Former No. 9 overall pick Dennis Smith Jr. of the New York Knicks has requested to play in the G-League with the Westchester Knicks, according to the New York Daily News' Stefan Bondy.
Following Bondy’s reporting, Steve Popper of Newsday Sports confirmed the news on Twitter:
Can confirm report by @SBondyNYDN – Dennis Smith Jr. has asked and will be allowed to play with the Westchester Knicks in the Orlando G-League bubble to get back on the court for game action.
— Steve Popper (@StevePopper) January 30, 2021
The Knicks youngster came out of NC State as a one-and-done freshman phenom who was widely touted as one of the best prospects in the 2017 NBA Draft, going ahead of such notable players as Donovan Mitchell, Bam Adebayo, John Collins, Jarrett Allen, and OG Anunoby.
Drafted by the Dallas Mavericks, Smith Jr. had a strong rookie campaign in which he put up 15.2 points per game, 5.2 assists per game, 3.8 rebounds per game and 1.0 steals per game – all the while showcasing his incredible athleticism and bounce, which was one of his main claims to fame heading into the league.
Smith Jr. was traded as part of the Kristaps Porzingis trade during the 2018-19 season to the Knicks. However, though he was lauded as one of the main pieces going back to the Mavericks, his playing time dipped tremendously in 2019-20 , as he ended up only playing 537 total minutes.
His numbers also fell, and he was removed from the rotation. The 2020-21 season was looking to be a step in the right direction for Smith. Jr, as he was competing for a starting spot in training camp and new Knicks coach Tom Thibodeau, was supposedly impressed, per Bondy’s story, saying that the PG was “aggressive” and “getting better and better.”
However, a deep thigh bruise forced Smith Jr. to miss six of the team’s first seven games, effectively ending his season before it began.
Smith Jr. will now suit up in Orlando, where the G-League is playing within a bubble due to COVID-19 precautions.
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