We know it, Ish Smith was almost retired before the Hornets gave him a late call…
At 35, the “journeyman” leader had just won the title with the Nuggets. Free agent, and when his wife had just given birth to their second child, he was ready to hang up his sneakers for good.
The Denver Post reports that he had also agreed to join the Nuggets organization chart.
“I had to do a little consulting and start learning the business part”he explains. “I was going to start transitioning into leadership positions. A little coaching. Who knows ? I didn't really know, but I was going there. I was going to watch Calvin (Booth, the GM), then the coach (Michael Malone). I was going to try to help as much as possible. I just wanted to learn to see what I wanted to do next.”
Ish Smith was actually beginning his transition, this very flexible consulting position (he still had to live in Charlotte) being only one possible path. The leader, who worked in Detroit, Washington, Philadelphia and Phoenix, also planned to take courses to become a media consultant at Syracuse University.
Several teams had inquired about his services during the summer but, with a title and a newborn, Ish Smith was at peace with his career. Until this call from the Hornets, therefore, to play at home.
| Ish Smith | Percentage | Rebounds | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Season | Team | MJ | Min | Shots | 3pts | L.F. | Off | Def | Early | Pd | Party | Int | Bp | Ct | Pts |
| 2010-11 * | All Teams | 43 | 10 | 37.4 | 30.0 | 57.1 | 0.2 | 0.9 | 1.1 | 1.8 | 0.9 | 0.4 | 0.8 | 0.1 | 2.4 |
| 2010-11 * | HOU | 28 | 12 | 38.6 | 37.5 | 70.0 | 0.2 | 1.3 | 1.5 | 2.3 | 0.9 | 0.5 | 0.9 | 0.1 | 2.6 |
| 2010-11 * | SAME | 15 | 8 | 34.4 | 0.0 | 45.5 | 0.1 | 0.3 | 0.3 | 1.0 | 0.7 | 0.3 | 0.5 | 0.0 | 1.8 |
| 2011-12 * | All Teams | 26 | 9 | 38.3 | 33.3 | 70.0 | 0.3 | 1.1 | 1.4 | 1.6 | 0.6 | 0.6 | 0.5 | 0.1 | 2.8 |
| 2011-12 * | ENT | 20 | 9 | 37.3 | 25.0 | 75.0 | 0.3 | 1.1 | 1.3 | 1.6 | 0.6 | 0.6 | 0.6 | 0.1 | 2.3 |
| 2011-12 * | GOS | 6 | 11 | 40.0 | 40.0 | 50.0 | 0.3 | 1.2 | 1.5 | 1.5 | 0.7 | 0.7 | 0.2 | 0.0 | 4.5 |
| 2012-13 * | All Teams | 52 | 10 | 35.2 | 29.6 | 42.9 | 0.2 | 0.9 | 1.2 | 1.7 | 0.5 | 0.4 | 0.7 | 0.2 | 2.4 |
| 2012-13 * | ENT | 36 | 11 | 33.6 | 23.5 | 42.9 | 0.3 | 1.0 | 1.3 | 1.6 | 0.4 | 0.4 | 0.8 | 0.2 | 2.4 |
