Feature on 80s Clippers Star Derek Smith

LamarMatic7 · Post #1 » by **LamarMatic7** » Thu Oct 20, 2016 10:19 am

How are you doing, Clippers fans?

I’ve come by to share a column I did on Derek Smith. He was a thriving two-guard who averaged 22 points on 53.7% shooting at the age of 23 for you guys before blowing out his knee. The highlight of that 84-85 season might have been him dominating against a rookie Michael Jordan and putting up 33 points vs. Chicago:

Watch on YouTube

His life story entails much more than just that Clippers stint. He came from rural Georgia and a house with dirt floors, yet had a fantastic work ethic and could will himself to achieve anything he wanted to succeed at.

But his time with the Clippers is certainly the standout of his career and I hope some of you might be interested in learning more about it:

https://lamarmatic.com/2016/10/19/all-heart-derek-smiths-ascent-and-tragic-fate/

I hope you guys are alright with me coming here and doing some self-promotion. If it's against the rules of your specific section, then I apologize and I won't do so again.

Cheers!

Ranma · Post #2 » by **Ranma** » Thu Oct 20, 2016 7:03 pm

Ranma wrote:

Read on Twitter

Read on Twitter

Don Tommy · Post #3 » by **Don Tommy** » Fri Oct 21, 2016 12:38 am

LamarMatic7 wrote:How are you doing, Clippers fans?

I’ve come by to share a column I did on Derek Smith. He was a thriving two-guard who averaged 22 points on 53.7% shooting at the age of 23 for you guys before blowing out his knee. The highlight of that 84-85 season might have been him dominating against a rookie Michael Jordan and putting up 33 points vs. Chicago:

Watch on YouTube

His life story entails much more than just that Clippers stint. He came from rural Georgia and a house with dirt floors, yet had a fantastic work ethic and could will himself to achieve anything he wanted to succeed at.

But his time with the Clippers is certainly the standout of his career and I hope some of you might be interested in learning more about it:

https://lamarmatic.com/2016/10/19/all-heart-derek-smiths-ascent-and-tragic-fate/

I hope you guys are alright with me coming here and doing some self-promotion. If it's against the rules of your specific section, then I apologize and I won't do so again.

Cheers!

I don't get why anyone would complain about something like this. I will admit I don't have time to read your article right now but I would read 1,000 positive articles about people that had to work their tails off to get where they are, successful or not, than have to see one more hit piece, slam job or anything else like that.
By the way, this was just before my time, and I believe I am in the top 3 in terms of longevity of being a Clippers fan on this forum, so I am wondering what inspired you to look into Derek Smith?

LamarMatic7 · Post #4 » by **LamarMatic7** » Fri Oct 21, 2016 12:04 pm

Don Tommy wrote:I don't get why anyone would complain about something like this. I will admit I don't have time to read your article right now but I would read 1,000 positive articles about people that had to work their tails off to get where they are, successful or not, than have to see one more hit piece, slam job or anything else like that.
By the way, this was just before my time, and I believe I am in the top 3 in terms of longevity of being a Clippers fan on this forum, so I am wondering what inspired you to look into Derek Smith?

Thank you for the comment!

What basically happened is that I wanted to make a couple of highlight reels on Derek Smith for my NBA history YouTube channel and, perhaps, write a small piece for my blog. I knew about Smith and how good he was and I love uploading footage of the forgotten one-time All-Stars or 20-point scorers who have little material on them on the internet. So, hey, I thought that I could break down his stats, say that he's underrated, do the videos and there would be a bit more information about his career available.

But once I delved deeper, I came across all these stories and facts that made his life so unique. Obviously, I didn't know as much about him before doing such research. And then it just turned into a huge project. It went from a small blog entry to a piece with a couple of quotes I had got from his teammates (whom I interviewed on my podcast) to me interviewing whoever I could reach. I mean, his life story is so amazing that the column wrote itself. And I'm not saying this to hype the piece or anything, but.. there could easily be a 30 for 30 or a whole book on Derek Smith. Not only is his story that great, but he was a fantastic human being and would deserve one for his legacy.

Neddy · Post #5 » by **Neddy** » Fri Oct 21, 2016 9:46 pm

Don Tommy wrote:
I don't get why anyone would complain about something like this. I will admit I don't have time to read your article right now but I would read 1,000 positive articles about people that had to work their tails off to get where they are, successful or not, than have to see one more hit piece, slam job or anything else like that.
By the way, this was just before my time, and I believe I am in the top 3 in terms of longevity of being a Clippers fan on this forum, so I am wondering what inspired you to look into Derek Smith?

sup you oldhead! hope all is well brother.

as for Derek Smith, you know his son was drafted by my local area team Blazers a few years ago. didn't work out for him but still 2 generations of NBA players makes them an impressive athletic family. RIP to Derek, and hope things work out well for his son Nolan.

Ranma · Post #6 » by **Ranma** » Tue Jul 25, 2017 9:14 pm

Read on Twitter

esqtvd · Post #7 » by **esqtvd** » Wed Jul 26, 2017 1:41 am

Great article, Reinis Lacis (@LamarMatic). Derek Smith was on the verge of becoming our first superstar when it all came so quickly undone, the first heartbreak of many to come. Glad you ran across our longtime announcer Ralph Lawler's tribute to him--Ralph is Mr. Clipper in the way Vin Scully is the Dodgers.

http://www.nba.com/clippers/ralph-remembers-derek-smith-110818.html

That was the summer that the Clippers made the move from San Diego to Los Angeles, and Smith was primed and ready for the Big City Stage.

Derek averaged 22.1 points per game as a full-time starter for the new Los Angeles Clippers. This was Michael Jordan’s wondrous Rookie of the Year season in Chicago. He would go on to average 28.2 points a game that year. It was also Derek Smith’s first year as a full-time starting NBA shooting guard. The parallels would grow more clear the following season.

So why didn’t it happen? Nine games into the 1985-86 season, Smith went down with a seemingly minor knee injury. He was averaging 27 points a game at the time of the injury. It was believed he would be back within the customary four-to-six weeks. He tried. Oh, how he tried. He felt some real or perhaps perceived pressure to come back quickly. He tried to play on December 18. He was ineffective and uncomfortable in brief minutes. He was to play again in a Christmas Day game in Portland a week later. I sat with him at a team dinner the night before and he expressed concern that his knee was not right, but he wanted to give it a try. It was another unsuccessful attempt and it would be his final game in a Clipper uniform. Derek Smith was ruled out for the season.

Who knew that he would never be the same?

Roscoe Sheed · Post #8 » by **Roscoe Sheed** » Wed Jul 26, 2017 2:55 am

The highlights from the Bulls game makes me sad because that team could have been pretty good if they stayed healthy. It was clearly evident that Smith was a very good player and that Walton could still really play when healthy

Post #9 » by **mkwest** » Wed Jul 26, 2017 5:52 am

Watch on YouTube

Definitely a tragic story. I was pulling for his son due to his dad's Clipper ties. Hopefully he can find future success in coaching.