<div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post"> DETROIT, United States (AFP) - National Basketball Association veteran Steve Smith, whose solid playing career may have been exceeded by his exceptional citizenship, will retire on Friday. A 14-year veteran, former All-Star and NBA champion, won the 1998 J. Walter Kennedy Citizenship Award and the 2002 NBA Sportsmanship Award. Smith began last season with the expansion Charlotte Bobcats and during the season, he was traded to Miami, where he began his career in 1991. ADVERTISEMENT Smith's best season was 1997-98 with Atlanta, when he averaged 20.1 points, 4.2 rebounds and 4.1 assists and made his only all-star appearance. A 1992 All-Rookie Team selection, Smith was a member of Team USA at the 1994 World Championships and the 2000 Olympics, both of which won gold medals. He was a reserve on the 2003 NBA champion San Antonio Spurs.</div> source
Was so glad to see Smitty get that well deserved championship in 03. One of the top shooters but more importantly a top person as well.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting michiganave17:</div><div class="quote_post">steve was never the same after he left atl. haaalp whelp!</div> I think you can chalk a lot of that up to age. He was 30 when he left Atlanta, and after that he still had two stellar seasons in Portland (14.9 ppg and 13.6 ppg). Underrated is damn right. Reggie Miller, a player that's on the same level as Smith, announced his retirement and the majority of NBA fans gave him a whole year's worth of farewells; it got to the point where you couldn't watch an NBA game without someone making a comment on how much he'd be missed. Now Smith announces his retirement and it just becomes a small blurb on the bottom line of ESPN. Reggie Miller was called a great man as well as a great player, when in fact he started a lot of fights and was a complete punk on many occassions. Steve Smith on the other hand, is an NBA sportsmanship award winner, a man you'll almost never see lose his temper. Over the years, he's donated millions of dollars to both Michigan State and his associated charities. The bottom line is that the man will be missed, and he deserves a really good send-off. I hope the NBA recognizes this and has a ceremony for him last year in the way they did for Miller.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting Voodoo Child:</div><div class="quote_post">I think you can chalk a lot of that up to age. He was 30 when he left Atlanta, and after that he still had two stellar seasons in Portland (14.9 ppg and 13.6 ppg). Underrated is damn right. Reggie Miller, a player that's on the same level as Smith, announced his retirement and the majority of NBA fans gave him a whole year's worth of farewells; it got to the point where you couldn't watch an NBA game without someone making a comment on how much he'd be missed. Now Smith announces his retirement and it just becomes a small blurb on the bottom line of ESPN. Reggie Miller was called a great man as well as a great player, when in fact he started a lot of fights and was a complete punk on many occassions. Steve Smith on the other hand, is an NBA sportsmanship award winner, a man you'll almost never see lose his temper. Over the years, he's donated millions of dollars to both Michigan State and his associated charities. The bottom line is that the man will be missed, and he deserves a really good send-off. I hope the NBA recognizes this and has a ceremony for him last year in the way they did for Miller.</div> Its just a fact that steve smith is a player that will be soon forgotten. He was a barley over average player had a good run wit mobo but mike shutem down. He will be remembered just as much as Mookie Blaylock. You cant really compare him to reggie because he didnt have that same flare. They make have had similar stats but reggie was more fun to watch. Reggie battled with other greats of the 90's. while the hawks struggled to get out of the first round (If they made it). I mean, Smith wasnt a big deal in the 90's so why should he be a big deal at 36? Its sad but people will remember Shawn Bradley before Steve Smith But I wish u well Steve
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting michiganave17:</div><div class="quote_post">Its just a fact that steve smith is a player that will be soon forgotten. He was a barley over average player had a good run wit mobo but mike shutem down</div> Barely over average? The guy in his hay-day was incredible. He could score on anybody, and was a fierce cometitor. I liked him in Miami too, and with Portland, he could always score. He ain't no hall of famer, but he was very good player, with a very good career. Mookie Blacklock? C'mon now
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting Rock4life:</div><div class="quote_post">Barely over average? The guy in his hay-day was incredible. He could score on anybody, and was a fierce cometitor. I liked him in Miami too, and with Portland, he could always score. He ain't no hall of famer, but he was very good player, with a very good career. Mookie Blacklock? C'mon now</div> Im not knocking his career but he wont get a farewell tour simply because he is not a memorable as other players (reggie). All people will say is he was a class act.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting michiganave17:</div><div class="quote_post">Its just a fact that steve smith is a player that will be soon forgotten. He was a barley over average player had a good run wit mobo but mike shutem down. He will be remembered just as much as Mookie Blaylock. You cant really compare him to reggie because he didnt have that same flare. They make have had similar stats but reggie was more fun to watch. Reggie battled with other greats of the 90's. while the hawks struggled to get out of the first round (If they made it). I mean, Smith wasnt a big deal in the 90's so why should he be a big deal at 36? Its sad but people will remember Shawn Bradley before Steve Smith But I wish u well Steve</div> Rockfan is right. He wasn't "a barely over average player"; he was a legit All-Star and the core to the Hawks' last playoff team (yes, he was more important than Deke and Mookie). I was never saying that he should get a big farewell because he was memorable. What I was saying is that he should get a big farewell for being one of the greatest players of the last ten years, and that's why players should be remembered, not for picking fights and being a nuisance. I'm sure if Smith got into a fight with Michael Jordan like Miller did then he'd be just as memorable, but because he just played the game the way it was supposed to be played, he won't be remembered? That's a little backwards. Calling Miller's style of play more entertaining is completely subjective, and I disagree. He had a few plays where he came up in the clutch and hit the big shot, but you shouldn't sum up a player's whole career just on a few plays. When you compare the two careers, I'd say that Smith's was just as successful. --------------------------------------------- Or maybe you're just a bitter Michigan fan mad to see a Michigan State Spartan get some credit. Afterall, 4-0 > 2-2 (soon to be 5-0 > 2-3).
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting Voodoo Child:</div><div class="quote_post">Rockfan is right.</div> Thanks, but it's ROCK4LIFE now. lol
He had a great career and I was glad to see him get a ring with the Spurs...he was a dynamic player back in his days with Miami and Atlanta..
