Oct. 9—After pit stops within the Pacific Northwest and Higher Midwest, former Gonzaga guard Malachi Smith will resume his skilled basketball profession within the South this season.
Smith, who frolicked final season with the G League’s Rip Metropolis Remix (Portland Path Blazers) and the Wisconsin Herd (Milwaukee Bucks), was acquired Wednesday by the Memphis Hustle (Memphis Grizzlies) in a commerce to 6 groups.
The commerce sends Smith again to Tennessee, the state the place he spent nearly all of his school profession, enjoying three seasons at Chattanooga between stops at Wright State and Gonzaga.
After going undrafted in 2023, Smith performed for the Path Blazers in the course of the Las Vegas Summer season League and joined the G League Rip Metropolis Remix in the course of the crew’s inaugural season.
Smith averaged 15.7 factors, 6.4 rebounds and three.3 assists in 29.8 minutes in 14 video games on the G League Showcase, however solely performed in a single common season sport for Rip Metropolis earlier than to be traded to the Wisconsin Herd, reuniting him with former Gonzaga teammate Drew. Tim, me.
The previous GU guard went on to play 27 video games for Wisconsin, averaging 9.4 factors, 4.7 rebounds and three.4 assists whereas taking pictures 45% from the sector and 42% from the road at 3 factors.
Smith skilled with the Grizzlies Summer season League crew in Memphis however didn’t journey with the crew to Las Vegas.
As a part of the commerce that despatched Smith to Memphis’ G League affiliate, The Hustle additionally acquired the participant rights to Alexey Borges and Devin Cannady whereas additionally securing a 2025 second-round decide.
Smith was the West Coast Convention Sixth Man of the Yr in his lone season at Gonzaga in 2022-23, averaging 8.7 ppg, 3.6 apg and 1.4 apg. per sport for the Zags, who misplaced to eventual nationwide champion UConn within the Elite Eight.
