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Los Angeles Clippers: 25 Best Players To Play For The Clippers

By Phil Watson

Apr 20, 2016; Los Angeles, CA, USA; General view of the Los Angeles Clippers logo at midcourt during game two of the first round of the NBA playoffs against the Portland Trail Blazers at the Staples center. The Clippers defeated the Trail Blazers 102-81 to take a 2-0 lead. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports
Apr 20, 2016; Los Angeles, CA, USA; General view of the Los Angeles Clippers logo at midcourt during game two of the first round of the NBA playoffs against the Portland Trail Blazers at the Staples center. The Clippers defeated the Trail Blazers 102-81 to take a 2-0 lead. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports /
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Basketball: Buffalo Braves Randy Smith (9) in action vs New York Knicks Bill Bradley (24) at Madison Square Garden. New York, NY 12/14/1974 CREDIT: Walter Iooss Jr. (Photo by Walter Iooss Jr. /Sports Illustrated/Getty Images) (Set Number: X19175 TK3 R5 F20 )
Basketball: Buffalo Braves Randy Smith (9) in action vs New York Knicks Bill Bradley (24) at Madison Square Garden. New York, NY 12/14/1974 CREDIT: Walter Iooss Jr. (Photo by Walter Iooss Jr. /Sports Illustrated/Getty Images) (Set Number: X19175 TK3 R5 F20 ) /

6. player. 77. <strong>How acquired:</strong> Seventh-round pick (104th overall) from Buffalo State, 1971 NBA Draft; Veteran free agent, Oct. 28, 1982.. SG-SF. 1971-79, 1982-83. Randy Smith

Randy Smith was a legend at Buffalo State, averaging more than 23 points and almost 11 rebounds per game as a senior, but as a 6-foot-3 power forward he wasn’t given much of a chance to succeed as a pro.

The Buffalo Braves tossed a seventh-round pick in the 1971 NBA Draft at Smith and reaped many rewards.

LAC_06_SMITH
LAC_06_SMITH /

Smith was a two-time All-Star and was named MVP of the 1978 All-Star Game. He was also an All-NBA selection in 1975-76. The durable Smith also set an NBA record, since broken, of playing in 906 consecutive games.

He was third in the NBA in steals in 1973-74, fourth in assists in 1974-75 and fifth in minutes per game in 1977-78.

He played one season with the Clippers after the franchise moved to San Diego before he was traded in September 1979 to the Cleveland Cavaliers in exchange for a first-round pick in 1980.

Smith came back to San Diego as a veteran free agent in October 1982, but was waived in March 1983.

In parts of nine seasons in Buffalo and San Diego, Smith averaged 17.8 points, 4.9 assists, 4.2 rebounds and 1.9 steals in 34.1 minutes per game, shooting .472/3-for-16/.772.

In May 1981, he was traded to the New York Knicks and after being waived by the Clippers, signed with the Atlanta Hawks in March 1983, retiring at the end of the season.

He died June 4, 2009, in Norwich, Conn., at the age of 60 from a heart attack while working out.

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