Otis Fitzgerald Smith (born January 30, 1964) is an American former professional
basketball
Basketball is a team sport in which two teams, most commonly of five players each, opposing one another on a rectangular Basketball court, court, compete with the primary objective of #Shooting, shooting a basketball (ball), basketball (appr ...
player. He played college basketball for
Jacksonville
Jacksonville is a city located on the Atlantic coast of northeast Florida, the most populous city proper in the state and is the List of United States cities by area, largest city by area in the contiguous United States as of 2020. It is the co ...
.
Early years
Smith was born and raised in
Jacksonville, Florida
Jacksonville is a city located on the Atlantic coast of northeast Florida, the most populous city proper in the state and is the largest city by area in the contiguous United States as of 2020. It is the seat of Duval County, with which the ...
and was a star athlete at
Forrest High School, graduating in 1982.
College
Smith played at
Jacksonville University
Jacksonville University (JU) is a private university in Jacksonville, Florida. Located in the city's Arlington (Jacksonville), Arlington district, the school was founded in 1934 as a two-year college and was known as Jacksonville Junior College u ...
from 1982 to 1986 and earned a degree in marketing and management. He became the only player in school history to tally more than 1,700 points and 900 rebounds in his collegiate career. In 1986, he was named the
Sun Belt Conference men's basketball tournament
The Sun Belt Conference men's basketball tournament has been played every year since the formation of the Sun Belt Conference for the 1976–77 academic year.
The winner of the tournament is guaranteed an automatic berth into the NCAA Division I ...
MVP. His jersey was retired at Jacksonville University in 2002.
Professional career
Smith was taken with the 17th pick in the second round of the
1986 NBA draft out of
Jacksonville University
Jacksonville University (JU) is a private university in Jacksonville, Florida. Located in the city's Arlington (Jacksonville), Arlington district, the school was founded in 1934 as a two-year college and was known as Jacksonville Junior College u ...
by the
Denver Nuggets
The Denver Nuggets are an American professional basketball team based in Denver. The Nuggets compete in the National Basketball Association (NBA) as a member of the league's Western Conference Northwest Division. The team was founded as the D ...
. He played one full season and part of a second with the Nuggets before being traded to the
Golden State Warriors
The Golden State Warriors are an American professional basketball team based in San Francisco. The Warriors compete in the National Basketball Association (NBA), as a member of the league's Western Conference Pacific Division. Founded in 194 ...
during the
1987-88 season. He played the remainder of that season and the
1988-89 season with the Warriors. He participated in the 1988
NBA Slam Dunk Contest
The NBA Slam Dunk Contest (officially known as the AT&T Slam Dunk) is an annual National Basketball Association (NBA) competition held during the NBA All-Star Weekend. ''Sports Illustrated'' wrote "the dunk contest was the best halftime inventio ...
, where he finished 4th overall, and also in the 1991 contest, where he finished in 7th place.
Otis Smith became a member of the
Orlando Magic
The Orlando Magic are an American professional basketball team based in Orlando, Florida. The Magic compete in the National Basketball Association (NBA) as a member of the league's Eastern Conference Southeast Division. The franchise was establ ...
on June 15, 1989 as one of the 12 players selected in the
1989 NBA Expansion Draft.
He was on the roster for the team's inaugural game in the
1989-90 season, and he played there through the
1991-92 season. He posted career highs of 13.9 points per game and 5.2 rebounds per game in 1991 with the Magic. Smith retired with a knee injury after his sixth season, playing in 375 games, with career averages of 10.5 points per game, 3.8 rebounds per game, and 1.8 assists per game.
After taking a hiatus for three years, Smith came out of player retirement in October, 1996 to sign with the Solna Vikings in the Sweden Professional League. He was named MVP of Swedish League in 1997, but decided to leave on a high note and not play a second year.
After playing
Smith became Director of Community Relations for the Orlando Magic from 1996 to 1998, then was Vice President of Marketing & Community Relations for Boys & Girls Club of Central Florida for a year from 1998 to 1999. However, he missed basketball, and joined the Golden State Warriors Foundation as Executive Director of Community Relations from 1999 to August 2002. During the 2002–2003 season, he worked as Executive Director of Basketball Operations for Golden State. Returning to Florida, he spent two years as Director of Player Development for the Magic, then was promoted to Co-General Manager for 2005–2006 season. He was named General Manager of the Orlando Magic on May 3, 2006. He was then named Executive/President of Orlando Magic He agreed to step down from his job as the President /General Manager of the Orlando Magic on May 21, 2012 after he was informed his close friend & coach Stan Van Gundy would be terminated. Sources say Otis F. Smith stood in loyalty for his friend Stan Van Gundy by walking away from Orlando Magic with not desiring players to run the team but allowing Management to do so. Sources say: This occurrence was in the time frame of Dwight Howard. Otis Smith was Head Coach of Grand Rapids Drive for two years as he desired to help players find what was missing to gain pro status. Smith was then employed in a dual role of Assistant Coach/Head of Player Development with Detroit Pistons. Otis Smith is currently a consultant for the Houston Rockets.
