​Jul. 10—Malachi Smith delivered a solid 15-game stretch for the Brooklyn Nets to close the 2025-26 NBA season, establishing himself as a dependable depth piece after a path that has taken him from Gonzaga to the G League and back to the NBA. Despite a productive close to the year, the former Zag guard won’t be on Brooklyn’s roster next season following his waiver on Friday. The Nets had exercised Smith’s minimum-salary team option at the end of June, but ultimately decided to move on from the 26-year-old, who spent the bulk of the season with Brooklyn’s Long Island G League affiliate before earning a brief late-season call-up to the NBA club.
During his 15 appearances in 2025-26, Smith averaged 8.3 points, 3.4 rebounds and 3.3 assists in 23.9 minutes per game, while shooting 48.5 percent from the field and 43.5 percent from three-point range. He started four games and came off the bench in 11 others for Brooklyn. Smith’s best performance came in the April 10 tilt against the Milwaukee Bucks, a 125-108 loss in which he tallied 19 points and 10 rebounds for his lone double-double of the season. He reached double figures in four additional games that year.
Smith’s journey to the NBA has been winding and illustrative of the modern path for many players. After four seasons at Wright State and Chattanooga, he transferred to Gonzaga for his senior season in 2022-23, where he averaged 8.7 points per game and earned West Coast Conference Sixth Man of the Year honors. He went undrafted but found a professional opening with the Portland Trail Blazers’ G League affiliate, Rip City Remix. The season then saw him with the Wisconsin Herd, the G League affiliate of the Milwaukee Bucks, before signing with the Memphis Hustle, the Grizzlies’ affiliate, ahead of the 2024-25 season.
Smith’s professional arc reflects a blend of resilience and adaptability, as he navigated G League roles, summer leagues, and short NBA stints to showcase his shooting, playmaking and scoring versatility. His experience across multiple teams and leagues underscores the evolving landscape for wings and guards trying to cement a spot in the NBA rotation. While his time with Brooklyn was brief, Smith demonstrated that he can contribute as a floor-spacer and secondary ball-handler, capable of creating offense at multiple levels and providing some versatility on the wing.
As Smith moves forward, his professional profile remains intriguing for teams seeking a guard with shot-making ability and a track record of adjusting to different systems. His proficiency from three-point range and his ability to contribute as a secondary distributor could appeal to franchises looking to add depth to backcourt rotations. Though he’s no longer donning a Nets uniform, Smith’s journey continues to reflect the broader narrative of players who carve out opportunities through perseverance, performance in the G League, and timely NBA appearances.