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BYU Basketball: The Top 10 Cougars in NBA Draft history

By Shaun Gordon

NEWARK, NJ - JUNE 23: Jimmer Fredette from BYU greets NBA Commissioner David Stern after he was selected #10 overall by the Milwaukee Bucks in the first round during the 2011 NBA Draft at the Prudential Center on June 23, 2011 in Newark, New Jersey. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Mike Stobe/Getty Images)
NEWARK, NJ - JUNE 23: Jimmer Fredette from BYU greets NBA Commissioner David Stern after he was selected #10 overall by the Milwaukee Bucks in the first round during the 2011 NBA Draft at the Prudential Center on June 23, 2011 in Newark, New Jersey. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Mike Stobe/Getty Images) /
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6. Michael Smith

Michael Smith heard his name called as the No. 13 pick in the 1989 NBA Draft by the Boston Celtics. Before that, he had one of the most successful careers in BYU history.

As a Cougar, Smith earned First Team All-WAC honors three times, and was named WAC Player of the Year in 1988. That same season he was named Second Team All-American as well.

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By the time he finished his BYU career, he was the Cougars’ all-time rebound leader, and trailed only Danny Ainge in all-time scoring. He still sits at fourth in scoring and second in rebounding.

His professional career wasn’t quite as celebrated. He played two seasons with the Celtics before heading overseas to play one season in Italy.

He returned to the USA in 1992 to play in the Continental Basketball Association, where he suited up for two different teams.

The next year and a half saw him back overseas in Spain, until a call from the Los Angeles Clippers landed him back in the NBA for the second half of the 1994-95 season. He played one more year in Spain during the 1996 season before retiring.

In his two and a half years in the NBA, Smith averaged exactly 5 points per game along with 1.9 rebounds. Advanced metrics show that his efficiency was better than his production, with a Player Efficiency Rating of 14.0, which was just barely below the league average.

After his retirement, he became a broadcaster for the Clippers until 2017.

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