The Miami Heat’s G League pipeline just got a little deeper-and a little more intriguing. On Wednesday, the Sioux Falls Skyforce, Miami’s affiliate, signed veteran guard Dennis Smith Jr., a name that NBA fans will remember from a few highlight-heavy seasons and a journey that’s taken him across the league.
Smith, the No. 9 overall pick in the 2017 NBA Draft, entered the league with plenty of buzz. Drafted ahead of players like Donovan Mitchell, Bam Adebayo, and OG Anunoby, Smith was seen as a high-upside point guard with explosive athleticism and playmaking potential. And in that rookie year with the Dallas Mavericks, he gave fans a glimpse of what he could be-averaging 15.2 points, 3.8 rebounds, and 5.2 assists over 69 games, good enough to earn All-Rookie Second Team honors.
But the NBA journey rarely follows a straight line.
Smith was part of the 2019 blockbuster deal that sent Kristaps Porzingis and Tim Hardaway Jr. to Dallas, landing him in New York with the Knicks. His time in the Big Apple stretched over three seasons, but the consistency never quite clicked. From there, it was a winding path through Detroit, Portland, Charlotte, and Brooklyn-each stop offering flashes of that rookie-year promise, but never the sustained breakout many expected.
All told, Smith played nine NBA seasons between 2017 and 2024, averaging 9.7 points, 3 rebounds, and 4.2 assists per game. Those numbers speak to a player who could contribute in spurts, but struggled to find a long-term fit.
Ahead of this current season, Smith had a brief reunion with Dallas but was waived before the regular season began. He then landed with the Wisconsin Herd, Milwaukee’s G League affiliate, where he appeared in five games and averaged 5.6 points, 6.2 rebounds, and 3.6 assists. Not eye-popping numbers, but they hint at a player still trying to evolve his game-particularly on the glass and as a facilitator.
Now, with the Skyforce, Smith gets another shot to prove he still belongs in the league conversation. For Miami, a franchise known for maximizing overlooked or undervalued talent, this is a classic low-risk, high-upside move. The Heat have a track record of developing G League players into rotation pieces-just ask Gabe Vincent or Max Strus.
Smith’s journey started in Fayetteville, North Carolina, and it didn’t take long for him to make noise at the college level. At NC State, he was named ACC Rookie of the Year in 2017 before declaring for the draft after just one season. That one-and-done campaign showcased the same blend of speed, bounce, and vision that made him a lottery pick.
At 26, Smith’s story isn’t over. The G League has become more than just a developmental stop-it’s a proving ground. And if Dennis Smith Jr. can tap back into that early-career spark, the Skyforce-and maybe even the Heat-could be the next chapter in a career that still has pages left to write.