Executive and coaching career
As a former NBA player, Otis Smith has been a coach, Orlando Magic President & General Manager, NBA G-League Head Coach, entrepreneur and philanthropist. In 2006 Otis F. Smith Sr. was named General Manager of the Orlando Magic, soon after was promoted to President. On September 3, 2014, Smith was named the head coach of the
Grand Rapids Drive
The Grand Rapids Gold are an American professional basketball team in the NBA G League based in Grand Rapids, Michigan, and are affiliated with the Denver Nuggets. The Gold play their home games at Van Andel Arena. They began play as the Anaheim ...
of the
NBA Development League
The NBA G League, or simply the G League, is the National Basketball Association's (NBA) official List of developmental and minor sports leagues, minor league basketball organization. The league was known as the National Basketball Development ...
, where he remained for two years. However sources state: Smith & Stan Van Gundy had first discussed the position of General Manager within the Pistons organization prior to coaching. As of 2016, Otis Smith was assuming a dual role with Detroit Pistons as assistant coach and director of player development, after joining the franchise as NBA G-League head coach. In 2017, the Sacramento Kings offered Otis Smith a vice president of basketball operations role but he declined by withdrawing his name from consideration to stay and assist his close friend Van Gundy in Detroit. After Van Gundy was relieved of his duties, Otis Smith joined the Houston Rockets on a management consulting basis.
Civic work
Otis Smith became involved with Volunteers for Youth,
Big Brothers Big Sisters, and the
Boys and Girls Clubs of America
Boys & Girls Clubs of America (BGCA) is a national organization of local chapters which provide voluntary after-school programs for young people. The organization, which holds a congressional charter under Title 36 of the United States Code, ...
when he was in college. In 1989, he founded the
Otis F. Smith Foundation (later renamed, the
Otis Smith Kids Foundation
The Otis F. Smith Foundation (and later, the Otis Smith Kids Foundation) was a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization that partnered with targeted Jacksonville, Florida elementary schools to provide programs and services to disadvantaged children in th ...
) which started out conducting free basketball clinics, but grew to include free summer day camps, tutoring, field trips, and health screenings. Otis F. Smith Sr. donated and contributed involvement to the Grand Rapids Community with under privileged children through organizations including Safe-Haven, Family Promise of Grand Rapids & GRCS Public Schools.
Awards and honors
*Given the key to the city of Jacksonville by Mayor
Tommy Hazouri
Thomas Lester Hazouri Sr. (October 11, 1944 – September 11, 2021) was an American politician of the Democratic Party. He served as a member of the Florida House of Representatives from 1974 to 1986, as Mayor of Jacksonville from 1987 to 1991, an ...
in 1988
*In June 1993, he was one of 50 people in the US to receive the FBI Directors Award for community service.
*Official Torch Bearer of the
Olympic Flame
The Olympic flame is a symbol used in the Olympic movement. It is also a symbol of continuity between ancient and modern games. Several months before the Olympic Games, the Olympic flame is lit at Olympia, Greece. This ceremony starts the Olympic ...
for the
1996 Summer Olympics
The 1996 Summer Olympics (officially the Games of the XXVI Olympiad, also known as Atlanta 1996 and commonly referred to as the Centennial Olympic Games) were an international multi-sport event held from July 19 to August 4, 1996, in Atlanta, ...
in Atlanta (one of 13,267)
*Received the 1996
WTLV-TV
WTLV (channel 12) is a television station in Jacksonville, Florida, United States, affiliated with NBC. It is owned by Tegna Inc. alongside Orange Park–licensed ABC affiliate WJXX (channel 25). Both stations share studios on East Adams Str ...
''12 Who Care'' Council's Choice Award
*Received ''Humanitarian of the Year'' award from
Jacksonville University
Jacksonville University (JU) is a private university in Jacksonville, Florida. Located in the city's Arlington (Jacksonville), Arlington district, the school was founded in 1934 as a two-year college and was known as Jacksonville Junior College u ...
on February 22, 2002
[Florida Times-Union: Feb 22, 2002-Jacksonville Journal]
References
External links
Otis Smith Kids Foundation website
{{DEFAULTSORT:Smith, Otis
1964 births
Living people
20th-century African-American sportspeople
21st-century African-American people
African-American basketball players
African-American sports executives and administrators
American expatriate basketball people in Sweden
American men's basketball players
American sports executives and administrators
Basketball coaches from Florida
Basketball players from Jacksonville, Florida
Denver Nuggets draft picks
Denver Nuggets players
Golden State Warriors players
Grand Rapids Drive coaches
Jacksonville Dolphins men's basketball players
National Basketball Association general managers
Orlando Magic executives
Orlando Magic expansion draft picks
Orlando Magic players
Shooting guards
Small forwards
Sportspeople from Jacksonville, Florida