At just 28 years old, Dennis Smith Jr. could already be out of the league soon. It was only four years ago when he joined the Charlotte Hornets in hopes of revitalizing his career. Now, he can’t even hold down a roster spot in the G League.
Chris Haynes of NBA on Prime recently offered an update on Smith Jr., reporting on X that the point guard has been waived by the Wisconsin Herd. Interestingly, Haynes also shared that he had been told DSJ is still “looking to get picked up elsewhere in the league.”
Unfortunately, that might be it for him. If he can’t even perform at least decently in the NBA’s developmental league, it’s tough to imagine him becoming a serviceable player for any NBA team. In five games with the Herd, Smith Jr. averaged 5.6 points, 6.2 rebounds, and 3.6 assists in 25.8 minutes per contest. He struggled with his jumper, making just 25.0 percent of his field-goal attempts and 18.2 percent of his 3-pointers.
What now for DSJ?
Hopefully, Smith Jr. can still find his way to an NBA club, as he certainly has the talent to be on one. He even proved during his time with the Hornets that he could still produce, although not at the level some people might expect from a former No. 9 pick.
He joined his hometown team in the 2022 offseason after nearly giving up his basketball dreams. The North Carolina native had already begun preparing to try out for the NFL as a defensive back when the Hornets invited him to training camp.
Sometime later, he was able to sign a contract with them. He then proceeded to become a somewhat impactful role player, especially after LaMelo Ball started dealing with the injury curse. Smith Jr.’s numbers weren’t spectacular, but his defensive acumen, particularly at the point of attack, and playmaking made him a crowd favorite in Charlotte.
What he had done wasn’t enough, though, for the Hornets to bring him back in the summer of 2023. The North Carolina State University product signed with the Brooklyn Nets before finding himself without a team again in 2024. He had an underwhelming, brief stint in the EuroLeague last year and returned to his original NBA team, the Dallas Mavericks, during the 2025 preseason but couldn’t land a contract.
The thing is, Smith Jr. actually has a skill set that could be useful for a squad like the Hornets. However, the negatives in his game appear to outweigh the positives, and unless he can address his shortcomings, he might have to bring his talent overseas.