| 2012-13 * | MIL | 16 | 9 | 39.5 | 40.0 | 0.0 | 0.1 | 0.9 | 0.9 | 1.9 | 0.8 | 0.5 | 0.6 | 0.2 | 2.4 |
| 2013-14 | PHX | 70 | 14 | 42.3 | 4.3 | 56.4 | 0.4 | 1.4 | 1.8 | 2.6 | 0.9 | 0.7 | 0.9 | 0.2 | 3.7 |
| 2014-15 * | All Teams | 55 | 15 | 39.0 | 30.0 | 59.6 | 0.3 | 1.6 | 1.8 | 3.3 | 0.9 | 0.7 | 1.4 | 0.1 | 6.2 |
| 2014-15 * | OKAY | 30 | 5 | 33.3 | 20.0 | 66.7 | 0.2 | 0.7 | 0.9 | 0.9 | 0.4 | 0.1 | 0.3 | 0.0 | 1.2 |
| 2014-15 * | PHL | 25 | 27 | 39.8 | 30.9 | 58.3 | 0.4 | 2.5 | 2.9 | 6.1 | 1.5 | 1.3 | 2.8 | 0.2 | 12.0 |
| 2015-16 * | All Teams | 77 | 29 | 41.1 | 32.9 | 69.3 | 0.6 | 3.4 | 4.0 | 6.5 | 1.7 | 1.1 | 2.3 | 0.3 | 12.6 |
| 2015-16 * | PHL | 50 | 32 | 40.5 | 33.6 | 66.9 | 0.6 | 3.7 | 4.3 | 7.0 | 1.9 | 1.3 | 2.6 | 0.4 | 14.7 |
| 2015-16 * | NOP | 27 | 23 | 43.0 | 30.3 | 76.7 | 0.5 | 2.9 | 3.4 | 5.7 | 1.4 | 0.9 | 1.7 | 0.2 | 8.9 |
| 2016-17 | DET | 81 | 24 | 43.9 | 26.7 | 70.6 | 0.3 | 2.6 | 2.9 | 5.2 | 1.6 | 0.8 | 1.4 | 0.4 | 9.4 |
| 2017-18 | DET | 82 | 25 | 48.6 | 34.7 | 69.8 | 0.3 | 2.4 | 2.7 | 4.4 | 1.7 | 0.8 | 1.3 | 0.2 | 10.9 |
| 2018-19 | DET | 56 | 22 | 41.9 | 32.6 | 75.8 | 0.4 | 2.2 | 2.6 | 3.6 | 2.0 | 0.5 | 1.1 | 0.2 | 9.0 |
| 2019-20 | W.A.S. | 68 | 26 | 44.7 | 36.7 | 72.1 | 0.4 | 2.8 | 3.2 | 4.9 | 1.6 | 0.9 | 1.4 | 0.4 | 10.9 |
| 2020-21 | W.A.S. | 44 | 21 | 43.4 | 36.7 | 57.6 | 0.5 | 2.9 | 3.4 | 3.9 | 1.4 | 0.7 | 0.9 | 0.3 | 6.7 |
| 2021-22 * | All Teams | 65 | 17 | 43.0 | 37.3 | 62.5 | 0.4 | 1.8 | 2.2 | 3.8 | 1.2 | 0.7 | 1.2 | 0.4 | 6.3 |
| 2021-22 * | CHA | 37 | 14 | 39.5 | 40.0 | 63.2 | 0.3 | 1.2 | 1.5 | 2.7 | 0.9 | 0.5 | 1.0 | 0.3 | 4.5 |
| 2021-22 * | W.A.S. | 28 | 22 | 45.7 | 35.7 | 60.0 | 0.5 | 2.5 | 3.0 | 5.2 | 1.6 | 1.0 | 1.5 | 0.5 | 8.6 |
| 2022-23 | DEN | 43 | 9 | 39.7 | 16.7 | 50.0 | 0.1 | 1.1 | 1.3 | 2.3 | 0.8 | 0.2 | 1.0 | 0.2 | 2.5 |
| 2023-24 | CHA | 25 | 17 | 50.5 | 50.0 | 100.0 | 0.3 | 1.3 | 1.6 | 3.2 | 1.1 | 0.3 | 1.3 | 0.1 | 3.8 |
| Total | 787 | 19 | 43.1 | 32.4 | 67.7 | 0.4 | 2.0 | 2.4 | 3.8 | 1.3 | 0.7 | 1.2 | 0.3 | 7.2 | |
How to read the stats? MJ = matches played; Min = Minutes; Shots = Successful shots / Attempted shots; 3pts = 3-points / 3-points attempted; LF = free throws made / free throws attempted; Off = offensive rebound; Def=defensive rebound; Tot = Total rebounds; Pd = assists; Fte: Personal fouls; Int = Intercepts; Bp = Lost balls; Ct: Against; Pts = Points.
