Josh Smith: 'I've Got A Lot To Prove'

<div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">Hawks forward Josh Smith still hears the voice, that of ESPN NBA analyst Jay Bilas, who on draft night in 2004 declared that Smith was the player "most likely to be a bust."

Smith still uses that line from one of his most vocal critics as the soundtrack to his offseason workouts. He still smiles at the thought of so many doubting him.

It's not a juvenile attempt to twist negative comments into positive energy, but more the realization by a constantly maturing young man that the expectations of those around him still pale in comparison to the immense expectations he has long envisioned for himself.

"I've got a lot to prove in my third year," Smith said from a recliner in the players' lounge at Philips Arena after a workout earlier this week. "But I'm not trying to prove it to anyone but myself. For me, coming out of high school and not really being respected, what I tried to do was stay focused and get my head on straight and then attack this situation with one goal in mind, and that was to be on the track I'm on right now. I think this is going to be my breakout year."

The Hawks, who open training camp Tuesday, are counting on as much as they try and erase the sour taste of seven consecutive losing seasons with a breakout season of their own; one that will rest largely on the continued development of young stars like Smith.

Joe Johnson is the Hawks' highest-paid player, a potential All-Star who recently finished a stint with the U.S. national team and the one man whose exploits on and off the floor will most affect the team's bottom line of wins and losses.

Second-year forward Marvin Williams was the second pick of the 2005 draft, earned second-team All-Rookie honors and was MVP of the Hawks' summer league competition in July. He is another pillar of the organization with his intriguing blend of talent, potential and marketability.

But no player embodies the Hawks' ongoing rebuilding plan better than the Atlanta born and bred Smith, the first potential superstar with Georgia ties the Hawks have had at this stage of his career since Hall of Famer Dominique Wilkins.

Face of the team

Smith, 20, represents in theory and execution what could ultimately define the tenure of Hawks general manager Billy Knight. The straight-from-high-school-to-NBA wunderkind has seemingly limitless potential, something those closest to him do not doubt.

"It's still a critique in process, to a certain extent," said Pete Smith, Josh's father and confidant. "But it's always like that for certain guys. No matter what you do, someone is always going to criticize you. The bottom line is you have to take it and don't waste your time trying to prove that you're not that person to the masses. You have to prove it to yourself and then let everyone else see it for themselves."

While he's still a work in progress, Smith, entering year three, has emerged as one of the league's elite young talents, a player capable of dominating at both ends of the court.

If the way Smith finished last season is any indication, he's well on his way. Smith averaged a jaw-dropping 17.5 points, 7.5 rebounds, 4.0 assists and 3.5 blocks in the last 12 games of the 2005-06 season, unveiling versatility that no one was sure would surface this early in his development.

He spent most of this summer doing his best to, in his words, "push himself to the limit," so he could return for his third season even more difficult to deal with.

"Josh is just at the tip of the iceberg," Knight said. "He's such a unique player, he can do things a lot of players in the NBA can't even think of doing. He has a chance to be a really different and outstanding player that can impact the game in a lot of different ways."

Under construction

For all the positive vibes generated by Smith's vast potential, the sobering reality is that he's still two months shy of his 21st birthday. He should be entering his rookie season and not his third.

The NBA's age-limit rule wasn't instituted until after the heralded high school class of 2004, where a record eight high school players were drafted in the first round, led by fellow Atlantan Dwight Howard.

"I don't regret anything," Smith said. "I can still get my [college] degree. But playing in the NBA was a dream for me, and it came true. And living on my own and paying rent and being responsible for my own business has taught me some things that college never could have. I'm growing more mature each day. I learn new things and gain wisdom by going through these experiences I have gone through."

Smith has packed an extra 10 pounds of muscle on his 6-foot-9 frame and will check in for training camp at a rock-solid 240 pounds. He'll need it if he's going to split his time between power and small forward, the latter being his more natural position.

Smith said he's ready for any role he'll be asked to play. With he and Marvin Williams and rookie power forward Shelden Williams all vying for most of the time at the forward slots, the competition should be fierce. Between the three, the club hopes to make up for losing veteran forward Al Harrington, traded back to Indiana for a 2007 first-round draft pick.

"I think the competitive nature of camp will be good for everybody," Smith said. "All of us are hungry, but we know this is a family. I think Marvin and I showed last year after the All-Star break that we complement each other really well when we're on the floor together. So I don't think it's an issue of playing time. But it's up to the coaches to decide who goes where, and we all have to be ready to take it to the limit wherever we play."

It's statements like that prove to Knight, as well as Hawks coach Mike Woodson and his staff, that Smith is coming into his own.

"All these guys and their games are maturing," Knight said. "Josh is also maturing as a man. I've talked to both him and his dad about this, and I think we all realize that everyone has to take a step back and let him go, and not to the wolves and predators that prey on the NBA young. But he's been through this for two years now, and people have to take a step back from him and allow him the freedom and latitude to grow into the man he will be and can be. Because I can see leadership qualities in Josh now that I didn't see in his first two years.

"From a basketball standpoint, I think that growth has been evident. The first year Josh was an athlete feeling his way around. Last year he proved he could make face-up jumpers and compete every night on a higher level. This year, I want him to take another step. I want him to get to that point where he plays hard every night, no exceptions, and add that next piece to his game. I'd like to see him add a post-up piece to his game. But that's what you have with young players. They evolve."</div>

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<div class="quote_poster">Quoting giftedvisionz:</div><div class="quote_post">I wouldn't be surprised to see him breakout, especially with his work ethic. His jumpshot has vastly improved, and he has the skillset to become a very very good player.</div>
Yep, last 20 games of last season he averaged 16 ppg, 7.4 rpg, 4 apg, 1.1 spg, and 2.9 bpg.

http://realgm.com/src_playerfile/961/josh_smith/