Greatest unsung hero in every NBA team’s history

Houston Rockets: Kenny Smith

For much of the 1990s, Hall of Fame big man Hakeem Olajuwon was the center of the Houston Rockets’ universe.

With his array of post moves and his underrated ball handling and passing, “The Dream” obviously served as the fulcrum of Houston’s offense. This often led to opponents double-teaming him to force his teammates around him to make plays. One of those players was current TNT analyst Kenny “The Jet” Smith.

The Rockets acquired Smith via a trade with the Atlanta Hawks prior to the 1990-91 season. He immediately reaped the benefits of playing alongside a superstar talent. Smith’s 15.8 PER, .130 WS/48, and 59.5 true shooting percentage were higher with Houston than with any other team.

While he didn’t put up big per game numbers, Smith was more than a mere spot-up shooter. He could race past defenders in the open court, hence the nickname “The Jet”. Smith was a solid passer and while he wasn’t a good defender by any means, he flashed some quick hands for some swipes every now and again.

It’s easy to dismiss Smith as role player who was fortunate enough to be on the same team as Olajuwon, and later Clyde Drexler. While it’s true that Smith wasn’t a franchise-altering star, his steady play at the point guard position and his strong shooting gave those the big names he played with a safety valve. If opposing defenses paid too much attention to Olajuwon and Drexler, Smith could produce the occasional high-scoring game on big stages, too.