June 30, 2023 • 20 mins
Hornets first-round pick Nick Smith Jr joins Sam Farber to discuss being drafted by Charlotte and teaming up once again with Brandon Miller.
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Speaker 1 (00:02):
Welcome to the Hornets Highcast, present it by Charlotte I Ear,
Nose and Throat Associates, the official I ear nosen throat
Care provider of the Charlotte Hornets. Here's your host, Sam Farber.
Speaker 2 (00:16):
Welcome to another edition of the Hornets Podcast, your Hornets
podcast with all the notes, quotes, and daily buzz around
your favorite NBA team. I'm Sam Farber and it is
a pleasure and a privileged have you with us here
once again on the Hornets iod Cast, brought to you
by Santa Charlotte EE Ear Nose and Throat Associates, the
official I ear nos and throat Care provider of the
Charlotte Hornets. We continue to get our one on one
(00:36):
conversations with the Hornets most recent draft class. Last edition,
you heard from number two overall pick Brandon Miller. Hope
you enjoyed that conversation. Today, we're gonna let you hear
from the other Hornets first round pick Nick Smith Juniory
recorded this podcast just after he was drafted, so looking
forward to bringing that to you at long. Last one
piece of business we want to address though, before we
(00:56):
get into the conversation to Charlotte Hornets announcing early that
the team has extended qualifying offers to Miles Bridges, PJ Washington,
and Tao Maladone, which makes them all restricted free agents. Now,
we are a team based podcast, myself producer Rob Longo,
we are team employees. We cannot comment on free agency
beyond the statement I just read until after the moratorium
(01:16):
is over and things become official. So suffice to say,
after the moratorium is up and decisions are actually made,
we will have a lot to say here on the
Hornets Podcast, But for now, I'll read the statement again.
The Hornets have extended qualifying offers to PJ. Washington, Miles Bridges,
and Tail Malaedone, making all three restricted free agents. One
other thing to let you know about. At the end
(01:38):
of the show, we're gonna bring Rob Longo in as
well as Sam Purley of Hornets dot Com talk a
little bit about some of the draft grades we've seen
out there. Some of these pieces are basically fodder to
try and get people like yours truly upset, and I'm
pretty sure Robin, Sam, We're gonna make fun of me
for being so upset. But we'll talk about what some
of the experts out there have said about the Hornets
draft class. Now, without further ado, let's introduce you to
(02:00):
one of the members of that class, first round pick
Nick Smith Junior, here with us now on the Horned
Time Cast. Nick, first time ever, Welcome to the HC.
Speaker 3 (02:07):
It's good to a Yeah, sir, what up? Excited to
be here, Excited to be here.
Speaker 2 (02:11):
We're recording this just hours after you were drafted. Tell
me your emotions on draft night and now leading into
your introduction here to your new hometown.
Speaker 4 (02:22):
You know, just my emotions going into the draft. Really
didn't know what was going on, really didn't know what
was going to happen. But I got an opportunity and
Mitch believed in me, and I feel like it was
more overfit and like I said, he gave me an opportunity.
I'm trying to, you know, come in and work and
take steps. I feel like taking steps is important and
just trying to be an open minded person and learn
(02:42):
as much as I can. So just doing that consistently
on a consistent basis for years, I feel like it
was gonna give me to where I need to get
to the draft.
Speaker 2 (02:49):
It's a funny thing because timing has so much to
do with where players are selected. I think if you
had been eligible to come out from high school based
off all the recruiting rankings and whatnot, you're probably gone
well before the Hornets have a chance to come and
get you. The way it has worked out, how do
you feel about the process, how it worked out, and
the end result of you being a first round pick?
Speaker 4 (03:11):
Man, I like it, especially for the Charlotte Hornets. I
feel like it's a great fit for me. You got
LaMelo ball here, you got a whole bunch of guards
I can learn from Brozier.
Speaker 3 (03:18):
You know, you got book Night here. Obviously.
Speaker 4 (03:20):
You know I got my best friend here, Brandon Miller.
It's gonna be fun just having an opportunity and just
you know, learn as much as I can and not
really worrying about what anybody say. To be honest with you,
because we all know, I feel like I know what
I'm capable of, and you know I'm willing to show
you know what I'm capable of in a month, so
you know we'll see you know, But you know, I'm
just grateful for the opportunity.
Speaker 2 (03:40):
You mentioned your your best friend, Brandon Miller. Draft class.
You guys play it on the same aau T. That's rare,
that doesn't happen very often, sir, to get to do
this with him, What does that mean to you?
Speaker 3 (03:50):
What's that going to be like? Man, I feel like
it's just all God. Man.
Speaker 4 (03:53):
I feel like coming into college, we was, you know,
looking to play with each other. My two options was
Alabama Argus. You know he went to Alabama role with
the Argus all route. You know, I feel like both
of us made the right decision for both of us.
Speaker 3 (04:05):
He had a good year.
Speaker 4 (04:06):
I feel like I had a year where I learned
a lot. He had a year where he learned a lot.
And man, everything just failing place. To be honest with you,
you know, he got the number two pick and I
got the number twenty seventh pick, and you know, we're
here together again. So we just ready to put the
work in and just show people we can play together.
And you know, I'm pretty sure y'all gonna see the chemistry.
You know, we got to get it back a little bit,
but you know they're gonna see the chemistry by the
(04:26):
time we hit the floor again.
Speaker 2 (04:27):
So Nick Smith Junior, our guest today here on the
Hornets Podcast, Let's get to know you a little bit
more as a person. Tell me some of your favorites.
Where can people maybe find you when you're not on
the court, around Charlotte and your new home. What did
some things you like to do.
Speaker 4 (04:41):
I don't really like to do too much, to be
honest with you, I like to stay home, probably play
two K, chill my friends. Well I can't really chill
my friends when I move out here, though, but chill
my friends on the game.
