Zhaire Smith Bio
Zhaire Jahi-ihme Smith (born June 4, 1999) is an American professional basketball player who most recently played for the Oklahoma City Blue of the NBA G League. Standing 6 feet 4 inches tall and weighing around 205 pounds, he plays the shooting guard position and is widely recognized for his defensive intensity and athleticism. After one season at Texas Tech, he entered the 2018 NBA Draft, where he was selected 16th overall by the Phoenix Suns and immediately traded to the Philadelphia 76ers. Smith has since continued to develop his game across multiple G League affiliates, working toward a sustained role at the professional level.
Early Life and Background
Zhaire Smith was born on June 4, 1999, in Garland, Texas, where he grew up and developed his love for basketball. He attended Lakeview Centennial High School in Garland, where he was coached by J. T. Locklear. As a senior, he averaged 20.1 points, 6.6 rebounds, and 3.0 assists per game, showcasing the all-around skill set that would later define his reputation as a versatile wing player.
Smith earned District 10-6A MVP honors during his high school career and was voted the best dunker in the Dallas region by area coaches. He came out of high school rated as a three-star recruit and ultimately chose Texas Tech over several prominent programs, including Arkansas, Georgia Tech, Kansas State, Memphis, Oregon, and Texas. His father, Billy Smith, played college basketball and college football for the Kansas State Wildcats, giving Zhaire an early connection to the sport.
Path to Professional Basketball
Smith spent one season with the Texas Tech Red Raiders, where he quickly established himself as a difference-maker on the wing. He averaged 11.3 points and five rebounds per game as a freshman and was named an honorable mention All-Big 12 selection. His defensive play earned him a spot on the Big 12 All-Defensive Team, and he was also recognized on the Big 12 All-Newcomer Team for the 2017-18 season.
Alongside guard Keenan Evans, Smith helped lead Texas Tech to the Elite Eight of the 2018 NCAA Tournament, where the Red Raiders were eliminated by eventual national champion Villanova. He posted a career-high 21 points with eight rebounds, three steals, and two assists in a February 7 win over Iowa State, and he came close to a triple-double with 18 points, nine rebounds, and seven assists in a 69-66 victory over Florida in the Round of 32. Following the season, he declared for the 2018 NBA Draft without initially hiring an agent before signing with Roc Nation Sports.
Zhaire Smith Career
Philadelphia 76ers Era (2018-2020)
On June 21, 2018, Smith was selected with the 16th overall pick by the Phoenix Suns in the 2018 NBA Draft and was immediately traded, along with a future first-round pick, to the Philadelphia 76ers in exchange for Mikal Bridges. He signed his rookie contract on July 2, 2018, and head coach Brett Brown compared him to Kawhi Leonard, noting that he wanted to develop Smith into a wing player in a similar mold. Smith chose jersey number 2 in honor of Leonard, his favorite player.
His development was significantly delayed when he fractured his left foot on August 6, 2018, undergoing successful surgery days later to repair an acute Jones fracture of the fifth metatarsal. In September 2018, he suffered a severe allergic reaction after eating Thai chicken containing sesame, which led to hospitalization, a feeding tube for nearly six weeks, and a loss of more than 60 pounds. Despite these setbacks, he made his NBA debut on March 25, 2019, against the Orlando Magic, and averaged 6.7 points, 2.2 rebounds, and 1.7 assists across six games in his rookie season. On November 23, 2020, he was traded to the Detroit Pistons and waived one week later, after which he had brief stints with the Memphis Grizzlies and the Memphis Hustle roster.
Cleveland Charge Era (2023-2025)
Smith joined the Oklahoma City Thunder for the 2023 NBA Summer League and signed with the Cleveland Cavaliers on September 15, 2023, before being waived on October 21. One week later, he signed with the Cleveland Charge of the NBA G League, where he spent the bulk of the next two seasons. On February 11, 2024, he signed a 10-day contract with the Cavaliers, though he did not appear in a game for them before returning to the Charge.
He signed another deal with the Cavaliers on September 24, 2024, but was waived on October 19 before rejoining the Charge on October 26. His time with Cleveland gave him a steady professional platform to refine his perimeter game and defensive versatility. In 2025, his career path continued to evolve, as he was listed with both the Texas Legends and the Oklahoma City Blue of the NBA G League, and signed with Piratas de Quebradillas.
Notable Events and Milestones
Smith’s most defining early-career moment came during his recovery from a life-threatening allergic reaction in 2018, when he rebuilt his body and jump shot to return to the court within the same season. His selection as the 16th overall pick in the 2018 NBA Draft, his role in Texas Tech’s Elite Eight run, and his selection to both the Big 12 All-Defensive and All-Newcomer Teams stand as the headline achievements of his career to this point.
Zhaire Smith Family
Family Background and Personal Life
Zhaire Smith was raised in Garland, Texas, in a family with a clear athletic background. His father, Billy Smith, played both college basketball and college football at Kansas State, which helped shape Zhaire’s early introduction to competitive sports. The family supported his path from high school standout to one-and-done college prospect and professional draftee.
Smith is married to Kassidy Hunter of Lubbock, Texas. The couple married in 2021 and have three children together, two boys and one girl. Smith also manages severe peanut and sesame allergies, conditions that became widely known after his 2018 medical episode. He has continued to balance family life with his professional basketball career across the NBA and the NBA G League.
2025 Season Performance
The 2025 season represented a transitional period for Zhaire Smith as he navigated multiple G League affiliations while continuing to pursue a stable NBA opportunity. After spending the prior two campaigns with the Cleveland Charge, he was listed with the Texas Legends and later the Oklahoma City Blue of the NBA G League, and also joined Piratas de Quebradillas. These moves gave him varied developmental environments to showcase his shooting, defense, and athleticism.
Throughout the year, Smith focused on refining his perimeter shooting, improving his consistency as a scoring wing, and serving as a high-energy defender. His prior G League track record with the Delaware Blue Coats, where he averaged 7.2 points, 3.0 rebounds, and 1.5 assists across 11 games, remained a benchmark for the production he aimed to match or exceed. The 2025 season outlook centered on earning another NBA opportunity by demonstrating the same defensive intensity and two-way versatility that defined his time at Texas Tech.