Elmore Smith

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Elmore Smith (born May 9, 1949 in Macon, Georgia) is a retired American basketball player. A 7'0" center from Kentucky State University, he played for in the National Basketball Association from 1971 to 1979. He was a member of the Buffalo Braves, Los Angeles Lakers, Milwaukee Bucks, and Cleveland Cavaliers.

In his first season, Smith averaged 17.3 points per game and 15.2 rebounds per game and was named to the NBA's All-Rookie Team. His rebounding average of 15.2 is still the eighth highest ever by an NBA rookie.

Smith is best remembered for his shot-blocking. He led the league in total blocked shots twice (in 1974 and 1975), and holds the NBA record for most blocked shots in a game, with 17 [1]. He achieved this mark against the Portland Trail Blazers on October 28, 1973, while playing for the Lakers. Smith's 4.85 blocks per game from the 1973-74 season (the first season blocked shots were officially recorded in the NBA) is the third highest ever. He was also a skilled rebounder, and he averaged a double-double (13.4 points, 10.6 rebounds) over the course of his career.

[edit] Trivia

Smith was one of four players the Lakers traded to Milwaukee (the other three are Brian Winters and draft picks Junior Bridgeman and Dave Meyers) for Kareem Abdul-Jabbar after the 1974-75 NBA season.