Speaker 3 (04:51):
Not really doing too much I like to, you know, chill.
I don't know. I don't really like doing too much.
I get that question a lot.
Speaker 4 (04:56):
You know, I probably need to find a few hobbies
that go out there and do in a new city.
I ain't never really just been in Charlotte for real,
So I gotta go see what the city coming out.
Speaker 2 (05:04):
Well, you know, we have a two K team here too.
I mean, how how good are you going to give
the pros a run for their money? Yeah?
Speaker 3 (05:10):
I'm pretty like I'm pretty good at two K? No like,
no cap.
Speaker 2 (05:13):
What kind of player are you in the two K game?
Speaker 3 (05:16):
Like top tier? Like?
Speaker 2 (05:17):
Like are you scorer? Are you a lockdown defender? Do
you like to play the big man?
Speaker 4 (05:21):
Well?
Speaker 3 (05:21):
Like so you know you got bills, right.
Speaker 4 (05:24):
I pretty much kind of make everything in one So
that's kind of my whole deal. I don't like necessarily
doing something too great then having something I don't do well.
But I feel like, I don't know, people would just
see you, see me in the neighborhood, probably see me
in the rake. I gotta get my team as well too.
I can play you in randoms, it don't matter. So
(05:44):
you know you probably catch me on that two K.
Speaker 3 (05:47):
So for sure.
Speaker 2 (05:48):
One other thing we've learned about you very quickly. You
have a smile that hasn't left your face, I'm sure
since you were drafted and you got to share that
with some local community members right off the bat. First
thing you did before you were introduced to the media
and to our high society fans. You're out there in
the community. What does that mean to you, that opportunity
to be on a bigger stage than you've ever been before.
Speaker 3 (06:07):
And give back. Yeah.
Speaker 4 (06:08):
Man, Like I said, for me, to give back, it's
a big thing for me. Where I'm from, they don't
really have a lot and for me it's very important
to you know, get back to where you came from
and for me to come into a new city, and
a new city embraces me and you know, just having
fun with the kids and having fun with people that
was there just to support them, and you know, just
having me and Brandon to come and support them and
have a good time with them. It's definitely something that
(06:30):
you know, Brian's my day and I definitely seen you know,
everybody in their day as well. So it was definitely
something you know, we want to come in and just
try to, you know, put smile on people's faces.
Speaker 3 (06:39):
And I feel like we did that.
Speaker 2 (06:43):
Nick Smith Junior, our guest today here on the Hornets Podcast.
Let's talk about the game and what you expect of
yourself on the floor long term. Who do you try
and emulate. Who do you see yourself maybe mirroring in
your path here in your pro career.
Speaker 4 (06:56):
Yeah, I mean I'll watch a lot of NBA for
a long time, to a lot of Jamal Murray, just
the way how scrappy is a lot of people don't
see how scrappy he is, people just looking as scorer,
But I just like him, how scrappy he is and
how how well he can just find angles and find
open man and find you know, different angles to, you know,
score on Bradley Beal, just the way how he you know,
(07:16):
moves on the court. He has a counter for everything,
and then seeing it in person. Devin Booker, his pull
up game is tremendous and that's one of the things
I want to take away from his game. John Morant,
just the way how he sees the floor. Just the
way how he reacted things very quickly and not really
just thinking too much of the game. You can just
tell like he's just just the instanct he has for
the game. It's very very incredible. Steph just the way
(07:36):
how he moves off the ball.
Speaker 3 (07:38):
I don't know.
Speaker 4 (07:38):
This is a lot of things I can go on
and on about different players. You know, I try to
put in my game, but yeah, man, I feel like
different aspects of other people's games I can put in
my game, and you know, that's definitely a good a
good combination have.
Speaker 2 (07:50):
It's a lot of all star power that you mentioned there.
There are great players to emulate. There are also some
players that you're going to get to share the court
with and then not to this in the future. What
do you think about that and those moments that are
ahead of you.
Speaker 4 (08:02):
It's crazy Like I said, I've been playing two K
with these guys for a long time and.
Speaker 2 (08:08):
It's about to be real.
Speaker 3 (08:09):
Yeah, it's about to be real. But you know, I
feel like I'm ready for it.
Speaker 4 (08:12):
I've been not in the mix, but like you know,
been around the game, been around the NBA. I went
to a few games when I was done with college
and get to see get to see what the vibe
is like. Just to have an opportunity just to talk
to some of them, you know, it was definitely a
blessing and just to you know, pick their brains on
you know, how they move on things, and how how
well they you know, treat the game, and how well
they even treat their bodies. Especially Brin. He just takes
(08:34):
it to a whole, a whole other level. And that's
one thing you know, I look at very deeply, and
you know, I just you know, want to be one
of those grades where people just look at me like that.
So just being patient, just putting the work in and
just grounding each and every day and just believing in
my coaches and believing in my teammates and also believing
in myself just to go out there and you know,
just perform for the city.
Speaker 2 (08:53):
You're only nineteen, she got a long road ahead of you.
But anytime someone's drafted in the first round, there's a
good chance that they're gonna have a chance to contribute
pretty quickly at the age of nineteen, knowing that your
best days are certainly ahead of you. What do you
feel you bring to the table right now to a
Hornets team that maybe was surprisingly where it was at
the end of last year. There was a lot of injuries,
a lot of unexpected things took the Hornets off a
(09:15):
path where they were ascending. They were an above five
hundred team going into last season, and injuries and absences, yeah,
changed their fate. So what do you think you can
bring immediately to a roster that win healthy? Is pretty
darn gut Yeah.
Speaker 4 (09:28):
Like I said, man, just the competitive spirit, just coming
in to practice each and every day, working hard and
pushing other guys as well. Just putting the work in
every day. I mean, I say that a lot. I
mean I feel like that's just very important to me.
