24 pm
I know that if Harden goes off on us tomorrow night…. and we lose ….the lamentations will be unbearable….
In the meantime, maybe the Rockets won’t spank us so badly on the boards now that they have a far less talented frontcourt. Asik can hit the glass some, but the rest don’t really impress me. Of course they beat the Pistons up, but….
I’ll just say it like this – if we get beat on the glass by Chandler Parsons, Marcus Morris, and Carlos Delfino…then we deserve to lose (though I will scream my head off in frustration).
No excuse…no Louis Scola around to hustle for 15 rebounds.
Big Ray
November 1st, 2012
8:25 pm
And I want to see Teague/Harris/Williams lock Jeremy Lin’s a$$ down…
keith
November 1st, 2012
8:29 pm
Anyone seen the starting line-up yet?
keith
November 1st, 2012
8:30 pm
I have not seen any news on Fesenko. Did we sign him?
High-sider
November 1st, 2012
8:59 pm
@Big Ray
“I know that if Harden goes off on us tomorrow night…. and we lose ….the lamentations will be unbearable….” – Big Ray @8:24pm dated 11/1/2012
The last time I seen the word “lamentations” written [down] was in the Old Testament of the Holy Bible [KJV]. [LOL]
dylan
November 1st, 2012
9:05 pm
Hope we keep Smoove for the long haul, fits perfectly with this team. As long as he posts up more than floats to the line, no reason he won’t be one of the top players in the entire league.
On another note, I wonder if the wizards would be interested in trading Chris Singleton for a 2nd rounder and someone like tolliver, morrow, or korver. I might even give teague or Harris for him. Definatly would be our best defender, hustles everywhere, grabs rebounds, and is still developing, so his shot should eventually come. Plus I went to high school with him and itd be good to see him back in Ga
keith
November 1st, 2012
9:11 pm
Suggested starting line-up for Larry since he has a hard time making up his mind.
PG-Devin Harris
SG-Kyle Korver
SF-Josh Smith
PF-Al Horford
C-Zsa Zsa Pachulia
keith
November 1st, 2012
9:14 pm
2nd unit-Teague-Lou Williams-Anthony Morrow-A. Tolliver and Ivan Johnson. The only deeper bench in the league belongs to the Los Angeles Clippers.
dylan
November 1st, 2012
9:17 pm
No way should he start korver. I’d start morrow before I start korver.
I’d prefer to see
Teague
Harris
Smoove
Horford
Zaza
Gives you speed, size in the frontcourt (as much as we can) and spaces the floor
dylan
November 1st, 2012
9:18 pm
No way should he start korver. I’d start morrow before I start korver.
I’d prefer to see
Teague
Harris
Smoove
Horford
Zaza
Gives you speed, size in the frontcourt (as much as we can) and both teague and harris are great distributors
keith
November 1st, 2012
9:31 pm
I would start John Jenkins at the 2 over Morrow. Either Jenkins or Korver should start.
PG-Harris
SG-Jenkins
SF-Josh
PF-Horford
C-Zsa Zsa
Ken Strickland
November 1st, 2012
9:34 pm
BIG RAY-It looks like Drew is favoring Korver at SF. Do you think it’s because of Delfino? Lin is going to have his hands full trying to defend Teague, Harris and Williams, especially if they are in attack mode. A lot of people feel we will live and die by the jumpshot, but I don’t think so.
While we’ll still depend on our jumpshooting, which should be much improved across the board, we’ll also have 3 guards that are capable of consistently taking anyone off the dribble and getting into the lane without the need for clearouts or ISOs.
In past yrs we depended almost exclusively on our halfcourt OFF, which consisted mostly of ISOs and jumpshots, with few FTs. This yr we should score more fastbreak baskets, and Teague, Harris and Williams will consistently get into the lane and draw more fouls or create more assists.
With the shooters we’ve acquired, along with the additional speed, quickness and athleticism, we’ve drastically upgraded one OFF dimension(jumpshooting) and added another(penetration).
keith
November 1st, 2012
9:35 pm
We lack that post-up player who could space the floor the right way for our 2 excellent shooters.
keith
November 1st, 2012
9:43 pm
Offense should be run through Horford, inside out. He is our best post option.
keith
November 1st, 2012
9:56 pm
This just in—-Mike Brown is the worst coach in the NBA. Once he is fired by the Lakers and we fire Drew, enter Mike Brown as the new head coach of your Atlanta Hawks.
dylan
November 1st, 2012
10:24 pm
Keith
I would start Jenkins over both of them as well, but no way is ld giving a rook too many minutes. Just look at his preseason minutes and you’ll see how little ld wants to use him.
