Undrafted rookie Malachi Smith secures a two-year deal, showcasing efficient scoring and 3-point shooting to earn his NBA spot.
The Brooklyn Nets have signed undrafted rookie Malachi Smith to a two-year deal, making affiliate G-Leaguer a full-time NBA player, the team announced Saturday.
Smith signed his first 10-day with Brooklyn in mid-March, averaging 6.2 points, 2.7 assists, 2.2 rebounds, and a steal while shooting an efficient 50 percent from the field and beyond the arc.
He also set a career-high during his first stint, notching 18 points on 7-of-9 shooting from the field in a 126-122 loss against the Sacramento Kings. Smith added three steals and four assists, putting up a clean slate with zero turnovers.
His play earned him a second 10-day, earning him extended time on a Nets team that has suffered multiple season-ending injuries to key players like Egor Demin, Danny Wolf and Michael Porter Jr.
This past Sunday, April 3, Smith caught fire from beyond the arc, recording a career-high four 3-pointers en route to a 15-point performance against the Atlanta Hawks.
Following the game, Smith expressed how grateful he was to be playing in the NBA.
“The mentality is leave it all on the floor,” Smith said in an interview with YES Network. “I’m someone that has been praying for this opportunity and working for this opportunity for years, so I’m not going to take any minute for granted. I always tell myself, I don’t care if I get one minute or 10 minutes. I’m going to be able to go to sleep at night knowing I played as hard as I can, and whatever happens after that, I can live with the results.”
Twelve of Smith's 15 points came in the first half, as the 6-foot-4 reserve knocked down all three of his 3-point attempts. The long ball has been an effective weapon for Smith, who is now shooting a blistering 54.5 percent from distance.
This is nothing new to Smith, who shot 50 percent from the 3-point line in his final season at Gonzaga, good for second in the WCC. After going undrafted in the 2023 NBA draft, Smith bounced around the G-League, finding success with the Long Island Nets.
His production really took off in the beginning of the new year, as he took over at point guard following Nolan Traore's call-up to Brooklyn.
With his extended role, Smith averaged 17.7 points, 7.3 assists, 5.5 rebounds, and 1.5 steals per game, while shooting 51.9 percent from the field and 42.9 percent from deep.
Although Smith hasn't played much of a lead-guard role for Brooklyn thus far, he will have the opportunity to play extended minutes due to the Nets' lengthy injury report.
Smith will make his contracted debut Sunday against the Washington Wizards at 3:30 p.m. ET.
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