Just learning different things from coaches, just watching a lot
of film, especially for me, Like you said, I'm nineteen
and I'm coming into a new game, and you know,
just talking to the coach. He already told me it's
(09:49):
a different game from college to the NBA, and just
the way how you know, defense is played is way better.
And I feel like I can get to a level where,
you know, the coaches can trust me on.
Speaker 3 (09:58):
A whole different level.
Speaker 4 (09:59):
But you know, just come in and just showing him
that I'm willing to put the work in and showing
him that I'm willing to, you know, do anything for
the team. And it's definitely gonna be something that I'm
looking forward.
Speaker 2 (10:08):
To, my last one for you. And we're gonna save
this and play back for you after it happens, which
is not gonna be too far in the future, I
know it for sure. But tell me how you think
your first NBA points are gonna happen.
Speaker 4 (10:19):
First NBA points, I'm not sure because I feel like
I can score on all five levels. Yeah, floaters, threes,
pull ups, get to the rim, yeah, I mean, I'm
a deeper shoot from deep. I mean, I mean, I
don't know, man, I just I'm not gonna try to
rush it. I'm not gonna try to, you know, do
too much on it.
Speaker 3 (10:36):
Man.
Speaker 4 (10:36):
I'm just gonna play my game, and you know, I know,
I know for a fact I'm gonna score. I'm gonna
score at some point this year, but I'm pretty confident
that I'm not. I'm pretty sure I'm gonna score on
one of these games, but not really just expecting too much.
Just coming in learning, like I said, coming in learning
about the game, and just trying to grow my game
each and every year. So you know, it's time to
you know, compete for you know, championships. That's you know
(10:58):
what I'm looking forward to.
Speaker 2 (11:00):
We are excited for that as well. Nick, thanks for
joining us here, first of hopefully many many occasions having
you here in studio for the Hornets Podcast.
Speaker 3 (11:08):
Welcome to Charlotte, sir, Thank you, thank you for having me.
Speaker 2 (11:10):
Coming up next, we're going to bring in not one,
but two other special guests, Rob Longo, my producer from
the Hornets Radio Network, as well as Sam Purley, senior
writer from Hornets dot Com. We're gonna talk about this
draft as a whole, talk about some of the draft
grades that have started to come through. We do anticipate
getting to introduce you to James Najiamari Bailey later on
down the line, but you've heard from the first rounders
(11:32):
had plenty of time to hear what the national media thinks.
What do we think of their thoughts? We'll talk about
that next Here on the Hornets, I've cast Sam Farber
now joined by my producer from the Hornets Radio Network,
as well as the producer of this fine podcast, Rob
Longo and senior writer from Hornets dot Com Sam Purley
here with us as well. Gentlemen, thanks for joining us here.
(11:55):
Thanks for joining me here. I should say, before we
get into talking draft grades, we got a chance to
meet Nick Smith Junior here on this podcast. Am I
know you interviewed him for Hornets dot Com. Just general
thoughts after seeing this guy who at one point was
projected to be a top five pick in a top
five recruit in his class. I think it was number
one in some publications falls from the Hornets at twenty seven.
(12:16):
They scoop him up. Your thoughts getting to meet him
over the course of the last few days.
Speaker 5 (12:21):
Yeah, I really like him, learning a little bit more
about him, not somebody that I think. You know, It's funny,
you know, with all the guys that came through here
for pre draft workouts, he was not one of them.
Because I don't think the Hornets necessarily felt like he
was going to be there at twenty seven. They had
him projected going much higher. So the fact that he
fell there and they thought so highly of him is
you know, Mitch was seemed to be very excited after
(12:41):
the draft that they were able to get Nick Smith too,
and you know, learning a little bit about his season
in Arkansas. Obviously had some tough luck with some injuries
and out of the lineup, and came back in and
out of the lineup again and just never really found
his footing. I think maybe, you know, the season kind
of moves quickly sometimes too, but obviously a very high
end talent. He's got great measurables. Big guard, long wing span, playmaker,
could maybe play both guard positions at some point down
(13:02):
the line too. So I really like the pick for
the Hornets. I think he's gonna be a great fit.
Adds a little bit more playmaking, a little bit more
backcourt depth, and like you said, yeah, I mean, he
did not become one of the top high school players
in the country for no reason. He just had a
couple little adversity at Arkansas, And you know, hopefully the
Hornets will be the benefactors of him falling a little
bit in the draft.
Speaker 2 (13:18):
And that unforeseen fall is the topic of this podcast segment.
And Sam Perli, you like to make fun of me
at the office a lot about these types of things,
but I oftentimes will react to whatever clickbait NBA story
is posted on the variety of publications that we monitor,
and Rob you make fun of me sometimes too, But
I don't understand some of the professional draft grades that
(13:43):
have been posted aligned with the Hornets. I don't begretge
any fan feeling any kind of way. You know, you're
entitled to your opinion. Hopefully the Hornets draft picks will
turn you in their favor in the long run. But
in terms of the espns of the world and the
major publications and their draft grades, I quite frankly am
surprised at their assessment of the Hornets draft hall. You
(14:06):
got Brandon Miller at number two, a guy who many
of these same publications rated second overall. Nick Smith Junior
falls to twenty seven. Sam, as you said, I don't
think the Hornets really had a thought that he would
last anywhere near not just twenty seven, but near where
they could trade up to get him higher. Than twenty seven.
James Naji, depending on who you look at, had a
first round grade, and Amari Bailey was kind of in
(14:28):
the same mold of Nick Smith junior, really highly rated
from his high school class for whatever reason, was more
slated to land in this position, but a solid strong
pick nonetheless. So Rob, I'll let you go first on
this one. Am I crazy for thinking that these draft
grades are a bit crazy to not have the Hornets
higher up, closer to an A record.