What did you think of my idea to get Singleton? Gives us the same rebounding as James with better overall defense and slightly better offense
Hawks Blog Legend Worldwide Clyde
November 2nd, 2012
12:19 am
Where is the Grandmaster? The blog ain’t the same without him.
Najeh Davenpoop
November 2nd, 2012
2:24 am
“Mike Brown is the worst coach in the NBA. Once he is fired by the Lakers and we fire Drew, enter Mike Brown as the new head coach of your Atlanta Hawks.”
The Heat started 9-8 when LeBron first got there. It takes time to build team chemistry. I don’t think Mike Brown is a great coach, but the Lakers are not going to continue embarrassing themselves all season.
First Cup: Friday – TrueHoop Blog | Egypt
November 2nd, 2012
5:50 am
[...] Chris Vivlamore of The Atlanta Journal-Constitution: 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. 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.” [...]
terrell
November 2nd, 2012
6:38 am
Dylan, Chris Singleton is my folk. His dad and I were good friends. What High School did you go to?
ag
November 2nd, 2012
7:13 am
Great article in AJC about SW Christian Academy. The team is 0-8 and has 13 football players. It is really sad that D Howard buys a 10 million dollar house in LA, but will not put his high school on the map.
ag
November 2nd, 2012
7:18 am
Wow, you guys did not see enough of ZaZa last year. I don’t want the assist killa starting EVER again!
Teague, Jenkins, Tolliver, Smith, Horford
Harris, Williams, Korver/Morrow, Ivan, ZaZa
Scott, Stevenson
SUIT – Petro
vava74
November 2nd, 2012
7:29 am
High-sider,
Congrats on your boy’s performance against the Grizz and for that incredible “ankle breaker multiple crossover” on Gay (whose butt must still be sore).
It’s a shame that he only started to practice his shot this summer… Better late than never!
vava74
November 2nd, 2012
7:32 am
This evening, rebounding will be key.
We can’t let Asik go for 18 rebounds and in order to accomplish that we need to attack the rim and draw fouls to get him out of the game.
If we manage to limit Asik’s minutes, Harden can go for 50 that it will not matter.
Ken Strickland
November 2nd, 2012
8:31 am
When it comes to the Hawks, why do our fans always talk about what we must do to stop the other team? We have some talented players that definitely poses problems for other teams. The speed, quickness and athleticism of Horford and Josh usually poses mismatches in our favor.
The speed, quickness, athleticism and penetrating/shooting ability of Teague, Harris and Williams will definitely pose problems. With the penetrators and abundance of outside shooters we now have, teams can no longer stack the lane or run double teams to defend ISOs, or force us to beat them from outside. In most cases, teams will have to defend us straight up because of our shooters.
It would definitely be better if we had a rebounder at SF, but JJ wasn’t much of a rebounder for us last yr at SF. Why were the Bulls, a team that was hurting for outside shooting even with Korver and a healthy DRose, so willing to part with Korver, especially for a trade exception?
Astro Joe
November 2nd, 2012
8:59 am
Strickland, Bulls have cap issues, that is why they let Korver go, despite his expiring contract and decent production.
Asik may still be learning how to be a starter. He didn’t look comfortable the other night… he looked like a back-up who was forced to play too many minutes. Let’s hope that continues for one more night.
I expect at least a 10-point Hawks victory tonight. And plenty of FTAs for Harris and LouWill.
MsDee
November 2nd, 2012
9:21 am
Based on this article from YahooSports, could Chris Paul and Dwight make a play to join us HAWKS??
What stopped Dwight Howard and Chris Paul from playing together as Dallas Mavericks?
LOS ANGELES – Chris Paul didn’t want to go to Orlando. Dwight Howard didn’t want to go to New Orleans. But Paul and Howard knew this much: A little more than a year ago, they wanted to play together. Never, however, could they agree on a plan that would unite the NBA’s best point guard with its best center.
Paul and Howard now find themselves in the same city, albeit playing for rival franchises. Howard came to the Lakers this past summer while Paul is beginning his second season with the Clippers. Both are set to become free agents at the end of this season, raising the question of whether they might make one more effort to team up.
The answer from both All-Stars: Don’t count on it.
“We were trying to play together, but it didn’t work out,” Howard told Yahoo! Sports.
