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Houston Rockets: 25 Best Players To Play For The Rockets

By Phil Watson

Apr 21, 2016; Houston, TX, USA; General view inside Toyota Center before game three of the first round of the NBA Playoffs between the Houston Rockets and the Golden State Warriors. Mandatory Credit: Troy Taormina-USA TODAY Sports
Apr 21, 2016; Houston, TX, USA; General view inside Toyota Center before game three of the first round of the NBA Playoffs between the Houston Rockets and the Golden State Warriors. Mandatory Credit: Troy Taormina-USA TODAY Sports /
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Basketball: NBA Finals: Houston Rockets Kenny Smith (30) victorious, cutting down net on ladder after winning Game 4 and championship series vs Orlando Magic at The Summit. Houston, TX 6/14/1995 CREDIT: Phil Huber (Photo by Phil Huber /Sports Illustrated/Getty Images) (Set Number: X48535 )
Basketball: NBA Finals: Houston Rockets Kenny Smith (30) victorious, cutting down net on ladder after winning Game 4 and championship series vs Orlando Magic at The Summit. Houston, TX 6/14/1995 CREDIT: Phil Huber (Photo by Phil Huber /Sports Illustrated/Getty Images) (Set Number: X48535 ) /

1990-96. Kenny Smith. 17. player. 169. <strong>How acquired:</strong> Trade, Atlanta Hawks, Sept. 27, 1990.. PG

The Houston Rockets were looking to get younger in September 1990 when they acquired Kenny Smith and Roy Marble from the Atlanta Hawks in exchange for John Lucas, Tim McCormick and a first-round pick in 1994.

Smith came to the Rockets and gave them solid play at the point guard spot and was fourth in the NBA in 3-point shooting in 1992-93.

HOU_17_SMITH
HOU_17_SMITH /

He was also part of both of Houston’s title teams in 1994 and 1995.

Smith started all seven games of the 1994 NBA Finals, averaging 5.6 points, 3.1 assists and 1.4 rebounds in 25.4 minutes per game, shooting .389/5-for-14/6-for-6 in the win over the New York Knicks.

He also started all four games in the 1995 Finals, averaging 7.5 points, four assists and 1.8 rebounds in 26.3 minutes per game, shooting .379/8-for-19/— in a sweep of the Orlando Magic.

He was released by the Rockets in July 1996.

In six seasons in Houston, Smith averaged 12.6 points, 5.2 assists, 1.9 rebounds and a steal in 29.3 minutes per game, shooting .490/.407/.857.

An All-American as a senior at North Carolina, Smith averaged 16.9 points and 6.1 assists per game that season. He was the sixth overall pick out of North Carolina by the Sacramento Kings in the 1987 NBA Draft and was an All-Rookie selection in 1987-88.

Traded to the Hawks in February 1990, he later signed as a free agent with the Detroit Pistons in September 1996.

Waived in November of that year, he signed with the Magic in December and was waived the following month.

Smith joined the Denver Nuggets on a 10-day contract later in January 1997 before signing for the rest of the season.

He was released in July 1997 and signed with the New Jersey Nets that October, retiring when he was waived before the start of the regular season.

He is 42nd in NBA history with a 3-point percentage of .399.

Next: Reserve Big Man A Big-Time Contributor

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