Speaker 6 (14:48):
Well, I will validate you by saying I totally agree
with you, Sam. I mean, I just don't understand what
some of these guys look at really, to be honest
with you, I mean it's funny because, like you see
the grade next to the Hornets and it will say
like B plus A minus A, and then somehow they
lose the draft. Like it just doesn't make any sense.
I understand that there was a lot of back and
forth between Brandon Miller's Scoot Henderson at the number two
(15:11):
overall selection, but at the end of the day, if
you wanted to look at it one way or the other,
you got the guy that fits your roster the best
year with Brandon Miller and has the potential to be
the best player available as well, and then you answer
any other doubt if you wanted to look for depth
at the guard position when you draft a guy like
Nick Smith junior. So I just don't understand it one
way or the other. Just similar lines to you. But again,
(15:31):
I also don't really fall for the clickbait as much.
I know that when we had Kevin O'Connor on here
a couple of weeks ago for the draft preview podcast,
he said on his big board, sometimes he makes a
little bit of a shake up on a mock draft
just to a be different and to be to see
what kind of reaction he gets out of a team's
fan base. So they kind of do it intentionally I
think a little bit as well. But at the same time,
I think there was a lot of people that international
(15:52):
media maybe didn't watch as many Hornets games this last
season as they may have in the past. And I
think you can kind of see that in the ranking
and that sort of thing, because you go back to
some of the preview stuff for the draft and saying, well,
LaMelo Ball didn't play a whole lot and all that stuff, Well, yeah,
of course he didn't play because everybody was hurt and
he was hurt as well, So it was kind of
like one of those things that you head scratch a
(16:13):
little bit, like did you even look at the roster?
Did you even watch the games last year? So I
kind of convalidate your feelings a little bit in that sense.
Speaker 2 (16:20):
Look, Sam Purley, winning draft day doesn't matter compared to
winning championships, contending in the playoffs. That's what matters. That's
what will inevitably define whether or not this was a
successful draft or not. But in the context of winning
draft day, there is such a thing as getting guys
at the appropriate value, or selecting guys and getting additional
(16:41):
value because they, in theory, should have gone higher. And
I think when you look at all of the Hornet's picks,
every single one of them, they either got them where
they were supposed to go roughly in the draft, or
got him at a better spot. From the Horns perspective,
they weren't supposed to last this long. They should have
gone higher. And that's the context that I come at
the from where I say the Hornets are one of
(17:02):
the draft winners. Not only did they get a guy
who many of the experts out there had number two
most of all, Mitch Kupchak, the most important expert of
them all, he had him as the number two pick.
That's the one that matters the most of me. But
Nick Smith Junior, he was supposed to go maybe in
the lottery at least in the high twenty, in the
lower twenties, twenty twenty two, maybe ends up at twenty seven.
Nazi probably supposed to be a first round pick. Horns
(17:24):
get him at thirty one. So from that standpoint, I
feel strongly the Hornets are one of the draft winners here.
Speaker 5 (17:30):
Yes, as you know, this is one of my favorite
topics to ridicule about getting all worked up about, like
power rankings and the rookie ladder and all this stuff
that's kind of designed specifically to get me audiences like
you upset. So yeah, I wouldn't read too much into it.
I think it's you know, Mitch even seid it. After
the draft, we won't really know a draft grade for
two or three years because you took up four guys
(17:51):
at all are eighteen or nineteen years old, and all
have a lot of upsides, so you won't really know
until it plays out two or three years, and at
that point, everyone's going to be focused on the twenty
twenty six or twenty twenty seven draft and not gonna
be looking back at the twenty twenty three too. So
it's just one of those things that I think after
the draft, you know, you got to start dish out grades,
and you can't give everybody a's or everybody b's. You
got to throw in some different grades here and there
(18:12):
to kind of make it a little bit more controversial,
if you will. So, and I think people that do
this for a living. I'm not somebody that watches draft
workout videos, And there's some pople that really really get
into the depth of this and watching film and old
games and stuff like that, and they have their favorites
in the process, guys they really really like, and you know,
maybe they tend to gravitate to the teams those guys
end up going to is, Hey, I really liked so
(18:33):
and so in this process, I'm going to give this
team an A. So as they say, beauty's in the
I the beholder. But because it's a little entertainment, seeing
how worked up you get about it, I'm totally for it.
They can give us lower grades, but I'm happy with
the draft. I think, you know, Mitch and the front office,
they're all happy with the draft, and I think that's
all that matters. You know what. We'll see how it
all plays out. But I think they did an awesome
job kind of really really lowing up on the talent
(18:55):
and depth side. For sure.
Speaker 2 (18:56):
I'm glad I can entertain you. I for one, am
ecstatic about this. I'm really excited and very excited to
see them on the floor. That's just days away now.
The Hornets are gonna tip off their summer league schedule
in Sacramento on Monday. They'll take on the San Antonio Spurs,
and I will be previewing that one for you coming up.
We've got other interviews still to conduct. We'll hopefully get
a chance to talk to James Naji Amari Bailey prior
(19:19):
to summer league beginning, and we look forward to having
those conversations for you, as well as talking about the
entire Hornets summer league roster, some of the things coming
up on the horizon. And then again came start Hunt
July third. It's coming quickly. Sam Purley, Rob Longo, thank
you both for joining me here talking about some of
the draft grades here on the Hornets ide Cast, of.
Speaker 5 (19:37):
Course, thank you for having me pleasure as always, and
thanks most of all to Nick Smith Junior for sitting
down with us for his first conversation with us here
on the Hornets Sidecast.
Speaker 2 (19:46):
Most most most of all to all of you for
tuning in. For everyone here, I'm Sam Farber saying it's
been a pleasure of privilege having you along. We'll talk
to you again next time right here on the Hornets Iodecast.
