Dennis

Smith Jr.

GAge : 28

Base

Dennis

Smith Jr.

G · MIA · Around average

PAL: 49
WAR: 0.8
PTS: 6.6

2023-24№ 74 / 112

Dennis Smith Jr.

GMiami Heat

Biography

Team: Miami Heat
Position: Guard
Height: 6' 2"
Weight: 205 lbs
Born: November 25, 1997 (28)
Birthplace: Fayetteville, NC
College: NC State
Draft: 2017: Rd 1, Pk 9 (DAL)
Experience: 7th Season
Status: Free Agent

Career history

Brooklyn Nets · 2023-24 (1 season)
Charlotte Hornets · 2022-23 (1 season)
Portland Trail Blazers · 2021-22 (1 season)
2020 21 Totals · 2020-21 (1 season)
Detroit Pistons · 2020-21 (1 season)
New York Knicks · 2019-20 – 2020-21 (2 seasons)
2018 19 Totals · 2018-19 (1 season)
New York Knicks · 2018-19 (1 season)
Dallas Mavericks · 2017-18 – 2018-19 (2 seasons)

NBA record

Year	Team	GP	GS	MIN	FG	FG%	3PT	3P%	FT
2023-24	Brooklyn Nets	56	2	18.9	2.6-6.0	43.5	0.6-1.9	29.4	0.8-1.0
2022-23	Charlotte Hornets	54	15	25.7	3.4-8.4	41.2	0.4-2.1	21.6	1.4-2.0
2021-22	Portland Trail Blazers	37	4	17.3	2.1-5.1	41.8	0.2-0.7	22.2	1.1-1.7
2020-21	2020 21 Totals	23	9	18.3	2.5-6.3	40.0	0.8-2.5	32.8	0.8-1.1
2020-21	Detroit Pistons	20	9	19.6	2.8-6.8	41.5	1.0-2.7	35.2	0.7-1.0
2020-21	New York Knicks	3	0	9.3	0.7-3.3	20.0	0.0-1.3	0.0	1.7-2.0
2019-20	New York Knicks	34	3	15.8	2.1-6.2	34.1	0.5-1.6	29.6	0.8-1.6
2018-19	2018 19 Totals	53	50	28.5	5.2-12.3	42.8	1.3-3.9	32.2	1.9-2.9
2018-19	New York Knicks	21	18	28.6	5.8-14.0	41.3	1.1-4.0	28.9	2.0-3.5
2018-19	Dallas Mavericks	32	32	28.4	4.9-11.2	44.0	1.3-3.9	34.4	1.8-2.6
2017-18	Dallas Mavericks	69	69	29.7	5.9-14.8	39.5	1.5-4.9	31.3	1.9-2.8

Dennis Smith Jr.: our analysis

2023-24 season: 56 GP, 6.6 PTS, 2.9 REB, 3.6 AST, 1.2 STL, 0.2 BLK. WAR 0.8 (74th of 112) · PAL 49, around average.

In 2023-24, Dennis Smith Jr., 28, posts a PAL Rating of 49 out of 100 (around average), and his WAR of 0.8 ranks 74th among 112 regulars, in the bottom half.

His strengths: defense (94, among the best in the league) and rebounding (83, well above average). On the other hand, shooting (5, among the weakest in the league) and scoring (7, among the weakest in the league) hold him back.

Breaking down his WAR (points per 100 possessions above average), his biggest contribution: defensive BPM (+1.8); his biggest cost: offensive BPM (-2.6).

A clear step forward: his PAL went from 22 in 2022-23 to 49; his WAR went from -0.3 to 0.8.

Advanced stats, 2023-24 Guards

NBA stats →

Points

6.6

Rebounds

2.9

Assists

3.6

TS%

50.8 %

Usage

17.7 %

PER

13.4

WS/48

.080

On/off +/−

+5.0

Minutes

18.9

Games

Per game, regular season. Stats: Basketball-Reference.

2024-25 projection

NBA trends →

Projected WAR

0.8

80% of cases: -1.3 to 3.2

Points/game

6.7

Games

WAR 2023-24

0.8

The pace of the last three seasons, pulled toward the group average, over the minutes of the last two, adjusted for age. Average backtest error: 1.7 wins.

Trend

↑ Slightly up (+15)

2021-220.3 WAR · 0.9 per 2,000 min
2022-23-0.3 WAR · -0.4 per 2,000 min
2023-240.8 WAR · 1.5 per 2,000 min

Outlook, age included

+25 · 26 y.o. · prime years

It is only a projection. It knows nothing about injuries, trades or role changes.

Player ratings, 2023-24

All ratings →

Ratings from 0 to 100 drawn from data, never by hand: 75 = established regular, 95+ = elite.

OV · Overall

Rotation

SCO: Scoring; 48
SHT: Shooting; 46
FIN: Finishing; 77
PLY: Playmaking; 82
BAL: Ball security; 63
REB: Rebounding; 81
DEF: Defense; 91
DUR: Durability; 58
EX: Experience; 71

Why these ratings?

