Tyler Smith is only 19 years old, but his approach to the game is well beyond his age. The 6-10 stretch forward from Houston has all the physical tools to become a household name in the league one day. Yet, itโs his mental makeup that has NBA front offices envisioning the former 5-star recruit as a potential cornerstone piece of a winning organization who can contribute from day one.
Aside from the NBA frame he was blessed with, nothing has been handed to Tyler on a silver platter. Heโs earned everything the game of basketball has given him so far. His game is so smooth, youโd think it came naturally. But Tyler is quick to dismiss that notion. โFrom seventh grade down, I was trash,โ he tells me bluntly. Itโs hard to imagine, but Iโll take the man at his word.ย
Basketball became his sole focus in eighth grade after giving up football, and by his 10th grade summer, Tyler had developed into one of the top prospects in his class. โI was consistently getting betterโplaying against the top players and playing good against them, and going to top camps and being one of the best players,โ he recalls. โThatโs when I realized Iโm pretty good at basketball.โ Many of the elite college programs in the nation realized it, too. He received offers from schools like Kansas, Baylor, Houston, Texas, Florida State and others. But Tyler had his eyes set on something even bigger. And with more pathways to the League than ever before, he decided to forgo his last two years of high school and college eligibility and turn pro, at 16 years old. His mind was made up; his goals were set, and he wanted to position himself to streamline the process of achieving them. โI realized school isnโt for everybody,โ he says of his decision. โI just wanted to play basketball and go to the NBA.โ
Today, Tyler is one of the most consistent players on the NBA G League Ignite squad. Naturally, the G League doesnโt yet garner as much media attention as the NCAA, so there isnโt as much โhypeโ surrounding Tylerโs name relative to some of his draft classmates. But Tyler (and any good NBA general manager, for that matter) knows that hype isnโt what wins championships. While most players preparing for the draft have to balance school and other obligations, Tylerโs only responsibility is hoop. In this regard, heโs already a step ahead of many of his peers, in addition to playing in an NBA system, with and against NBA vets, and training with NBA-level coaches.ย
Night in and night out, with G League Ignite, he displays his do-it-all skill set that has him projected to be a first-round pick in the upcoming 2024 NBA Draft. Heโs a walking mismatch, big enough to punish small guards and quick enough to exploit traditional bigs. Heโs bouncy and lengthy enough to finish at the rim on one end and protect the rim on the other. And heโs still getting stronger and adding muscle mass, which adds to his upside as a potential plus-defender in the League. But what Tyler does best is put points on the board. Heโs a lefty sniper with beautiful shooting mechanics and extended range beyond the arc that can often leave opposing defenses in a frenzy.
His talent alone could support a 10-year stint in the League where the average career span is less than half that. But when you attach Tylerโs talent to his intangibles and work ethic, youโre looking at someone who could be a multi-time all-star and then some. How great he becomes is completely up to him, and he seems ready to attack any challenges that are on the way. Heโs a coachโs dream, a sponge, willing to play any role to have a positive impact on the game.
โI feel like I can make an [instant] impact with my shooting and length on defense,โ he says, looking ahead to his rookie season.โBut I just want to do whatever it takes to stay on the floorโbe more vocal, set picks, do the little things just to prepare for next year.โ
Photos by Max Scheide.
