31 Blair Smith
| Position: Foward Born: 15/02/72 Height: 203cm Weight: 98kg Nickname: None |
| P L A Y E R F I L E 31 Blair Smith | |
| Position: Foward Born: 15/02/72 Height: 203cm Weight: 98kg Nickname: None |
PROFILE
Blair Smith made his NBL debut in 1992 after being recruited by Brian Kerle. Kerle saw a lot in Smith and had him in the Bullets future plans. However at the end of the 1992 season Brian Kerle was fired and Bruce Palmer took over the head coaching job. Palmer didn't see Smith in the same light. He thought Smith wasn't what the Bullets needed. And in true Bruce Palmer style he wasn't shy about telling Smith. One memerable quote came during a training session where Palmer told Smith to take up swimming because he 'sure as hell' couldn't play basketball. Smith stayed and worked hard in Brisbane but he didn't get a chance, he played in only thirteen of the twenty six Bullet's games. When he was out of contract nobody showed much intrest in Smith except Lindsay Gaze. And when Lindsay Gaze thinks someone will be a good player he is usually right. Then Mark Bradtke pulled out of the season to follow his wife around on the tennis circuit. Smith did a great job as a starter lifting his scoring average from 1.5ppg the previous year with Brisbane to 9.0ppg, a huge improvement. He also raised his rebounding average from 1.2rpg to 7.1rpg and shot the third highest percentage in the league (60%). He also found a hidden talent in becoming one of the leagues shot blockers averaging 1.6, eighth in the league. With Bradtke's return in 1996 Smith's opportunities lessened but he still gave the Tigers some good minutes at the Small and Power Foward spots. His numbered stayed steady and he was a good contributer in the 1997 Championship team.
ACHIEVMENTS
