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The New Jersey Nets have signed free agent forward Joe Smith, Nets General Manager Billy King announced today. Per team policy, terms of the contract were not released.
Smith, 6’10”/225, is a 15-year NBA veteran with career averages of 11.0 points, 6.5 rebounds and 1.0 assists over 1,014 games with Golden State, Philadelphia, Minnesota, Detroit, Milwaukee, Denver, Cleveland, Chicago, Oklahoma City and Atlanta. He has shot .455 (4,322-9,496) from the field and .790 (2,526-3,198) from the line.
The Norfolk, VA native was the first overall selection in the 1995 NBA Draft by Golden State.
The best season of his career came during the 1996-97 campaign with Golden State, when he appeared and started in 80 games and averaged a career-best 18.7 points, 8.5 rebounds, 1.6 assists and 1.1 blocks in 38.6 minutes. In 57 career postseason contests, Smith holds averages of 5.9 points and 4.2 rebounds in 18.7 minutes per game.
Last season in Atlanta, Smith appeared in 64 games, one start, averaging 3.0 points and 2.5 rebounds in 9.3 minutes per contest.
InsideHoops.com says: Joe first entered the NBA in the 1400’s, when the game was played via candlelight, and the United States did not yet exist. He’s a smart, crafty veteran who will help the Nets bench.
