Washington Wizards’ Jason Smith Becomes Indispensable With 3-Point Shooting
By Ben Mehic
Washington Wizards forward Jason Smith added a 3-point shot to his offensive arsenal, becoming an invaluable part of the team’s success.
Jason Smith carries himself with a dad-like charm. He’s always the first player off the bench during timeouts, giving his teammates energy just by being himself. He’s the most cheerful player in the locker room, but he’s also constantly praised for his professionalism.
That, though, can only get a player so far.
Without actual contribution on the court, the high-fives and silly dances after fast break dunks have no value.
Unlike some players that have provided “veteran leadership” – the immeasurable metric that induces vomiting for analytic heads – Smith is someone the Washington Wizards can put onto the hardwood and expect production.
Smith, who turned 31 last month, has almost been in the NBA for a decade.
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He’s been known for his mid-range jump shot (he was a top-five mid range jump shooter last season, percentage wise), shot blocking and willingness to hustle.
When the Washington Wizards signed him, most scratched their heads, especially since the team agreed to a multi-year deal with a younger forward, Andrew Nicholson, and a $64 million contract with Ian Mahinmi.
At the very least, though, the Wizards knew they had a consistent player on the bench – someone Scott Brooks can call and know what to expect from him.
He’s been the same player since his career started, basically.
But this season, Smith, in his 30s, added another dimension to his game.
In the summer, Smith worked diligently to improve his 3-point shot with hopes of even having a chance to crack Brooks’ rotation.
With four games left in the season, Smith’s off-season work has translated to the most successful offensive year he’s had in his career.
On Tuesday night against the Charlotte Hornets, Smith made a career-high five 3-point shots, upping his total made threes to 35 on the season. In his first eight seasons, Smith had made 34 combined threes.
His improvement behind the 3-point arc has made Washington’s already dynamic offense more fluid.
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While the defense collapses on John Wall and Bradley Beal, nervously hoping the star tandem doesn’t find their rhythm, Smith quietly pops out to the perimeter, patiently waiting for the ball to hit his palms.
The defense, usually focused on Washington’s go-to players, is left with two options: cover Smith, leaving Wall and Beal with no help defense, or pray the Wizards’ backcourt doesn’t score at will.
That usually leaves Smith wide open, leading to clean looks and a flawlessly executed, yet simple offense.
Washington snapped their three-game losing skid to Charlotte on Tuesday, but found themselves going through scoring droughts – ones that couldn’t have been overcome without Smith’s help.
Following the win, Brooks noted how important his shooting has been to the team’s success.
“One thing that you know that you’re going to get from Jason is great effort, you’re going to get great team spirit, and now he’s knocking down threes all over the line,” Brooks said.
“It used to just be — early on — focusing on three, but give him credit and give our staff credit expanding his game, and it helps. Jason… all he has to do is be ready. He does a good job of separating and creating some space and he’s ready to shoot, and our guys are doing a good job of finding him.”
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Staying ready is something most NBA role players never figure out, hence the short four year lifespan in the league. But Smith has figured out how to stay ready and he’s added something to his game that has made him indispensable, even at this stage in his career.