DALLAS — After playing the waiting game for their turn to select with the No. 9 overall pick in the NBA Draft, the Dallas Mavericks had their patience rewarded Thursday night with the rights to North Carolina State freshman standout Dennis Smith Jr.
The 6-foot-3, 195-pound Smith was an early-entry candidate to this year’s draft, averaging 18.1 points, 4.6 rebounds and 6.2 assists while shooting 45.5 percent from the field and 35.9 percent from behind the three-point arc during his lone collegiate season. He also garnered plenty of accolades during one season in college, earning Atlantic Coast Conference Freshman of the Year and a spot on the All-ACC Second Team after leading the league in assists and finishing sixth in the conference in scoring.