Speaker 1 (19:56):
Thank you for listening to the Hornets Hypecast, brought to
you Senta, the official i Ere Nosenthroatcare provider of the
Charlotte Hornets. For more coverage, visit Hornets dot com. M
hm hm
Welcome to the Hornets Highcast, present it by Charlotte I Ear,
Nose and Throat Associates, the official I ear nosen throat
Care provider of the Charlotte Hornets. Here's your host, Sam Farber.
Speaker 2 (00:16):
Welcome to another edition of the Hornets Podcast, your Hornets
podcast with all the notes, quotes, and daily buzz around
your favorite NBA team. I'm Sam Farber and it is
a pleasure and a privileged have you with us here
once again on the Hornets iod Cast, brought to you
by Santa Charlotte EE Ear Nose and Throat Associates, the
official I ear nos and throat Care provider of the
Charlotte Hornets. We continue to get our one on one
(00:36):
conversations with the Hornets most recent draft class. Last edition,
you heard from number two overall pick Brandon Miller. Hope
you enjoyed that conversation. Today, we're gonna let you hear
from the other Hornets first round pick Nick Smith Juniory
recorded this podcast just after he was drafted, so looking
forward to bringing that to you at long. Last one
piece of business we want to address though, before we
(00:56):
get into the conversation to Charlotte Hornets announcing early that
the team has extended qualifying offers to Miles Bridges, PJ Washington,
and Tao Maladone, which makes them all restricted free agents. Now,
we are a team based podcast, myself producer Rob Longo,
we are team employees. We cannot comment on free agency
beyond the statement I just read until after the moratorium
(01:16):
is over and things become official. So suffice to say,
after the moratorium is up and decisions are actually made,
we will have a lot to say here on the
Hornets Podcast, But for now, I'll read the statement again.
The Hornets have extended qualifying offers to PJ. Washington, Miles Bridges,
and Tail Malaedone, making all three restricted free agents. One
other thing to let you know about. At the end
(01:38):
of the show, we're gonna bring Rob Longo in as
well as Sam Purley of Hornets dot Com talk a
little bit about some of the draft grades we've seen
out there. Some of these pieces are basically fodder to
try and get people like yours truly upset, and I'm
pretty sure Robin, Sam, We're gonna make fun of me
for being so upset. But we'll talk about what some
of the experts out there have said about the Hornets
draft class. Now, without further ado, let's introduce you to
(02:00):
one of the members of that class, first round pick
Nick Smith Junior, here with us now on the Horned
Time Cast. Nick, first time ever, Welcome to the HC.
Speaker 3 (02:07):
It's good to a Yeah, sir, what up? Excited to
be here, Excited to be here.
Speaker 2 (02:11):
We're recording this just hours after you were drafted. Tell
me your emotions on draft night and now leading into
your introduction here to your new hometown.
Speaker 4 (02:22):
You know, just my emotions going into the draft. Really
didn't know what was going on, really didn't know what
was going to happen. But I got an opportunity and
Mitch believed in me, and I feel like it was
more overfit and like I said, he gave me an opportunity.
I'm trying to, you know, come in and work and
take steps. I feel like taking steps is important and
just trying to be an open minded person and learn
(02:42):
as much as I can. So just doing that consistently
on a consistent basis for years, I feel like it
was gonna give me to where I need to get
to the draft.
Speaker 2 (02:49):
It's a funny thing because timing has so much to
do with where players are selected. I think if you
had been eligible to come out from high school based
off all the recruiting rankings and whatnot, you're probably gone
well before the Hornets have a chance to come and
get you. The way it has worked out, how do
you feel about the process, how it worked out, and
the end result of you being a first round pick?
Speaker 4 (03:11):
Man, I like it, especially for the Charlotte Hornets. I
feel like it's a great fit for me. You got
LaMelo ball here, you got a whole bunch of guards
I can learn from Brozier.
Speaker 3 (03:18):
You know, you got book Night here. Obviously.
Speaker 4 (03:20):
You know I got my best friend here, Brandon Miller.
It's gonna be fun just having an opportunity and just
you know, learn as much as I can and not
really worrying about what anybody say. To be honest with you,
because we all know, I feel like I know what
I'm capable of, and you know I'm willing to show
you know what I'm capable of in a month, so
you know we'll see you know, But you know, I'm
just grateful for the opportunity.
Speaker 2 (03:40):
You mentioned your your best friend, Brandon Miller. Draft class.
You guys play it on the same aau T. That's rare,
that doesn't happen very often, sir, to get to do
this with him, What does that mean to you?
Speaker 3 (03:50):
What's that going to be like? Man, I feel like
it's just all God. Man.
Speaker 4 (03:53):
I feel like coming into college, we was, you know,
looking to play with each other. My two options was
Alabama Argus. You know he went to Alabama role with
the Argus all route. You know, I feel like both
of us made the right decision for both of us.
Speaker 3 (04:05):
He had a good year.
Speaker 4 (04:06):
I feel like I had a year where I learned
a lot. He had a year where he learned a lot.
And man, everything just failing place. To be honest with you,
you know, he got the number two pick and I
got the number twenty seventh pick, and you know, we're
here together again. So we just ready to put the
work in and just show people we can play together.
And you know, I'm pretty sure y'all gonna see the chemistry.
You know, we got to get it back a little bit,
but you know they're gonna see the chemistry by the
(04:26):
time we hit the floor again.
Speaker 2 (04:27):
So Nick Smith Junior, our guest today here on the
Hornets Podcast, Let's get to know you a little bit
more as a person. Tell me some of your favorites.
Where can people maybe find you when you're not on
the court, around Charlotte and your new home. What did
some things you like to do.
Speaker 4 (04:41):
I don't really like to do too much, to be
honest with you, I like to stay home, probably play
two K, chill my friends. Well I can't really chill
my friends when I move out here, though, but chill
my friends on the game.
Speaker 3 (04:51):
Not really doing too much I like to, you know, chill.
I don't know. I don't really like doing too much.
I get that question a lot.