Paul and Howard were teammates on Team USA’s 2008 Olympic team. They grew close during that time, and so did their families. While watching LeBron James, Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh form a super team in Miami, Paul and Howard have been talking about joining forces for years.
Starting in 2009, Howard and Paul began chatting regularly, trying to figure out a way to play together. Howard tried to convince Paul to join him with the Orlando Magic. Paul responded, one source said, with a question: “What will you be giving up?” While Orlando was relatively close to Paul’s hometown of Winston Salem, N.C., and had advanced to the 2009 NBA Finals, Paul preferred Howard join him on the New Orleans Hornets’ roster. When neither Howard nor Paul seemed interested in playing for the other’s team, they considered looking for a common destination.
“I tried to get him to come to New Orleans,” Paul told Yahoo! Sports. “It was back and forth, here and there.”
Sources close to both players said Howard and Paul settled on the Dallas Mavericks as an ideal destination, knowing owner Mark Cuban had the means to clear salary-cap space for them. The Mavericks explored trades for both players, but didn’t have attractive enough assets to make a deal. And while Howard and Paul could have become unrestricted free agents in the summer of 2012 by opting out of their contracts, neither exhibited the patience to make such a plan feasible.
Paul was all in for joining the Mavericks as a free agent in 2012, but he wanted a commitment Howard also had interest, sources said. Howard, however, remained indecisive about his future in Orlando and wasn’t ready to commit to Paul.
Frustrated, Paul eventually grew tired of waiting on Howard, gave up on the Dallas plan and asked the Hornets for a trade. After the Clippers acquired Paul prior to the start of last season, Paul opted into the final year of his contract for the 2012-13 season, postponing his free agency by a year. Howard then surprised everyone in March when he agreed to sign a waiver for the Magic, opting into his contract for the 2012-13 season and also delaying his free agency.
“We always wanted to play together,” Howard said of Paul. “It didn’t happen that way.”
Howard eventually grew dissatisfied enough with the Magic to again push for a trade, but joining Paul with the Clippers was never a priority for him. Howard didn’t think he and Clippers forward Blake Griffin would play well together, sources said, and he was far more interested in joining Deron Williams for the Nets’ move to Brooklyn. Williams, much like Paul, grew tired of a trade for Howard to materialize, and so the Nets instead acquired Joe Johnson to successfully convince Williams to stay. The Magic did have trade conversations with the Clippers about Howard this offseason, but the Lakers became his preferred destination after Brooklyn was no longer an option.
Paul’s and Howard’s families remain close; the players’ parents even went to lunch together this week in Los Angeles. But Paul said he hasn’t talked to Howard since Howard was dealt to the Lakers. One source said Paul is still frustrated by Howard’s indecision in their efforts to become teammates.
“I’m pretty sure he’s busy with family and all that stuff,” Howard said. “I’ve been busy. We’ll have time. We’ll be here for the long haul.
Said Paul: “I know that they got stuff going on and we got stuff going on.”
Howard loves living in Los Angeles and has enjoyed his brief time with the Lakers, despite their early struggles. Barring a change of heart, he’s expected to re-sign with the Lakers after the season. Paul also has enjoyed living in Los Angeles and likes how the Clippers have remade their roster, so, he, too, is strongly leaning toward re-signing.
That doesn’t mean the Mavericks and Howard’s hometown Atlanta Hawks won’t make a run at both players this coming summer. Both the Mavs and Hawks will have significant salary-cap space to make the All-Star pairing finally happen.
And yet after years of trying to play together, both Howard and Paul no longer envision such a scenario happening.
“He’s on the other side,” Paul said. “I don’t worry about that.”
vava74
November 2nd, 2012
9:31 am
Players have volatile opinions over what will be their next course of action.
Howard flip flopped dozens of times.
Paul wanted to sue the NBA for blocking the trade to the LAL and then came public saying that he wanted the LAC all along.
I would not read too much on what either is saying, although I have little to none hope that any of the two will sign with us.
The bright lights of LA are too strong for us to compete with them.
Hawks’ Smith Flies With The Best « NBA.com | Egypt
November 2nd, 2012
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[...] an excellent piece in the Atlanta Journal-Constitution, Chris Vivlamore notes that it is the chip on his shoulder that drives Smith on: “I’ve definitely accomplished a lot of things that a lot of people didn’t think I would [...]
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[...] potent as long as star forward Josh Smith is still wearing Atlanta red-and-black. According to the Atlanta Journal Constitution, Smith is on pace this season to become the 24th player in league history to reach 10,000 points, [...]