Who is LaBradford Smith? Fast facts on the Washington Bullets guard and Michael Jordan 'rival'

Author Photo
Michael Jordan, LaBradford Smith

The Last Dance, the 10-part documentary chronicling the '90s Chicago Bulls gives us an insight into the matchups and talented players Michael Jordan faced on his road to winning six championships. 

While Isiah Thomas, Clyde Drexler, Magic Johnson, and the Utah Jazz take centre stage, the latest episodes feature a lesser-known Jordan 'rival' in LaBradford Smith.

So who is LaBradford Smith? Here are some fast facts on the former Washington Bullets guard.

Background

LaBradford Corvey Smith was born April 3, 1969 in Bay City, Texas.

Smith attended Bay City High School and was named Gatorade Player of the Year as a high school senior. He went on to play college basketball at the University of Louisville, where he played four seasons, averaging double-figure scoring each season.

NBA career

LaBradford Smith

Smith was selected by the Washington Bullets in the 1st round (19th overall) of the 1991 NBA Draft.

He played three seasons in the NBA between 1991 and 1994, with his best season coming in 1992-93, where he appeared in 69 games (33 starts), averaging 9.3 points and 2.7 assists per game. 

During the 1993-94 season, he was waived by the Bullets, playing the remainder of the season with the Sacramento Kings. 

Smith's 'rivalry' with Jordan

In March 1993, Smith's Washington Bullets faced off against Jordan and the Bulls, turning in a memorable performance.

Averaging just 9.3 points per game that season, Smith lit up the Bulls for 37 points on 15-of-20 shooting from the field and 7-of-7 from the free-throw line. 

The Bulls emerged with the win 104-99, with Jordan scoring 25 points, however after the game, Smith allegedly said "Nice game, Mike" — a slight which Jordan later admitted never happened. 

Regardless, at the time, Jordan made it his mission to get revenge in their next matchup, which happened to be the following day, telling teammates that he vowed to drop 37 in the first half alone. 

“Rodney McCray and BJ Armstrong, I was at center court stretching, and they was like LA, I hope you got your rest last night because he said he’s going to have 37 by half,” Smith recalled.

Jordan came close, dropping 36 points through the first two quarters, going on to record 47 points, eight rebounds, four assists, and two steals in a 126-101 win, while Smith managed just 15 points in 25 minutes

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Author(s)
Benyam Kidane Photo

Benyam Kidane is a senior NBA editor for The Sporting News.