Nick Smith Jr.’s next stop is Real Madrid.
The former Charlotte Hornets first-round pick is headed overseas on a one-year deal, according to NBA insider Michael Scotto of HoopsHype. Scotto added that Smith will be the lead guard for Real Madrid next season.
For a player who entered the league with plenty of expectation after Charlotte made him the No. 27 overall pick in the 2023 NBA Draft, this is a fresh start in a very different setting. Smith was supposed to give the Hornets more help at the guard spot, but his game never quite settled into the kind of consistent production that sticks.
Charlotte waived him last year, and he landed with the Los Angeles Lakers on a two-way deal. He gave the Lakers some solid minutes, and that stint eventually turned into a two-year standard contract. But Los Angeles reshaped the roster this summer, and Smith was left outside the plans.
Now the 22-year-old gets a chance to rebuild his stock in Spain. That route has worked for plenty of players before, and Smith is still young enough to make it back to the NBA if he puts together the kind of season that turns heads.
There’s also some real evidence to like from his NBA stops. As a rookie in Charlotte, Smith appeared in 51 games and averaged 5.9 points, 1.4 rebounds, and 1.2 assists per game while shooting 43.2 percent from three-point range. His second season brought bigger counting stats - 9.9 points, 2.1 rebounds, and 2.4 assists in 60 games - though his long-range percentage dipped to 34.0 percent.
With the Lakers, Smith played in 30 games and averaged 6.2 points, 0.8 rebounds, and 1.0 assists per contest. His shooting from deep climbed back up to 39.5 percent, nearly matching the efficiency he flashed as a rookie.
Real Madrid is getting a guard with NBA experience and room to grow. For Smith, this move is about more than a change of scenery. It’s a chance to sharpen his game against professional competition and give himself another path back.
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