Skyforce Two-Way Profile: Dru Smith

October 14, 2022 – NBA G League (G League) – Sioux Falls Skyforce News Release

On Thursday, October 13 the Miami HEAT signed Dru Smith to a two-way contracts. Smith will be rostered with the HEAT and the Sioux Falls Skyforce to start the 2022-23 season. In this continued series, we will highlight and show fans what to expect from Smith as the NBA G League season tips off in less than a month.

Dru Smith went from a late entrance on the HEAT Summer League roster to earning a two-way contract on cut day with Miami in the preseason.

His rise in a short period of time is no surprise to Skyforce fans, who got to watch Smith play the first half of the 2021-22 season before an injury cut his rookie year short.

By watching his game ascend from last season, one thing is clear: Smith is fully healthy – and looks even stronger than he did before he injured his leg.

With good health comes confidence and a trust in the process and culture. Every time he steps on the court, those things seem to improve, as well.

Smith’s development didn’t start overnight. He played two seasons at Evansville, where he averaged 13.7 points and 4.6 assists in his sophomore season before transferring to Missouri, where he spent two seasons.

Smith averaged a career-high 14.3 points on 44.2 percent shooting, 3.5 rebounds, 3.8 assists and 2.1 steals per 34.0 minutes for the Tigers as a senior in 2020-21.

After going undrafted in the 2021 NBA Draft, Smith signed to play with the HEAT for the NBA Summer League. He played in four games with the HEAT and averaged 7.5 points.

Smith inked an Exhibit-10 deal with the HEAT, Smith joined the Skyforce after training camp in Miami. He appeared in 19 games (10 starts) for Head Coach Kasib Powell and averaged 10.6 points on 43.5 percent shooting, 3.7 rebounds, 2.9 assists and 1.6 steals per 28.8 minutes.

Despite the injury, Smith displayed the intangibles needed to stick with the HEAT: High IQ, accountability, defensive tenacity and the ability to space the floor.

As his rehabilitation had come to an end, Smith joined the HEAT with just three games left of the 2022 NBA Summer League. He was the last guy to come off the bench on the July 13 contest against the Philadelphia 76ers.

His five steals and defensive mentality gave him rotation minutes on July 15 against the Raptors. This is when his offensive capabilities started to turn on, as he scored nine points on 4-9 FGA in 25 minutes.

Smith’s coming out party was on July 16 against the Los Angeles Clippers, where he scored 22 points on 7-13 FGA, two assists, two steals and a block. His performance earned him an opportunity to fight for another Exhibit-10 contract this upcoming season. However, it seems he had different plans.

He spent his offseason grinding away at FTX Arena, improving his point guard skills and flashing athletic ability not seen a season ago as a rookie.

Anyone who has spent time around Dru knows a couple things: he is going to be the hardest worker in the gym, he will stay the course and he hates losing more than he loves winning.

Seems like Mr. Smith fits right in with the team down in the 305.

Smith caught the attention of the HEAT coaching staff early and carved a nice role in training camp. In four preseason games, he scored 12-plus points twice, while shooting over 50 percent in each game. Not to mention, he had three-plus rebounds in all four games, as well.

Most importantly, his consistency has been key. Never too low, or high, which is insanely crucial for any two-way player. Gabe Vincent is someone who also comes to mind when it comes to a steady two-way player.

Not too bad of a comparison.

Force fans already know what to expect of Dru, as he was a fan favorite at the Sanford Pentagon last season. It seems that lore will grow this season, as he looks to show off his ‘new’ wheels and confidence in himself to match.

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