The Philadelphia 76ers have bigger things to worry about right now as they embark on a 4-game west coast swing starting on Sunday, but one of their prospects down in the G League is beginning to show some progress.
Zhaire Smith, their first-round pick in the 2018 draft, has begun to show off some real signs of development for the Delaware Blue Coats. That was the plan all along with Smith in his second season as he continues to recover from a nightmare rookie season.
Smith had 16 points and six rebounds while shooting 7-for-16 from the floor in the team’s 125-106 loss to the Wisconsin Herd on Thursday. The offensive numbers are not eye-popping or anything, but he had a few big defensive plays individually and that should interest a lot of Sixers fans.
On top of that, he is beginning to get his athleticism back. The big hype around him when the Sixers drafted him was the fact that he was a good defender with Texas Tech and he was supremely athletic. Watch this as he goes up to get this lob to throw it down.
to the top floor đ @zhaire_smith @sixers âĄď¸ @blue_coats pic.twitter.com/ESOoEgAorG
— NBA G League (@nbagleague) February 28, 2020
Smith does have NBA athleticism and it is little things like this that show that he can eventually earn a spot in an NBA rotation. He does have to continue to polish up his game though as that is the big concern with him, but that is what the G League is for. It is all about development and Smith, 20, will be given all the time that he needs. [lawrence-related id=26753,26743,26717]