Former Grizzlies guard Russ Smith putting up crazy scoring numbers in China’s NBL

Former Memphis Grizzlies guard Russ Smith is averaging video game-type numbers in China’s National Basketball League.

Former Memphis Grizzlies’ guard and Louisville star Russ Smith is putting up crazy numbers in China’s second-tier basketball league, the National Basketball League.

Though he didn’t have much success in the NBA, he is playing great basketball in the NBL as he is currently averaging numbers that one would only average in video games. In the first five games of the season with Luoyang, Smith is averaging 61.4 points (on 49 percent shooting), 6.2 rebounds, 4.4 steals and 3.6 assists per game.

In Luoyang’s most recent game, Smith scored 81 points, grabbed eight rebounds, dished out seven assists, and got five steals. He also made 10 out of 17 3-pointers.

However, in the two seasons that he played in the NBA, he had trouble getting the coaches to give him minutes. One criticism is that he had to take too many shots to get points. However, his game seems to have changed as his stats show that he is much more efficient in how he gets buckets.

According to Smith’s agent, Adam Pensack, Smith is hoping to use this stint in China to get back into the NBA. He hopes that his time with Luoyang will attract NBA teams into offering him a contract or an invitation to training camp.

Via Ball Don’t Lie:

"“We are keeping everyone in the league informed and there is some interest,” agent Adam Pensack, co-founder of the Pensack Sports Management Group, told Yahoo Sports. “I suspect interest will continue to grow as we get further into July and further into Russ’ season. Nobody has ever done what Russ is doing in the Chinese NBL.”"

If Smith does make his way back to the NBA, many teams can use his scoring prowess off the bench. He can help a team keep a steady, energetic offensive flow with his shooting and drives.

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While playing for the Delaware 87ers in the D-League in 2016, Smith set the league’s single-game scoring record with 65 points. He made 24-of-42 shot attempts and 16-of-20 free throws.

In the NBA, he played 27 games and averaged 2.0 points in five minutes of play.