Josh Smith

Verified Timeline

Lore & Background

Smith's time with the Hawks is packed with specific achievements and turning points. He broke the 500 career block mark on March 3, 2007, becoming the youngest player in NBA history to do so. On November 17, 2007, he scored a career-high 38 points on the road against the Milwaukee Bucks. In the 2008 playoffs, as the 8-seed, Smith set playoff career highs of 28 points and 7 blocks in a Game 4 upset victory over the top-seeded Boston Celtics, a series the Hawks ultimately lost in seven games. On February 2, 2010, he became the youngest player (at 24 years old) to record 1,000 career blocked shots. That season, he was named to the NBA All-Defensive Second Team for the first time. In the 2012 playoffs, Smith led the Hawks to a Game 1 win over the Celtics with 22 points and 18 rebounds, though the Hawks lost the series 4-2. After the 2008 season, the Hawks matched a five-year, $58 million offer sheet Smith signed with the Memphis Grizzlies, keeping him in Atlanta.

In Their Own Story

The arena buzzed as the Hawks, the 8-seed, faced the top-seeded Boston Celtics in Game 4 of the 2008 first round. Down 2-1 in the series, Atlanta needed a spark. Josh Smith delivered, setting playoff career highs with 28 points and 7 blocks. His defensive presence and scoring punch powered the Hawks to a 97-92 upset victory, forcing the series back to Boston. Though the Celtics would eventually win the series in seven games and go on to win the 2008 NBA Finals, Smith's performance that night proved the Hawks could compete with the league's best, a defining moment of his Atlanta tenure.

Reader's Guide

Josh Smith played for the Atlanta Hawks from 2004 to 2013, primarily as a forward. His game was built on elite athleticism and defensive versatility, making him a standout shot-blocker from the forward position. He averaged 9.7 points, 6.2 rebounds, and 1.95 blocks per game as a rookie, earning NBA All-Rookie Second Team honors. By the 2006-07 season, his averages jumped to 16.4 points, 8.6 rebounds, 3.3 assists, 1.4 steals, and 2.9 blocks per game. Smith's defensive impact was historic: he became the youngest player to reach 500 and 1,000 career blocks. Offensively, he could score in bursts, as shown by his career-high 38 points in 2007 and his 34-point, 9-rebound game against the Chicago Bulls on March 31, 2012. His playoff performances included a 28-point, 7-block game against the Celtics in 2008 and a 22-point, 18-rebound game against the same team in 2012. Smith's legacy in Atlanta is that of a dynamic, two-way player who helped the Hawks become a competitive playoff team.

Did You Know?

• Smith won the NBA Slam Dunk Contest during his rookie year in 2005, becoming only the fifth player to record three perfect scores in the same contest.
• He is the youngest player in NBA history to record 500 career blocked shots, achieving the mark at 21 years and 88 days old on March 3, 2007.
• Smith is also the youngest player to reach 1,000 career blocked shots, doing so at 24 years and 59 days old on February 2, 2010.
• In the 2008 playoffs, Smith set playoff career highs of 28 points and 7 blocks in a Game 4 upset win over the top-seeded Boston Celtics.