Ex-L'ville star Smith nets 65 for D-League record
The D-League single-game scoring record went down in flames Wednesday night.
Former Louisville guard Russ Smith was to thank.
Smith, now playing for the Delaware 87ers, poured in 65 points on a whopping 24-of-42 night from the field in a 140-129 loss to the Canton Charge.
Smith made just 1 of 5 3-point attempts in 44 minutes against Canton but went 16-of-20 at the free throw line and scored 32 of his points on layups.
.@sevens Russ Smith sets a single-game D-League record with 65 points, 32 of those on layups pic.twitter.com/kw2BIVgklk
— ESPN Stats & Info (@ESPNStatsInfo) March 24, 2016
He credited his aggressive play for the record-setting night.
“I tried to get in the lane,” said Smith, who rounded out his efforts with six rebounds, four assists and two steals. “The last game (against Canton), I think I had about 18 assists, and I didn’t play that whole third quarter because of foul trouble, so the lane was going to be open. I read the scouting report. The big guys were so worried about the lob that I just floated in, and I kept getting layups.
“I just sort of did my homework, and I really circled this game on the calendar because Canton’s a good team. They have some good players. They play tough. It was just a good one.”
Jordan McRae, a former Tennessee standout, set the previous record of 61 in January, also for Delaware.
He saluted Smith in a post on Twitter on Wednesday night.
It was fun while it lasted @Sir_Saudade
— Jordan McRae (@JordyMac52) March 24, 2016
Of course, this wasn’t Smith’s first big moment on the court. A former All-American at Louisville, he helped guide the Cardinals to the 2013 national title under coach Rick Pitino.
“I was looking forward to winning,” Smith said of Wednesday night’s result. “I’ve been a winner all my life.”
Smith was a second-round pick of the 76ers in the 2014 draft. He is currently No. 1 on the D-League’s “Prospect Watch,” a list of players in the league who are eligible to be called up.
A 6-foot guard from New York, he has spent some time in the NBA the past two years, including 15 games for the Memphis Grizzlies this season before he was waived in December.
