WARNING!!! WARNING!!! This is NOT a Hakeem bashing thread. I would extremely appreciate it if the posts did not deteriorate into a Hakeem sucks/ dont diss Olajuwon nature. Thanx. Now i know most of you live in Houston, so you have been fed Rocket info continually over the years, while I have been stuck down here in Borderville watching ESPN highlights and recently, gaining access to the wonderous world of ClutchCity(smoochie smoochie clutch). I'm curious. What happened to Kenny Smith? As far as I remember, he came off that 95 championship year, and lost his game. Does anyone know the reason? Was it family problems? Did he forget how to play? Was it injury? Did he just get too old so soon? I would seriously like to know. Whatever the reason, I remember Rudy gave him the benefit of the doubt(as did I), but he proved he just couldn't hack it anymore. He went to Detroit and had the same lack of success. Does this story remind anyone of a certain someone that used to be called Akeem? It appears that, for whatever reason, Hakeem has lost his game. I was really looking forward to Hakeem flexing his muscle this year. Call me foolish if you will, but I still believed Hakeem could somehow catch his "fire" back and dominate us to another title. Go out on top. But as you all know, his OUTPUT this season, despite whatever excuse, has been rather meager. Could he be succumbing just as Kenny had before him, falling oh so low? Ironically enough, Ewing has given me hope that Hakeem may be able to make a comeback. After all of Ewing's constant injuries these past few years, I thought he was thru. WRONG!! He is not dominating, but he is contributing greatly to a team in need of post play. IF health is Hakeem's problem, maybe he can make a comeback next year and contribute. If not, we may be forced to sit abother whole season of a player who has lost his game. Strange. ------------------ Not only am I president of the WaltWizFanClub, I'm also the member.
It's amazing how quickly we forget, or maybe it's just me. I really can't remember the circumstances involving Kenny's departure. It seems he was upset at his minutes, questions over him starting. It may be that his contract was up and with the acquisition of Maloney and Price, he wasn't offered the money he felt he deserved. Face it, at that point in their careers, Maloney played as well as you could have expected from Kenny. My personal opinion was that his experience at the point was sorely missed, although I can't say it was worth what he was asking because I don't know the details. Still, I'd rather have an aging Jet running the point for Barkley, Clyde and Dream than the inexperienced Maloney or Price. I thought he ended his career in Denver though. ------------------
Kenny did end his career in Denver. After the Rockets, he failed with two teams. It is not as if Kenny had game his last year as a rocket - the system just covered up his lack of game. Same thing with Maloney. They both could shoot the three, were not good assist men, and played really, really bad defense. Oh yeah, and both insisted on walking the ball up for every possession. So the Jet tried to prove he could play on cellar dwellers (I think that was when denver was the worst in the league). And he was bad. ------------------
He went to Denver and decided he didn't want to lose. Plain and simple. No motivation to be there. Hence, his game suffered. I miss you Jet!
But didn't he go to Orlando first and they cut him a week (or so) later? Orlando wasn't really losing at the time. I was surprised that nobody wanted him. Dude's not Gary Payton, but he could still play. He knew he wasn't going anywhere too so he started actively pursuing a TV commentator's career. He was promoting a rap band at one time too. Sailor ------------------ If Dream was a horse ... he would not be pulling your bandwagon anymore. [This message has been edited by sailor (edited March 17, 2000).]
I think you are right Sailor, a short stint with Orlando. Who doesn't go to Orlando at some point!!! ------------------ HOOP-T Hey Shaq, Acme called, and they want their bricks back!
The Rockets would have resigned Kenny, but not for as much money as he wanted. So he didn't resign, or get an offer because his price was too high. He didn't want to get a scrub's salary on a team that he won two championships for. So it just kind of ended. ------------------
I was in Houston at the time and as far as I remember, Rudy T wasn't going to resign Kenny Smith for any amount. It was clear that the Rockets were no longer interested in his services at all. Kenny had a lot of "DNP's" in his last season. ------------------
Thanx for the info everyone. I guess that's one mystery solved for me. A combo of a detorioration of game and dispute over $$$. Figures. ------------------ Not only am I president of the WaltWizFanClub, I'm also the member.
Actually, after being cut by the Magic, he was signed by the New Jersey Nets to a 10 day contract. Then he was released.
Well Crisco, I hate to mention Hakeem, but I feel this bears mentioning. Kenny Smith was a tribute to just how good Hakeem was back then. Just like Maloney, he could occasionally have a good game, he was usually good for a few threes, and although he wasn't a great defender, he could usually keep his opponent from "going off." Like Maloney, if he knew his job was to just dump it in and make the occasional three, he could play fairly steady. It's when he was called upon to carry his load that he faltered. Like Maloney, (though he had more experience) he was better suited as a backup in a "normal" NBA team, and could probably only start for a Rocekts team led by Hakeem-in-his-prime. Like Maloney, he never really was all that good.
