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Malachi Smith’s professional basketball career began in 2023, and he hasn’t looked back since. After two years of grinding in the G-League, Smith is making a name for himself on the Brooklyn Nets.
Smith went undrafted in the 2023 NBA Draft but went on to join the Portland Trail Blazers for the Summer League. He signed with them but was waived eight days later.
The Rip City Remix then picked him up at the end of October. Smith played in 14 games, averaging 29.8 minutes per game. He averaged a career-high 15.7 points per game.
He then competed with the Wisconsin Herd, and a year later, he was traded to the Memphis Hustle, where he appeared in a career-high 31 games. In September 2025, Smith was acquired by the Long Island Nets in exchange for Jordan Minor and a 2026 first-round pick.
He averaged 14.4 points per game, shot 52% from the field, and grabbed 4.6 rebounds per game. After 29 games, he earned his first 10-day contract with Brooklyn on March 13th, followed by a second 10-day deal on March 24th.
Smith proved himself in those 20 days as the Nets rewarded him with a two-year standard deal. He became the eighth rookie on the roster this past season, along with the Flatbush Five, Grant Nelson, and Chaney Johnson.
Smith averaged 7.3 points, 2.1 rebounds, and 2.0 assists across the ten NBA games he appeared in during the 2025-2026 season. Following the signing, Smith expressed his appreciation for the opportunity.
“I think it’s just a testament to my work and my journey. If anyone knows my journey, it’s anything but easy,” he said.
“And, for me, I’m just trying to stay present and just be the same player; but just be grateful and just do what got me here.”
His competitive and disciplined approach can be traced back to the journey he’s referring to, which took him from Indiana to the Andalusia region of Spain before returning to Illinois with his military family. Smith’s parents, Connie and Courtney Smith, met at Eglin Air Force Base in Florida and had Malachi two years later.
Smith didn't grow up immersed in the basketball world, but he did watch his father play on the local base’s team, and his interest sparked from there. In college, he worked his way from Wright State to Chattanooga to Gonzaga, earning a range of achievements along the way.
With honors like the Horizon League All-Freshman Team, Southern Conference Player of the Year, and West Coast Conference Sixth Man of the Year, he was the most sought-after guard in the transfer portal before deciding on Gonzaga over other options like Stanford, DePaul, Texas Tech, and Louisville.
His mom has supported him from day one and continues to speak highly of her son’s achievements.
“I’m just so proud of him, and he’s seeing the fruits of his labor. I’m glad what seemed like a hard time for me is paying off for him,” she said.
Smith’s contract is guaranteed in the second year only if he makes the final roster in October. Until then, he will continue to develop during the offseason and build on the experience he has gained as he looks to help the Brooklyn Nets pursue a more successful season.
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Smith went undrafted in the 2023 NBA Draft but went on to join the Portland Trail Blazers for the Summer League. He signed with them but was waived eight days later.
The Rip City Remix then picked him up at the end of October. Smith played in 14 games, averaging 29.8 minutes per game. He averaged a career-high 15.7 points per game.
He then competed with the Wisconsin Herd, and a year later, he was traded to the Memphis Hustle, where he appeared in a career-high 31 games. In September 2025, Smith was acquired by the Long Island Nets in exchange for Jordan Minor and a 2026 first-round pick.
He averaged 14.4 points per game, shot 52% from the field, and grabbed 4.6 rebounds per game. After 29 games, he earned his first 10-day contract with Brooklyn on March 13th, followed by a second 10-day deal on March 24th.
Smith proved himself in those 20 days as the Nets rewarded him with a two-year standard deal. He became the eighth rookie on the roster this past season, along with the Flatbush Five, Grant Nelson, and Chaney Johnson.
Smith averaged 7.3 points, 2.1 rebounds, and 2.0 assists across the ten NBA games he appeared in during the 2025-2026 season. Following the signing, Smith expressed his appreciation for the opportunity.
“I think it’s just a testament to my work and my journey. If anyone knows my journey, it’s anything but easy,” he said.
“And, for me, I’m just trying to stay present and just be the same player; but just be grateful and just do what got me here.”
His competitive and disciplined approach can be traced back to the journey he’s referring to, which took him from Indiana to the Andalusia region of Spain before returning to Illinois with his military family. Smith’s parents, Connie and Courtney Smith, met at Eglin Air Force Base in Florida and had Malachi two years later.
Smith didn't grow up immersed in the basketball world, but he did watch his father play on the local base’s team, and his interest sparked from there. In college, he worked his way from Wright State to Chattanooga to Gonzaga, earning a range of achievements along the way.
With honors like the Horizon League All-Freshman Team, Southern Conference Player of the Year, and West Coast Conference Sixth Man of the Year, he was the most sought-after guard in the transfer portal before deciding on Gonzaga over other options like Stanford, DePaul, Texas Tech, and Louisville.
His mom has supported him from day one and continues to speak highly of her son’s achievements.
“I’m just so proud of him, and he’s seeing the fruits of his labor. I’m glad what seemed like a hard time for me is paying off for him,” she said.
Smith’s contract is guaranteed in the second year only if he makes the final roster in October. Until then, he will continue to develop during the offseason and build on the experience he has gained as he looks to help the Brooklyn Nets pursue a more successful season.
Join our ROUNDTABLE community! It's free to join. Share your thoughts, engage with our Roundtable writers, and chat with fellow members.
Download the free Roundtable APP, and stay even more connected!
Continue reading...
