Dennis Smith Jr. highlights basketball pros

Dennis Smith Jr., point guard, New York Knicks (NBA)

Smith has had a busy month in the NBA and it has not even been a month since Smith was traded to the New York Knicks. Smith was packaged in a deal that sent guard Wesley Matthews, center DeAndre Jordan and two first-round picks to the New York Knicks in exchange for star big man Kristaps Porzingis, who will pair will international phenom Luka Doncic to make the Mavericks one of the most exciting teams in the future of the NBA.

As for Smith, he put up big numbers in some of his first games as a Knick, including a career-high performance of 31 points against the Detroit Pistons. Smith also competed in the Slam Dunk Contest at NBA All-Star Weekend in Charlotte, North Carolina. Smith competed against former Wake Forest star John Collins, Charlotte Hornets forward Miles Bridges and former Kentucky Wildcat Hamidou Diallo. Smith finished second in the contest to Diallo but wowed the audience with his strong dunks.

Smith also helped the Knicks end its 18-game losing streak, the longest in franchise history, after he put up 19 points on 70-percent shooting and went 2-3 from 3-point range. The Knicks are aiming to win the lottery and luck out on top-tier talent via the draft and free agency, and the hope is to surround Smith with talent so that he can develop into a co-star for the Knicks.

T.J. Warren, small forward, Phoenix Suns (NBA)

Warren has played slightly less with the acquisition and emergence of forward Kelly Oubre, as well as forward Josh Jackson beginning to play better. However, Warren is still playing at a near all-star level, averaging 18 points per game as well as four rebounds, 1.5 assists and 1.2 steals per game. Warren is also continuing to shoot well from beyond the arc, at nearly 43 percent despite his worst field-goal percentage in his career this year, at 48.6 percent.

The Suns are sitting at the bottom of the Western Conference, and will likely look to draft a floor general that can start next to star guard Devin Booker, as well as Warren and rookie center DeAndre Ayton.

C.J. Williams, shooting guard, Minnesota Timberwolves/Iowa Wolves (NBA/NBA G-League)

Williams’ minutes have somewhat increased with the Timberwolves dealing with injuries to multiple guards, including Jeff Teague and Derrick Rose for part of the season. However, Williams has still only played in nine games, averaging 7.4 minutes and 1.7 points per game. Williams is still playing incredibly in the G-League for the Iowa Wolves, as he is now averaging 12 points, 3.6 rebounds, 1.74 assists and one steal per game while shooting slightly over 34 percent from deep.

Williams is joined by former ACC rivals, Syracuse forward Hakim Warrick and Wake Forest guard Brandon Goodwin. Despite the amount of talent on the team, the Wolves sit at 15-24 at the All-Star break, while the Timberwolves sit at 27-30, just outside of the Western Conference playoff picture.

Cat Barber, point guard, Greensboro Swarm (NBA G-League)

The Swarm is 19-18 and is on the cusp of making the playoffs in the Eastern Conference of the G-League. Barber is averaging 10.7 points and is back to his starting position with the team after returning from injury. However, Barber is shooting a poor 23.9 percent from deep, a number that he will certainly need to increase if he hopes to make it to the NBA.

Maverick Rowan, small forward, Austin Spurs (NBA G-League)

Rowan has begun to play more minutes, now averaging 15.4 minutes and 5.6 points per game, for the Austin Spurs who sit at 16-20 in the midst of a rough stretch. Instead of an all-star weekend for the G-League players, like the league normally does, the league placed the Austin Spurs in the 2019 FIBA Intercontinental Cup during the all-star break, where they lost both games they played. The team had to travel to Brazil during the break and did not get any rest while other teams in the G-League did, and will now have to fight tooth and nail to get into the playoffs.

Lorenzo Brown, small forward, Guangzhou Long Lions (Chinese CBA)

Brown was cut from the Toronto Raptors as part of their roster switch-up prior to the All-Star break. Brown signed with the Guangzhou Long Lions in the CBA, joining former NBA Champion Mareese Speights, and has played two games with the club. Brown is currently showing NBA executives why he deserves to be in the NBA, as he is already averaging a whopping 22.5 points and 4.5 rebounds for the Long Lions.

Abdul-Malik Abu, small forward, KK Vrijednosnice Osijek (Croatian A-1 Liga)

Abu’s scoring averages are slightly down from earlier in the season to 15.3 points per game, but he is still averaging 8.3 rebounds per game. Abu is the leading rebounder on the squad, being 6-foot-8, and is one of the four tallest players on the roster.

Allerik Freeman, shooting guard, Alba Fehervar (Hungarian NBIA)

Freeman is continuing his strong streak overseas, averaging 16.9 points, 3.7 rebounds and four assists for Alba Fehervar. Freeman is still starting at shooting guard for the club and like Abu, is one of the leaders on the team for points scored.

Terry Henderson, shooting guard, Scaligera Basket Verona (Italian Serie A2 Basket)

Henderson is averaging 12.4 points, 2.9 rebounds and 1.4 assists with Scaligera Basket Verona through 19 games. The club recently won a championship in 2014-15 in the league they are currently playing in and Henderson will attempt to help them reach similar heights this season.

Dez Lee, point guard, St. John’s Edge (Canadian NBL)

Lee is continuing to lead the Edge, leading the team to a 17-10 record. The team has gone 2-3 in their last five games but is in good hands with Lee and former NBA star forward Glen Davis. Lee is leading the team in minutes per game at 35.6 minutes and is second in points, at 16.7 per game, below Davis who is averaging 18.11.

Scott Wood, small forward, BCM Gravelines (French Jeep Elite)

Wood is continuing to play with consistency for the Gravelines as they are 11-9 through 20 games. Wood is averaging 8.5 points while starting at forward and is helping the Gravelines in its winning ways. Wood is continuing to be the sniper he was for the Wolfpack, shooting an astounding 44 percent from deep.

Lennard Freeman, power forward, Final Spor Genclik (Turkish TBL)

Lennard Freeman has been one of the most impressive overseas Wolfpack players, as he is averaging a double-double in 17 games overseas, at 15.6 points and 11 rebounds per game. Freeman starts at center for the club, however the club is a poor 7-12 through 19 games. Freeman has been a bright spot though, as he is the leading rebounder for the club and ranks second in points per game.

Richard Howell, power forward, Hapoel Tel Aviv (Israeli BSL)

Howell continues to dominate as the starting center for Hapoel Tel Aviv, a team that houses former Denver Nugget DeVaughn Akoon-Purcell. Howell is averaging 15.5 points, 7.9 rebounds and 3.3 assists per game for the club.

Ilian Evtimov, power forward, Chorale Roanne Basket (French LNB Pro B)

Longtime fans of NC State will likely recognize this name as the Bulgarian forward that averaged 10 points per game over his Wolfpack career that lasted from 2001 to 2006. Evtimov, now 35 years old, is still impactful as a basketball player, playing for Chorale Roanne Basket and is averaging 8 points and 2.6 rebounds per game through 10 games.