Rookie hazing is a rite of passage in the NBA. From carrying bags to having your car filled with popcorn, it’s a tradition that’s meant to welcome the first-year players to the league. No one is exempt from this, not even a rookie as good as Dennis Smith Jr.
The Dallas Mavericks point guard got a taste of rookie hazing right on opening night as he left his NBA debut wearing a Disney princess backpack.
Although, Mavs veteran Devin Harris kindly gave Smith the option of which Disney princess he wanted, according to ESPN’s Tim MacMahon. Smith went with Tiana from “The Princess and the Frog.”
A solid choice.
Devin Harris let rookie Dennis Smith Jr. pick which Disney princess backpack he wanted. pic.twitter.com/zdKN0HeSSO
— Tim MacMahon (@espn_macmahon) October 19, 2017
Smith wearing a Disney princess backpack was sort of fitting since he had quite the fairytale NBA debut. He had 16 points on 6-of-12 shooting and 10 assists in a losing effort as the Mavs fell 117-111 to the Atlanta Hawks.
It was a record-breaking debut from the 19-year-old Smith, who became the youngest player in NBA history to record 10 assists in his NBA debut as well as the youngest to record a double-double in his NBA premiere.
It was the sort of performance the Mavs were expecting when they picked Smith No. 9 in this year’s draft. They have high hopes for him to be their next franchise star after he graduates from wearing kiddie backpacks and other rookie hazing pranks the Mavs can think of.
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