Speaker 4 (04:56):
You know, I probably need to find a few hobbies
that go out there and do in a new city.
I ain't never really just been in Charlotte for real,
So I gotta go see what the city coming out.
Speaker 2 (05:04):
Well, you know, we have a two K team here too.
I mean, how how good are you going to give
the pros a run for their money? Yeah?
Speaker 3 (05:10):
I'm pretty like I'm pretty good at two K? No like,
no cap.
Speaker 2 (05:13):
What kind of player are you in the two K game?
Speaker 3 (05:16):
Like top tier? Like?
Speaker 2 (05:17):
Like are you scorer? Are you a lockdown defender? Do
you like to play the big man?
Speaker 4 (05:21):
Well?
Speaker 3 (05:21):
Like so you know you got bills, right.
Speaker 4 (05:24):
I pretty much kind of make everything in one So
that's kind of my whole deal. I don't like necessarily
doing something too great then having something I don't do well.
But I feel like, I don't know, people would just
see you, see me in the neighborhood, probably see me
in the rake. I gotta get my team as well too.
I can play you in randoms, it don't matter. So
(05:44):
you know you probably catch me on that two K.
Speaker 3 (05:47):
So for sure.
Speaker 2 (05:48):
One other thing we've learned about you very quickly. You
have a smile that hasn't left your face, I'm sure
since you were drafted and you got to share that
with some local community members right off the bat. First
thing you did before you were introduced to the media
and to our high society fans. You're out there in
the community. What does that mean to you, that opportunity
to be on a bigger stage than you've ever been before.
Speaker 3 (06:07):
And give back. Yeah.
Speaker 4 (06:08):
Man, Like I said, for me, to give back, it's
a big thing for me. Where I'm from, they don't
really have a lot and for me it's very important
to you know, get back to where you came from
and for me to come into a new city, and
a new city embraces me and you know, just having
fun with the kids and having fun with people that
was there just to support them, and you know, just
having me and Brandon to come and support them and
have a good time with them. It's definitely something that
(06:30):
you know, Brian's my day and I definitely seen you know,
everybody in their day as well. So it was definitely
something you know, we want to come in and just
try to, you know, put smile on people's faces.
Speaker 3 (06:39):
And I feel like we did that.
Speaker 2 (06:43):
Nick Smith Junior, our guest today here on the Hornets Podcast.
Let's talk about the game and what you expect of
yourself on the floor long term. Who do you try
and emulate. Who do you see yourself maybe mirroring in
your path here in your pro career.
Speaker 4 (06:56):
Yeah, I mean I'll watch a lot of NBA for
a long time, to a lot of Jamal Murray, just
the way how scrappy is a lot of people don't
see how scrappy he is, people just looking as scorer,
But I just like him, how scrappy he is and
how how well he can just find angles and find
open man and find you know, different angles to, you know,
score on Bradley Beal, just the way how he you know,
(07:16):
moves on the court. He has a counter for everything,
and then seeing it in person. Devin Booker, his pull
up game is tremendous and that's one of the things
I want to take away from his game. John Morant,
just the way how he sees the floor. Just the
way how he reacted things very quickly and not really
just thinking too much of the game. You can just
tell like he's just just the instanct he has for
the game. It's very very incredible. Steph just the way
(07:36):
how he moves off the ball.
Speaker 3 (07:38):
I don't know.
Speaker 4 (07:38):
This is a lot of things I can go on
and on about different players. You know, I try to
put in my game, but yeah, man, I feel like
different aspects of other people's games I can put in
my game, and you know, that's definitely a good a
good combination have.
Speaker 2 (07:50):
It's a lot of all star power that you mentioned there.
There are great players to emulate. There are also some
players that you're going to get to share the court
with and then not to this in the future. What
do you think about that and those moments that are
ahead of you.
Speaker 4 (08:02):
It's crazy Like I said, I've been playing two K
with these guys for a long time and.
Speaker 2 (08:08):
It's about to be real.
Speaker 3 (08:09):
Yeah, it's about to be real. But you know, I
feel like I'm ready for it.
Speaker 4 (08:12):
I've been not in the mix, but like you know,
been around the game, been around the NBA. I went
to a few games when I was done with college
and get to see get to see what the vibe
is like. Just to have an opportunity just to talk
to some of them, you know, it was definitely a
blessing and just to you know, pick their brains on
you know, how they move on things, and how how
well they you know, treat the game, and how well
they even treat their bodies. Especially Brin. He just takes
(08:34):
it to a whole, a whole other level. And that's
one thing you know, I look at very deeply, and
you know, I just you know, want to be one
of those grades where people just look at me like that.
So just being patient, just putting the work in and
just grounding each and every day and just believing in
my coaches and believing in my teammates and also believing
in myself just to go out there and you know,
just perform for the city.
Speaker 2 (08:53):
You're only nineteen, she got a long road ahead of you.
But anytime someone's drafted in the first round, there's a
good chance that they're gonna have a chance to contribute
pretty quickly at the age of nineteen, knowing that your
best days are certainly ahead of you. What do you
feel you bring to the table right now to a
Hornets team that maybe was surprisingly where it was at
the end of last year. There was a lot of injuries,
a lot of unexpected things took the Hornets off a
(09:15):
path where they were ascending. They were an above five
hundred team going into last season, and injuries and absences, yeah,
changed their fate. So what do you think you can
bring immediately to a roster that win healthy? Is pretty
darn gut Yeah.
Speaker 4 (09:28):
Like I said, man, just the competitive spirit, just coming
in to practice each and every day, working hard and
pushing other guys as well. Just putting the work in
every day. I mean, I say that a lot. I
mean I feel like that's just very important to me.
Just learning different things from coaches, just watching a lot
of film, especially for me, Like you said, I'm nineteen
and I'm coming into a new game, and you know,
just talking to the coach. He already told me it's
(09:49):
a different game from college to the NBA, and just
the way how you know, defense is played is way better.
