Derek Smith was a professional basketball player who won a national championship with the Louisville Cardinals in 1980 and spent nine years in the NBA. He was known for his scoring ability, athleticism, and competitive spirit. He was also a beloved teammate, coach, and father. However, his promising career and life were cut short by a sudden and unexpected heart attack in 1996. What was the cause of his death and how did it affect the basketball world? Here is a brief overview of Derek Smith’s life, achievements, and tragic demise.
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Early Life and College Career
Derek Smith was born on November 1, 1961, in Hogansville, Georgia. He attended Hogansville High School, where he was a star basketball player. He led his team to the state championship in 1978 and was named the Georgia Player of the Year. He also excelled in football and baseball, earning All-State honors in both sports.
Smith received a scholarship to play basketball at the University of Louisville, where he joined the legendary coach Denny Crum and a talented roster that included Darrell Griffith, Rodney McCray, and Jerry Eaves. Smith was a key contributor to the Cardinals’ success, averaging 14.1 points and 4.3 rebounds per game in his four-year career. He was a member of the 1980 national championship team, which defeated UCLA 59-54 in the final. He was also named the Metro Conference Co-Player of the Year in 1981 and a two-time First-team All-Metro Conference selection.
Smith is sometimes credited with popularizing the term “high five” during the 1979-80 basketball season, when he and his teammates would slap each other’s hands in celebration. According to Genius Celebs, he also had a trademark move called the “Derek Dunk”, which involved a powerful slam over a defender.
NBA Career and Injury
Smith was selected by the Golden State Warriors in the second round of the 1982 NBA draft. He played one season with the Warriors, averaging 6.3 points per game. He was then waived by the team and signed by the San Diego Clippers as a free agent.
Smith blossomed with the Clippers, becoming one of the best scorers in the league. He averaged 22 points per game in 1984-85 and 23.5 points per game in 1985-86, earning the praise of a young Michael Jordan, who called him “one of the toughest guys I ever played against”. Smith was also a fierce competitor, who once challenged Kareem Abdul-Jabbar to a fight after a hard foul.
However, Smith’s career was derailed by a severe knee injury that he suffered in the 11th game of the 1985-86 season. He tore his patellar tendon and missed the rest of the season. He also contracted mononucleosis, which caused him to lose weight and strength. He never fully recovered from the injury, which limited his mobility and explosiveness.
Smith played for the Sacramento Kings from 1986 to 1989, for the Philadelphia 76ers in 1989 and 1990, and for the Boston Celtics in 1991. He was a role player and a mentor for the younger players, but he was not the same player he was before the injury. He scored over 5,000 points in his NBA career, but he could have achieved much more if he had stayed healthy.
Coaching Career and Death
After retiring from playing, Smith became an assistant coach for the Washington Bullets in 1994. He worked under his former teammate Wes Unseld and helped develop players like Juwan Howard and Chris Webber. He was well-liked and respected by the players and the staff, who appreciated his knowledge, passion, and positivity.
In the summer of 1996, Smith went on a cruise with his family, including his wife Monica and his son Nolan, who would later play at Duke and briefly in the NBA. On August 9, 1996, Smith suffered a massive heart attack during a farewell cocktail party on board the MS Norwegian Dream. He was 34 years old. He was pronounced dead at a hospital in Bermuda, where the ship had docked.
The cause of Smith’s death was a myocardial infarction, which is a blockage of blood flow to the heart muscle. According to Boston.com, the exact reason for the blockage is unknown, but it could have been related to his family history, his weight gain after his injury, or his medication for high blood pressure. His death was a shock and a tragedy for his family, friends, and the basketball community, who mourned the loss of a great person and a great player.
Legacy and Honors
Derek Smith left behind a legacy of excellence, courage, and kindness. He was a champion, a star, and a leader on the court, and a loving husband, father, and friend off the court. He inspired many people with his talent, his work ethic, and his personality. He was also a generous and charitable man, who supported various causes and organizations, such as the Special Olympics and the United Negro College Fund.
Smith was honored by his alma mater, the University of Louisville, which retired his jersey number 43 in 1999. He was also inducted into the Louisville Athletic Hall of Fame in 2000 and the Georgia Sports Hall of Fame in 2006. He was nominated for the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in 2016, but he did not make the final cut.
Smith’s son, Nolan, followed in his footsteps and became a basketball player. He played at Duke University from 2007 to 2011, winning a national championship in 2010 and earning the ACC Player of the Year award in 2011. He also played briefly in the NBA and overseas. He is currently an assistant coach for the Delaware Blue Coats, the G League affiliate of the Philadelphia 76ers.
Derek Smith was a basketball star who died too soon, but his memory lives on in the hearts and minds of those who knew him and loved him. He was a remarkable person who made a positive impact on the world. He is gone, but not forgotten.