SCO — Scoring : Points per 100 possessions, usage, efficiency (TS%)
SHT — Shooting : Three-point shooting (accuracy and volume), free throws, midrange
FIN — Finishing : Finishing at the rim, dunks, free throws drawn
PLY — Playmaking : Assists (rate and volume)
BAL — Ball security : Turnovers avoided
REB — Rebounding : Offensive and defensive rebound rates
DEF — Defense : Defensive impact estimated from available stats (defensive BPM, steals, blocks); not a complete measure of individual defense
DUR — Durability : Games played over several seasons
EX — Experience : Seasons in the NBA

WAR and PAL Rating, 2023-24

How we rate →

WAR: Basketball-Reference's VORP × 2.7, wins added above a replacement player. PAL Rating scores performance from 0 to 100 against regulars in the same group (50 = median).

WAR

0.8

#74 of 112 regular guards

PAL Rating

49 / 100

#58 of 112 regular guards

PAL: dimensions

Impact52

Scoring7

Playmaking61

Shooting5

Rebounding83

Defense94

Where WAR comes from

VORP+0.3

BPM (per 100 possessions)-0.8

Offensive BPM-2.6

Defensive BPM+1.8

Win Shares+1.8

Shooting profile

NBA shooting profiles →

Where the shots come from and how well they go in, 2023-24 season. The percentile ranks the player among regulars in the group: 90th means better than 90% of them.

Avg distance

11.5 pi

93th percentile

At the rim

67.2 %

51th percentile

Rim share

37.0 %

98th percentile

Midrange

31.8 %

20th percentile

Three-point

.294

3th percentile

3PA share

32.2 %

13th percentile

Corner threes

34.2 %

17th percentile

Free throws

.741

14th percentile

Season by season
Season	Team	PTS	WAR	PAL	OV	TS %	3P%	3PA share
2023-24	BKN	6.6	0.8	49	66	50.8	.294	32.2
2022-23	CHA	8.8	-0.3	22	62	47.5	.216	24.6
2021-22	POR	5.6	0.3	42	65	47.4	.222	14.3

Game log

Date	Opponent	Result	MIN	PTS	REB	AST	STL	FG	3PT
Mar 31	vs LAL	L 116-104	4	2	0	0	0	1-2	0-1
Mar 23	@ NYK	L 105-93	14	8	0	1	2	3-4	1-2
Mar 22	@ MIL	L 115-108	19	5	3	6	3	2-2	1-1
Mar 19	vs NOP	L 104-91	10	0	0	3	1	0-2	0-0
Mar 17	@ SAS	L 122-115 OT	17	5	3	4	2	2-6	1-2
Mar 16	@ IND	L 121-100	11	4	0	2	0	2-4	0-1
Mar 13	@ ORL	L 114-106	18	10	3	2	2	4-7	2-5
Mar 10	@ CLE	W 120-101	20	7	3	2	0	2-3	1-2
Mar 10	@ CHA	L 110-99	14	7	3	0	0	2-4	1-3
Mar 8	@ DET	L 118-112	24	9	2	3	4	3-10	1-4

News

RoundupAtlanta Hawks

Hornets injuries and Heat roster churn, Southeast Division roundup

No Southeast Division teams played, but there was news: minor injuries for the Hornets and a string of small roster moves by the Heat.

October 9, 2026 at 7:31 a.m. · PickALeague

Dennis Smith Jr.: frequently asked questions

How many points per game does Dennis Smith Jr. average in 2023-24?

Dennis Smith Jr. averages 6.6 points, 2.9 rebounds and 3.6 assists per game in 56 games in 2023-24.

How old is Dennis Smith Jr.?

Dennis Smith Jr. is 28 years old: he was born on November 25, 1997.

How tall is Dennis Smith Jr., and how much does he weigh?

Dennis Smith Jr. is 6'2" (188 cm) and weighs 205 lb (93 kg).

Where is Dennis Smith Jr. from?

United States: Dennis Smith Jr. was born in Fayetteville, NC, in the United States.

What team does Dennis Smith Jr. play for?

Dennis Smith Jr. plays for the Miami Heat in the NBA, at G.

How good is Dennis Smith Jr.?

Dennis Smith Jr. produced 0.8 wins above replacement (WAR) in 2023-24, 77th of 112 players at his position in the NBA. His PAL rating is 49 out of 100: around average for his position.

Is Dennis Smith Jr. a top-10 player at his position?

No: by WAR, he ranks 77th of 112 players at his position in the NBA in 2023-24. Our comparison tool puts him side by side with any other player.

Is Dennis Smith Jr. getting better?

Yes: his PAL rating went from 22 in 2022-23 to 49 in 2023-24 (out of 100, 50 = average player at his position).

Where was Dennis Smith Jr. drafted?

Dennis Smith Jr. was drafted in 2017 by DAL, in round 1 (pick 9 of the round).

What is Dennis Smith Jr.'s projection for 2024-25?

Our projection has him at 0.8 WAR in 2024-25, based on his weighted recent seasons and age.