And I feel like I can get to a level where,
you know, the coaches can trust me on.
Speaker 3 (09:58):
A whole different level.
Speaker 4 (09:59):
But you know, just come in and just showing him
that I'm willing to put the work in and showing
him that I'm willing to, you know, do anything for
the team. And it's definitely gonna be something that I'm
looking forward.
Speaker 2 (10:08):
To, my last one for you. And we're gonna save
this and play back for you after it happens, which
is not gonna be too far in the future, I
know it for sure. But tell me how you think
your first NBA points are gonna happen.
Speaker 4 (10:19):
First NBA points, I'm not sure because I feel like
I can score on all five levels. Yeah, floaters, threes,
pull ups, get to the rim, yeah, I mean, I'm
a deeper shoot from deep. I mean, I mean, I
don't know, man, I just I'm not gonna try to
rush it. I'm not gonna try to, you know, do
too much on it.
Speaker 3 (10:36):
Man.
Speaker 4 (10:36):
I'm just gonna play my game, and you know, I know,
I know for a fact I'm gonna score. I'm gonna
score at some point this year, but I'm pretty confident
that I'm not. I'm pretty sure I'm gonna score on
one of these games, but not really just expecting too much.
Just coming in learning, like I said, coming in learning
about the game, and just trying to grow my game
each and every year. So you know, it's time to
you know, compete for you know, championships. That's you know
(10:58):
what I'm looking forward to.
Speaker 2 (11:00):
We are excited for that as well. Nick, thanks for
joining us here, first of hopefully many many occasions having
you here in studio for the Hornets Podcast.
Speaker 3 (11:08):
Welcome to Charlotte, sir, Thank you, thank you for having me.
Speaker 2 (11:10):
Coming up next, we're going to bring in not one,
but two other special guests, Rob Longo, my producer from
the Hornets Radio Network, as well as Sam Purley, senior
writer from Hornets dot Com. We're gonna talk about this
draft as a whole, talk about some of the draft
grades that have started to come through. We do anticipate
getting to introduce you to James Najiamari Bailey later on
down the line, but you've heard from the first rounders
(11:32):
had plenty of time to hear what the national media thinks.
What do we think of their thoughts? We'll talk about
that next Here on the Hornets, I've cast Sam Farber
now joined by my producer from the Hornets Radio Network,
as well as the producer of this fine podcast, Rob
Longo and senior writer from Hornets dot Com Sam Purley
here with us as well. Gentlemen, thanks for joining us here.
(11:55):
Thanks for joining me here. I should say, before we
get into talking draft grades, we got a chance to
meet Nick Smith Junior here on this podcast. Am I
know you interviewed him for Hornets dot Com. Just general
thoughts after seeing this guy who at one point was
projected to be a top five pick in a top
five recruit in his class. I think it was number
one in some publications falls from the Hornets at twenty seven.
(12:16):
They scoop him up. Your thoughts getting to meet him
over the course of the last few days.
Speaker 5 (12:21):
Yeah, I really like him, learning a little bit more
about him, not somebody that I think. You know, It's funny,
you know, with all the guys that came through here
for pre draft workouts, he was not one of them.
Because I don't think the Hornets necessarily felt like he
was going to be there at twenty seven. They had
him projected going much higher. So the fact that he
fell there and they thought so highly of him is
you know, Mitch was seemed to be very excited after
(12:41):
the draft that they were able to get Nick Smith too,
and you know, learning a little bit about his season
in Arkansas. Obviously had some tough luck with some injuries
and out of the lineup, and came back in and
out of the lineup again and just never really found
his footing. I think maybe, you know, the season kind
of moves quickly sometimes too, but obviously a very high
end talent. He's got great measurables. Big guard, long wing span, playmaker,
could maybe play both guard positions at some point down
(13:02):
the line too. So I really like the pick for
the Hornets. I think he's gonna be a great fit.
Adds a little bit more playmaking, a little bit more
backcourt depth, and like you said, yeah, I mean, he
did not become one of the top high school players
in the country for no reason. He just had a
couple little adversity at Arkansas, And you know, hopefully the
Hornets will be the benefactors of him falling a little
bit in the draft.
Speaker 2 (13:18):
And that unforeseen fall is the topic of this podcast segment.
And Sam Perli, you like to make fun of me
at the office a lot about these types of things,
but I oftentimes will react to whatever clickbait NBA story
is posted on the variety of publications that we monitor,
and Rob you make fun of me sometimes too, But
I don't understand some of the professional draft grades that
(13:43):
have been posted aligned with the Hornets. I don't begretge
any fan feeling any kind of way. You know, you're
entitled to your opinion. Hopefully the Hornets draft picks will
turn you in their favor in the long run. But
in terms of the espns of the world and the
major publications and their draft grades, I quite frankly am
surprised at their assessment of the Hornets draft hall. You
(14:06):
got Brandon Miller at number two, a guy who many
of these same publications rated second overall. Nick Smith Junior
falls to twenty seven. Sam, as you said, I don't
think the Hornets really had a thought that he would
last anywhere near not just twenty seven, but near where
they could trade up to get him higher. Than twenty seven.
James Naji, depending on who you look at, had a
first round grade, and Amari Bailey was kind of in
(14:28):
the same mold of Nick Smith junior, really highly rated
from his high school class for whatever reason, was more
slated to land in this position, but a solid strong
pick nonetheless. So Rob, I'll let you go first on
this one. Am I crazy for thinking that these draft
grades are a bit crazy to not have the Hornets
higher up, closer to an A record.
Speaker 6 (14:48):
Well, I will validate you by saying I totally agree
with you, Sam. I mean, I just don't understand what
some of these guys look at really, to be honest
with you, I mean it's funny because, like you see
the grade next to the Hornets and it will say
like B plus A minus A, and then somehow they
lose the draft. Like it just doesn't make any sense.
