Last Updated on September 10, 2026 by Mat Diekhake
Dennis Smith Jr. entered the NBA with a reputation for explosive athleticism and playmaking ability, quickly becoming known for his ability to attack the basket and create highlights. As his career has evolved, he has embraced a more defensive-minded role, using his speed and toughness to make an impact on both ends of the floor.
Here’s detailed information about Dennis Smith Jr.:
Player Profile
- Full Name: Dennis Cliff Smith Jr.
- Nickname: DSJ.
- Nationality: American.
- Date of Birth: November 25, 1997.
- Hometown: Fayetteville, North Carolina, United States. (NC State University Athletics)
- Height: 6-foot-2.
- Weight: 205 pounds.
- Wingspan: 6-foot-5. (NBADraft)
- Shoe Size: —
- Jersey Number (college and NBA):
- No. 4 — NC State Wolfpack.
- No. 1 — Dallas Mavericks.
- No. 5 — New York Knicks.
- No. 0 — Detroit Pistons.
- No. 10 — Portland Trail Blazers.
- No. 8 — Charlotte Hornets.
- No. 4 — Brooklyn Nets.
- No. 4 — Real Madrid.
- No. 26 — Sioux Falls Skyforce.
- Position: Point Guard.
- High School: Trinity Christian School in Fayetteville, North Carolina. (NC State University Athletics)
- College: NC State.
- NBA Draft: Dallas Mavericks, 2017, No. 9 overall.
- Teams Played For:
- Dallas Mavericks (2017–2019)
- New York Knicks (2019–2021)
- Detroit Pistons (2021)
- Portland Trail Blazers (2021–2022)
- Charlotte Hornets (2022–2023)
- Brooklyn Nets (2023–2024)
- Real Madrid (2025)
- Wisconsin Herd (2025–2026)
- Sioux Falls Skyforce (2026–present)
- Championship Rings: 0.
- Parents: Dennis Smith Sr.; his mother is Helena. (NBA)
- Children: One son, born in 2022. (Wikipedia)
- Siblings: One older sister, De’Aira Smith. (Dallas News)
- Athlete Relatives: Sister De’Aira Smith played college basketball at Fayetteville State. (Dallas News)
Player Archetype / Play Style
Dennis Smith Jr.’s player archetype is that of an explosive downhill point-guard archetype, built around burst, rim pressure, and open-floor athleticism rather than methodical control. Defensively, his best role is at the point of attack, where his speed, strength, and competitiveness can bother opposing guards when he is fully engaged. Offensively, he is most dangerous collapsing the lane, attacking off the bounce, and creating pressure as a secondary playmaker, while his jumper and overall efficiency have been the swing skills throughout his career. Physically, he is a compact but powerful guard with real pop, quick-twitch acceleration, and above-the-rim ability that always stood out for his size. The overall play style summary is a guard who can inject pace, energy, and dribble penetration, with his long-term value tied to how consistently he defends, makes reads, and keeps defenses honest as a shooter. (NBADraft)
Scouting Report
Dennis Smith Jr. has always been at his best when the game feels fast and slightly chaotic. Slow him down into a half-court possession where every defender is loaded to the ball and his options narrow, but give him a live dribble, a scrambling defence or a loose ball and his explosiveness immediately becomes a factor. What stands out is that his first step isn’t just about beating his own defender; it forces the low man to commit early, opening passing windows to the dunker spot or weak-side corner if he reads the help in time. He’s capable of making those passes, although his processing isn’t consistently one step ahead, which means he’ll occasionally attack into traffic instead of taking the simpler read. His jumper has enough range that defenders can’t ignore him completely, yet it has rarely been reliable enough to punish teams that duck under every screen, making his effectiveness heavily dependent on getting downhill. Defensively, though, there’s genuine value. He pressures the ball with purpose, fights over picks instead of conceding switches, and has a knack for timing strips once handlers expose the ball on their second or third dribble rather than gambling recklessly at half court. That’s where he changes possessions. The trade-off is that his aggressive style can pull him out of structure if he goes hunting for a steal that isn’t there, leaving teammates to clean up behind the play. I’ve always thought his ideal role is as a defensive-minded guard who injects pace, harasses opposing ball handlers and attacks tilted defences instead of carrying an offence possession after possession. Put enough shooting and decision-makers around him and his strengths become much easier to accentuate because he doesn’t have to manufacture difficult offence late in the clock. His game shares similarities with De’Anthony Melton in the way defensive disruption drives much of his impact, while there are flashes of early-career Eric Bledsoe whenever he turns the corner with momentum and forces an entire defence into emergency rotations. The key has never been whether he can create advantages. It’s whether he chooses the right one often enough.
Fun Facts
- Dennis Smith Jr. was raised by his father, Dennis Smith Sr., with the help of his Aunt Rhonda.
- He is friends with fellow Fayetteville native rapper J. Cole.
- In June 2017, Smith signed a three-year endorsement deal with Under Armour.
Player Insights
Dennis Smith Jr. started off his NBA career as a successful player for the Dallas Mavericks, earning All-Rookie Second Team honors. After spending his first three NBA seasons as close to a 30-minute per-game player, his minutes were reduced in his fourth season while playing for the Knicks. Smith Jr. never recovered his lost minutes, and he last played in the NBA for the Brooklyn Nets during the 2023-24 NBA Season. Since then, he has played in Spain for Real Madrid. Rumor has it he is looking at making an NBA return once his current Real Madrid contract is up. If he can’t find his way back into the NBA, I recommend he check out the NBL because I know Australia would love to have him. 2/24/2025
Sources:
NBA Draft — Dennis Smith
Boston Celtics — Draft Profile: Dennis Smith Jr.
ESPN — Mavericks pick at No. 9: Dennis Smith Jr., NC State guard
NC State — Dennis Smith, Jr. – 2016-17 – Men’s Basketball