Atlanta Hawks: 5 best non-lottery first-round picks in team history
Atlanta Hawks best non-lottery first-round pick No. 5: Josh Smith raw talent was undeniable
If Henderson was the beginning of the end for the Hawks run of success at the time, then Josh Smith was the first signal of a new beginning. Drafted right out of high school, the 6-foot-9 forward started 59 of the 74 games he appeared in as a rookie. He averaged 9.7/1.7/6.2 for a team that won just 13 games.
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Of all the players on this list, he is the only player on this list to step into a starting role immediately.
His numbers would improve over his first three seasons, right along with the team, as he saw his line rise to17.2/3.4/8.2 in his fourth season. They would peak in 2012 when he averaged 18.8/3.9/9.6.
Smith would put up 16.8 points, 13.6 boards, 4.8 assists, and 1.0 blocks in his final playoffs with the Hawks.
Despite all of the good memories, and his being a homegrown talent, the Hawks front office thought it more prudent to let him walk when his deal was up in 2014. For what it’s worth they matched an offer sheet he signed with the Grizzlies years before. And he only had two more really productive seasons after leaving.
That isn’t to disparage the player affectionately known as ‘J-Smoove’. On the contrary, we’ve covered his exploits during this Big 3 season.
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His lack of polish ended his prime sooner than could have been. But he was still a very productive player for the Hawks and in general. It’s impossible to ignore his role in rejuvenating a fan base that had grown apathetic to this franchise at the time.