I understand that there was a lot of back and
forth between Brandon Miller's Scoot Henderson at the number two
(15:11):
overall selection, but at the end of the day, if
you wanted to look at it one way or the other,
you got the guy that fits your roster the best
year with Brandon Miller and has the potential to be
the best player available as well, and then you answer
any other doubt if you wanted to look for depth
at the guard position when you draft a guy like
Nick Smith junior. So I just don't understand it one
way or the other. Just similar lines to you. But again,
(15:31):
I also don't really fall for the clickbait as much.
I know that when we had Kevin O'Connor on here
a couple of weeks ago for the draft preview podcast,
he said on his big board, sometimes he makes a
little bit of a shake up on a mock draft
just to a be different and to be to see
what kind of reaction he gets out of a team's
fan base. So they kind of do it intentionally I
think a little bit as well. But at the same time,
I think there was a lot of people that international
(15:52):
media maybe didn't watch as many Hornets games this last
season as they may have in the past. And I
think you can kind of see that in the ranking
and that sort of thing, because you go back to
some of the preview stuff for the draft and saying, well,
LaMelo Ball didn't play a whole lot and all that stuff, Well, yeah,
of course he didn't play because everybody was hurt and
he was hurt as well, So it was kind of
like one of those things that you head scratch a
(16:13):
little bit, like did you even look at the roster?
Did you even watch the games last year? So I
kind of convalidate your feelings a little bit in that sense.
Speaker 2 (16:20):
Look, Sam Purley, winning draft day doesn't matter compared to
winning championships, contending in the playoffs. That's what matters. That's
what will inevitably define whether or not this was a
successful draft or not. But in the context of winning
draft day, there is such a thing as getting guys
at the appropriate value, or selecting guys and getting additional
(16:41):
value because they, in theory, should have gone higher. And
I think when you look at all of the Hornet's picks,
every single one of them, they either got them where
they were supposed to go roughly in the draft, or
got him at a better spot. From the Horns perspective,
they weren't supposed to last this long. They should have
gone higher. And that's the context that I come at
the from where I say the Hornets are one of
(17:02):
the draft winners. Not only did they get a guy
who many of the experts out there had number two
most of all, Mitch Kupchak, the most important expert of
them all, he had him as the number two pick.
That's the one that matters the most of me. But
Nick Smith Junior, he was supposed to go maybe in
the lottery at least in the high twenty, in the
lower twenties, twenty twenty two, maybe ends up at twenty seven.
Nazi probably supposed to be a first round pick. Horns
(17:24):
get him at thirty one. So from that standpoint, I
feel strongly the Hornets are one of the draft winners here.
Speaker 5 (17:30):
Yes, as you know, this is one of my favorite
topics to ridicule about getting all worked up about, like
power rankings and the rookie ladder and all this stuff
that's kind of designed specifically to get me audiences like
you upset. So yeah, I wouldn't read too much into it.
I think it's you know, Mitch even seid it. After
the draft, we won't really know a draft grade for
two or three years because you took up four guys
(17:51):
at all are eighteen or nineteen years old, and all
have a lot of upsides, so you won't really know
until it plays out two or three years, and at
that point, everyone's going to be focused on the twenty
twenty six or twenty twenty seven draft and not gonna
be looking back at the twenty twenty three too. So
it's just one of those things that I think after
the draft, you know, you got to start dish out grades,
and you can't give everybody a's or everybody b's. You
got to throw in some different grades here and there
(18:12):
to kind of make it a little bit more controversial,
if you will. So, and I think people that do
this for a living. I'm not somebody that watches draft
workout videos, And there's some pople that really really get
into the depth of this and watching film and old
games and stuff like that, and they have their favorites
in the process, guys they really really like, and you know,
maybe they tend to gravitate to the teams those guys
end up going to is, Hey, I really liked so
(18:33):
and so in this process, I'm going to give this
team an A. So as they say, beauty's in the
I the beholder. But because it's a little entertainment, seeing
how worked up you get about it, I'm totally for it.
They can give us lower grades, but I'm happy with
the draft. I think, you know, Mitch and the front office,
they're all happy with the draft, and I think that's
all that matters. You know what. We'll see how it
all plays out. But I think they did an awesome
job kind of really really lowing up on the talent
(18:55):
and depth side. For sure.
Speaker 2 (18:56):
I'm glad I can entertain you. I for one, am
ecstatic about this. I'm really excited and very excited to
see them on the floor. That's just days away now.
The Hornets are gonna tip off their summer league schedule
in Sacramento on Monday. They'll take on the San Antonio Spurs,
and I will be previewing that one for you coming up.
We've got other interviews still to conduct. We'll hopefully get
a chance to talk to James Naji Amari Bailey prior
(19:19):
to summer league beginning, and we look forward to having
those conversations for you, as well as talking about the
entire Hornets summer league roster, some of the things coming
up on the horizon. And then again came start Hunt
July third. It's coming quickly. Sam Purley, Rob Longo, thank
you both for joining me here talking about some of
the draft grades here on the Hornets ide Cast, of.
Speaker 5 (19:37):
Course, thank you for having me pleasure as always, and
thanks most of all to Nick Smith Junior for sitting
down with us for his first conversation with us here
on the Hornets Sidecast.
Speaker 2 (19:46):
Most most most of all to all of you for
tuning in. For everyone here, I'm Sam Farber saying it's
been a pleasure of privilege having you along. We'll talk
to you again next time right here on the Hornets Iodecast.
Speaker 1 (19:56):
Thank you for listening to the Hornets Hypecast, brought to
you Senta, the official i Ere Nosenthroatcare provider of the
Charlotte Hornets. For more coverage, visit Hornets dot com. M
hm hm
Hosts And Creators
Sam Farber
Rob Longo
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