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Charles Daniel Smith (born July 16, 1965) is an American former professional basketball player who played in the National Basketball Association (NBA) from 1988 to 1998. He was an All-American college player for the Pittsburgh Panthers. He led the 1986 World Games USA Team in scoring to win the Gold Medal and Olympic bronze medal as a member of the United States national team in 1988.

Quick Facts Personal information, Born ...
Charles Smith
Smith performing "Comedy for Cancer", 2016
Personal information
Born (1965-07-16) July 16, 1965 (age 59)
Bridgeport, Connecticut, U.S.
Listed height6 ft 10 in (2.08 m)
Listed weight250 lb (113 kg)
Career information
High schoolWarren Harding
(Bridgeport, Connecticut)
CollegePittsburgh (1984–1988)
NBA draft1988: 1st round, 3rd overall pick
Selected by the Philadelphia 76ers
Playing career1988–1998
PositionPower forward
Number54, 6
Career history
19881992Los Angeles Clippers
19921996New York Knicks
19961998San Antonio Spurs
Career highlights and awards
Career NBA statistics
Points8,107 (14.4 ppg)
Rebounds3,246 (5.8 rpg)
Assists798 (1.4 apg)
Stats at NBA.com Edit this at Wikidata
Stats at Basketball Reference Edit this at Wikidata
Medals
Men's basketball
Representing  United States
Summer Olympics
Bronze medal – third place 1988 Seoul National team
FIBA World Championship
Gold medal – first place 1986 Spain National team
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College career

As a college player, Smith was named Big East Player of the Year in 1988. He was a member of the University of Pittsburgh's highly touted five-man recruiting class considered the country's best.[1] Along with power forward Jerome Lane, Smith and the Pitt Basketball Team became a major force in college basketball, opening the 1987–88 season ranked No. 4 nationally and rising as high as No. 2. during Smith's tenure.

He played and led the US national team in scoring during the 1986 FIBA World Championship, where he won the gold medal,[2] and at the 1988 Olympics, where he finished with a bronze.

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NBA career

After his college career, the 6'10", 245 lb. power forward was selected third overall in the 1988 NBA draft by the Philadelphia 76ers but immediately traded to the Los Angeles Clippers. He made the 1988 NBA All-Rookie Team by averaging 16 points and 8 rebounds. During his four years with the Clippers he was the team's top scorer averaging 19 points per game. He was later traded to the New York Knicks with Doc Rivers and Bo Kimble for point guard Mark Jackson. Smith was expected to fill the hole at small forward left by Xavier McDaniel after the Knicks failed to re-sign him after their successful 1991–92 season, a role that Smith struggled in as he was primarily a power forward. His knees became more problematic playing small forward around this time. As Smith's stats declined, he was traded to the San Antonio Spurs for J. R. Reid before retiring in 1998.

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Post-retirement

Smith is a Resource Board Member of Family Office Association developing global partnerships. Prior, he was Head of Sports & Entertainment MediaCom and Head of New Business for Midas Exchange, both owned by WPP/GroupM.

After retiring from the NBA, Smith served as Team Representative for the National Basketball Players Association (NBPA) and then as First Vice President. Smith helped create the NBPA Foundation, a non-profit to support retired players in need. Smith went on to serve as Executive Director of the National Basketball Retired Players Association (NBRPA). Smith produced and executed exhibition games featuring over 40 retired NBA players.

Smith was founder and CEO of New Media Technology Corp. The company was the first to develop and patent customizable applications for video ingestion in 1998.

Today, Charles D. Smith founded a construction company in Africa to develop sports and entertainment communities similar to LA Live in Los Angeles and Deer Park in Milwaukee.

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NBA career statistics

Legend
  GP Games played   GS  Games started  MPG  Minutes per game
 FG%  Field goal percentage  3P%  3-point field goal percentage  FT%  Free throw percentage
 RPG  Rebounds per game  APG  Assists per game  SPG  Steals per game
 BPG  Blocks per game  PPG  Points per game  Bold  Career high

Regular season

More information Year, Team ...
Year Team GP GS MPG FG% 3P% FT% RPG APG SPG BPG PPG
1988–89 L.A. Clippers 715630.4.495.000.7256.51.51.01.316.3
1989–90 L.A. Clippers 787635.0.520.083.7946.71.51.11.521.1
1990–91 L.A. Clippers 747436.5.469.000.7938.21.81.12.020.0
1991–92 L.A. Clippers 492526.7.466.000.7856.11.10.82.014.6
1992–93 New York 816826.8.469.000.7825.31.80.61.212.4
1993–94 New York 432125.7.443.500.7193.81.20.61.010.4
1994–95 New York 765828.3.471.226.7924.31.60.61.312.7
1995–96 New York 41421.7.388.133.7093.90.70.41.27.4
1995–96 San Antonio 323025.8.458.7676.31.11.00.99.6
1996–97 San Antonio 19717.3.405.000.7693.40.70.71.24.6
Career 56441929.0.475.194.7745.81.40.81.414.4
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Playoffs

More information Year, Team ...
Year Team GP GS MPG FG% 3P% FT% RPG APG SPG BPG PPG
1992 L.A. Clippers 5529.6.393.9335.61.80.82.411.6
1993 New York 151525.9.471.7404.01.30.60.911.1
1994 New York 251824.5.480.000.7293.81.00.51.08.8
1995 New York 111127.5.537.000.5673.81.21.21.510.8
1996 San Antonio 10816.5.500.3753.71.00.71.05.1
Career 665724.5.481.000.7054.01.20.71.29.3
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References

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