Actual Madrid have formally signed Nick Smith Jr. by the top of the 2026-27 season, the Spanish membership introduced Wednesday, September 16.
The 22-year-old guard joins Actual Madrid after three seasons within the NBA, the place he appeared in 147 video games for the Charlotte Hornets and Los Angeles Lakers.
Smith entered the NBA after enjoying at Arkansas in the course of the 2022-23 season. He averaged 12.5 factors, 1.6 rebounds and 1.7 assists in 17 NCAA video games, capturing 37.6% from the sector and 33.8% from three-point vary.
The Hornets chosen Smith within the first spherical of the 2023 NBA Draft, and he spent his first two skilled seasons in Charlotte. He averaged 5.9 factors and 1.2 assists in 51 video games as a rookie earlier than elevating his manufacturing to 9.9 factors, 2.1 rebounds and a couple of.4 assists throughout 60 appearances in 2024-25.
Smith additionally gained vital expertise with the Greensboro Swarm throughout his time in Charlotte. He averaged 17.1 factors and 4.0 assists in seven G League video games throughout his rookie season, adopted by 23.0 factors, 4.0 rebounds and a couple of.8 assists in eight appearances in 2024-25.
Final season, Smith moved to the Los Angeles Lakers. He performed 30 NBA video games, averaging 6.2 factors and 1.0 help in 12.5 minutes per sport whereas capturing 43.5% from the sector and 39.5% from three-point vary.
His G League numbers with the South Bay Lakers have been significantly increased. Smith averaged 19.7 factors, 3.6 rebounds and 5.0 assists in 18 video games, capturing 49.8% total and 37.0% from three.
Smith now arrives in Madrid as a part of a considerably reshaped roster. Actual Madrid misplaced Trey Lyles, Mario Hezonja, Alex Len, David Kramer and Izan Almansa in the course of the offseason, whereas Sergio Scariolo also departed as head coach.
Pedro Martinez has taken over as head coach, with Actual Madrid including Jaime Pradilla, Timothe Luwawu-Cabarrot, Mikael Jantunen, Max Shulga, Oliver Sarr and Damian Jones.
The addition of Smith offers Madrid one other guard choice following the departure of a number of items from final season’s backcourt. He joins a roster that also options Facundo Campazzo, Andres Feliz, Sergio Llull and Theo Maledon.
Actual Madrid completed third within the 2025-26 EuroLeague common season with a 24-14 report. The staff then defeated Hapoel Tel Aviv 3-1 in the playoffs earlier than beating Valencia 105-90 in the semifinals.
Madrid in the end completed as EuroLeague runners-up after losing 92-85 to Olympiacos in the final. Smith will now look to determine himself in European basketball and contribute to Actual Madrid’s bid to return to the EuroLeague Last 4.