But didn't Smith, like several others get on the bad side of Rudy, which means you are leaving Houston Rockets. Didn't players like Sam Cosell talk about what it would take to resign them, phofff their gone. How long did Rodrick Rodges last after crossing Rudy. Don't get me wrong as I like and support Rudy and what he does, I believe is best for the Rockets. But it seems to me if you cross him you just got out of Houston. But he does it quietly and never says a negitive word. ------------------
Here is the story on Kenny Smith, A great player and a great person. Kenny Smith's last year with the Rockets was the 95-96 season. He was benched unfairly by Rudy T in favor of Eldrige Recassner. Kenny Ultimately regained his starting job with a dazzling second half performance vs the Lakers where he hit 4 of 4 3 pointers and had 17 or so points in all. Then Kenny had a great playoff run in 96 vs the Lakers and Sonics. In gm 3 vs. the Sonics Kenny delivered 27 points and 11 assists and outplayed payton that game. Unforuntly the Rockets were cheated in that series when the refs allowed the Sonics to play a college type zone in every game which as we all no know is illegal defense. The next season Rudy decided to not resign Kenny and it was a very bad move and a slap in the face to Kenny great career. Rudy decided to with Matt Maloney for some unknown reason and although Maloney played well Smith still should have been brought back. Smith bounced around that 96-97 season with Magic, Pistons and Nuggets and then called it quits. He had a terrific career and he was always my favorite interview. it is no wonder he is on tnt these days the guy is just a great host. Some of my favorite Kenny Smith comments were: We were practicing are illegal offense so we can go against Seattle's illegal defense 96 playoff series vs Sonics Winning this second championship is like eating a second piece of cake the first one was good but so was the second I was just as hungry. 95 finals vs the magic When I used to come back from the playgrounds my father always asked me who won not how many points I scored but who won that is all that counts. Kenny Smiths father asking him how he did at the playground. ------------------
Pole, Most of your post if accurate, but... Kenny Smith was one of the worst defenders in the NBA. The only reason he could play is that he had Hakeem, Horry, Maxwell, Elie, and Drexler there to stop his man from going to the basket. He was a very good ball handler who rarely turned it over (under 2 a game his last 4 years here), and was a quality passer. He was also a very reliable free throw shooter. One of the reasons his assist numbers aren't higher is because Rudy uses taller players to dump the ball into Hakeem (Maxwell, Horry, Drexler) ------------------ I have a dream.........his name's Hakeem.
This is a really interesting thread, actually. Kenny Smith was an essential ingredient in the two championship. Like Horry, Cassell, Elie, Maxwell, etc, Kenny Smith was a flawed ballplayer, no doubt. But he totally did his job on the floor during most of his time on the team. I think the problem was, Kenny - like Robert Horry - was of the "I shoot when I'm comfortable shooting" school, not the "I'll shoot when I am supposed to shoot and therefore spread the defense school." I think Rudy ended up very, very pissed at him during the second half of the 95-96 season. dude was benched in a totally insulting fashion. Fer chrissakes, 7 months earlier he had an enormous hand in destroying the Orlando Magic franchise with his remarkable performance in Game 1. But there he was, riding the pine like some sort of Hank McDowell goon. My bet is that Rudy just got fed up with Kenny deciding to pass the ball wen he should have been aggressive - the same act that got Horry dealt to Detroit in 94 - and went with the more accomidating Eldridge ReCBAsner. Nonetheless, Kenny's departure was dignified. His "remember me?" game vs. the Lakers which mantronix referred to was as exciting a performance as you will ever, ever see. And during the final game against Seattle, down 3-0 and 19 points behind, kenny was standing on his chair, screaming his head off with his shooting shirt on backwards trying to rally the troops. Class class act. He would have taken a pay cut to stay - he was overpaid by the end of his contract, and he knew it. But the rockets offerred him nothing; they needed to renounce his rights to sign Brent Freaking Price. In retrospect, the 96-97 Rockets would have been much better with a guy like Kenny Smith at the point than Brent "Day-Old / Half-" Price, or Matt "Cheetah" Maloney. Kenny Smith, the Chucky Brown Fan Club salutes you. XOXOXO CBrownFanClub By the way, the Chucky Brown Fan Club is blowing up thanks to all the good press. Clutch, et al., thanks a ton for your help, you guys are terrific. If you cc.net ers have not joined, drop by www.chuckybrownfanclub.com and sign up, we're going to have a blast. ------------------
C.B.F.C.: What was the "... same act that got Horry dealt to Detroit in 94"? You got me confused. I agree with everything else you said. Kenny is a class act. The back court combo of Kenny Smith and Sam Casell was the best we had between for a long time until we got Stevie. True, they are not Jason Kid and Penny Hardaway, but they usually can hold their ground and they are both pretty good 3-point shooters (albeit streaky). It also shows how good Hakeem used to be, so good that Rudy believed he could use Brent "China Doll" Price and Matt "U. P." Maloney and still had a shot at the finals Seriously though, it also shows how good Rudy was/is -- he knows how to use his players to their fullest potentials. I used to doubt Rudy's ability, now I am sold. Sailor ------------------ If Dream was a horse ... he would not be pulling your bandwagon anymore.
I love Kenny ever since his UNC days. I think he just burned out and towards the end, Cassell and Maxwell used to save his ass most of the time. Rudy made most of those players play better than what they had to offer.Kenny, Horry, Thorpe and Maxwell all of there careers got a boost, Kenny just prolonged it ------------------ the Heat suck!!
Rudy didn't sign Kenny after that Sonics playoff game in 95-96. We had signed on Brent Price as our starting point guard, and KS was poised to lose his job. Maloney was brought in as a developmental bench player... At the same time, b/c we lost to Seattle because of REBOUNDING (i.e. Chucky Brown/Chilcutt replacing Otis Thorpe in the Drexler trade), we got rid of 4 guys for Charles, including Sam Cassell. Brent Price went down... Maloney was our guy for a while. Kenny Smith wasn't that great at the end of his career w/ the Rockets. I remember 93-94 when Derek Harper with the Knicks used to pick his pocket all the time. ------------------
