Joe Smith (basketball)

Joe Smith (born July 26, 1975) is an American retired professional basketball player who played 16 seasons in the National Basketball Association (NBA). A power forward/center, Smith was the first overall pick in the 1995 NBA draft by the Golden State Warriors.

Smith played college basketball for the University of Maryland, where he was a consensus first-team All-American in his sophomore year.

Throughout his NBA career, Smith played for 12 different teams, including the Golden State Warriors, Philadelphia 76ers, Minnesota Timberwolves, Detroit Pistons, Denver Nuggets, Milwaukee Bucks, Chicago Bulls, Cleveland Cavaliers, Oklahoma City Thunder, Atlanta Hawks, New Jersey Nets, and Los Angeles Lakers. He was often valued as a versatile scorer and rebounder off the bench.

One of the notable controversies in Smith's career involved the Minnesota Timberwolves. In 2000, the NBA found that Smith had signed a series of contracts with the Timberwolves that were designed to circumvent the league's salary cap rules. As a result, the Timberwolves were stripped of several first-round draft picks.

Smith officially retired from the NBA in 2011. Since his retirement, he has occasionally been involved in coaching and commentary roles related to basketball.