Phil Smith (basketball)

Philip Arnold Smith (April 22, 1952 – July 29, 2002) was an American professional basketball player who played for 9 seasons in the National Basketball Association (NBA).

Phil Smith
Smith in 1975
Personal information
Born(1952-04-22)April 22, 1952
San Francisco, California
DiedJuly 29, 2002(2002-07-29) (aged 50)
Escondido, California
NationalityAmerican
Listed height6 ft 4 in (1.93 m)
Listed weight185 lb (84 kg)
Career information
High schoolGeorge Washington
(San Francisco, California)
CollegeSan Francisco (1971–1974)
NBA draft1974 / Round: 2 / Pick: 29th overall
Selected by the Golden State Warriors
Playing career1974–1983
PositionShooting guard
Number20, 11
Career history
19741980Golden State Warriors
19801982San Diego Clippers
19821983Seattle SuperSonics
Career highlights and awards
Career NBA statistics
Points9,924 (15.1 ppg)
Rebounds1,978 (3.0 rpg)
Assists2,561 (3.9 apg)
Stats at Basketball-Reference.com

Collegiate career

A 6'4" All-American guard from the University of San Francisco (USF), Smith was not heavily recruited out of George Washington High School. After graduating from high school a semester early, Smith followed his older brother and enrolled in night classes at USF. Having been seen playing in a pickup game on campus, he was recruited by coach Bob Gaillard, who enlisted him on the freshman squad (the NCAA did not allow freshmen to play on varsity at this time) where he averaged 16.7 ppg. He went on to lead the team in scoring in each of his three varsity seasons, 15.0, 18.7, and 20.7 ppg, for a career average of 18.1 ppg and was an all-West Coast Conference selection all three years. The Dons made appearances in the 1972 NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Tournament placing 4th in the Western Regional after losing to Weber State, and finished in the elite eight in the 1973 NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Tournament and 1974 NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Tournament, where they lost both times to UCLA under John Wooden. As a result, he was drafted #1 in the 1973 ABA draft by the Virginia Squires, but declined leaving college early. He was named to the All-American team his senior year. Scoring 1,523 career points, he excelled at USF becoming the ninth-leading scorer in school history. On February 17, 2001 his number 20 was retired at halftime during a home game against the University of San Diego. He is one of only five players to have his number retired by USF. He was named one of the Top-50 WCC athletes of all-time in 2001.

Professional career

After his senior year, Smith was selected by the Golden State Warriors with the 11th pick in the 2nd round of the 1974 National Basketball Association (NBA) draft (29th overall), spending six seasons with them. As a rookie during the 1975 season, he averaged 7.7 points on 48 percent shooting in 74 games and was a member of the Golden State Warriors' first NBA championship team. The following year, he stepped into the starting lineup and averaged a career-best 20.0 points while playing in all 82 games. Smith was a two-time NBA All-Star (1976 and 1977), an All-NBA second-team selection in 1976 and a 1976 All-NBA defensive second-team selection. He played for 9 seasons (1974–1983) in the National Basketball Association (NBA), for the Warriors, the San Diego Clippers, and the Seattle SuperSonics. Smith finished his NBA career with 9,924 total points and a 15.1 ppg career average. A ruptured Achilles tendon prior to the start of the 1979–80 campaign caused the decline of his career.

Personal life

Was the third of 9 children born to Ben and Thelma Smith of San Francisco. He is survived by his wife of 27 years, Angela, and their 5 children: Alicia, Philip, Amber, Martin and Peter, and 10 grandchildren. Martin played collegiately for the California Golden Bears from 2002–2006; Peter played for his parents alma mater, the University of San Francisco before transferring to Concordia University (class of 2012).

September 27 is Phil Smith Day in San Francisco, California as decreed by former Mayor Willie Brown.

A scholarship endowment in Smith's name and the name of Arthur Zief, Jr. was established at the University of San Francisco by Art Zief.

Death

Philip Smith died at Palomar Medical Center in Escondido, California from complications with multiple myeloma cancer, after a five-year battle with the disease. He was 50.

NBA career statistics

Legend
  GP Games played   GS  Games started  MPG  Minutes per game
 FG%  Field goal percentage  3P%  3-point field goal percentage  FT%  Free throw percentage
 RPG  Rebounds per game  APG  Assists per game  SPG  Steals per game
 BPG  Blocks per game  PPG  Points per game  Bold  Career high
   Won an NBA championship

Regular season

Year Team GP GS MPG FG% 3P% FT% RPG APG SPG BPG PPG
1974–75 Golden State 7414.3.476.8041.91.80.80.07.7
1975–76 Golden State 8234.1.477.7884.64.41.30.220.0
1976–77 Golden State 8235.1.479.7854.04.01.20.419.0
1977–78 Golden State 8235.9.472.8123.74.81.30.319.7
1978–79 Golden State 5938.8.501.7613.64.41.70.419.9
1979–80 Golden State 5130.4.474.318.7892.93.71.20.315.5
1980–81 San Diego 7631.3.491.222.7572.14.91.10.216.8
1981–82 San Diego 483930.1.440.208.7322.44.90.90.413.2
1981–82 Seattle 26222.9.468.000.7272.72.80.80.38.2
1982–83 Seattle 791715.7.438.375.7591.62.70.60.15.7
Career 6595829.1.476.253.7793.03.91.10.315.1
All-Star 2020.0.450.3333.54.00.50.010.0

Playoffs

Year Team GP GS MPG FG% 3P% FT% RPG APG SPG BPG PPG
1975 Golden State 1614.7.375.6251.81.90.60.46.4
1976 Golden State 1337.9.518.7344.74.61.60.524.0
1977 Golden State 1037.1.402.8005.04.51.40.414.2
1982 Seattle 811.5.400.000.3331.00.90.60.13.1
1983 Seattle 29.5.5001.50.50.00.03.0
Career 4924.7.453.000.7193.12.91.00.412.0

References

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