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In His Words: UNM point guard Jamaal Smith

By Jeremy Fowler
Friday, February 16, 2007

Jamaal Smith drives during the Lobos' home game this season against Wyoming. He would be thrown out later in the 91-83 win for fighting. "I was embarrassed," he says now. "That wasn't respectful of the game."

Photo by Michael J. GallegosTribune

Tribune

Jamaal Smith drives during the Lobos' home game this season against Wyoming. He would be thrown out later in the 91-83 win for fighting. "I was embarrassed," he says now. "That wasn't respectful of the game."

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The Tribune handed the mike to junior point guard Jamaal Smith, and here's what he had to say:

When I was young, I used to watch my dad (former UNLV and NBA guard Robert Smith) play overseas in France. That's who I look up to. When they won a championship over there, and I was 4 years old in the locker room. At an early age, I got to see what it's like to celebrate and pop champagne. I didn't quite understand the feeling, but I knew they were having fun. Now, every time I play I want to end up like that: celebrating.

In five words, putting four verys in front of the word tough describes this season. It's been an up-and-down year. Coming off the season I had last year (as a Junior College All-American at Indian Hills JC), the expectations were high. Things changed. Coaching changed. Minutes changed. I'm in and out of the lineup or I might not play. I don't really know. It's probably one of my hardest years of my life as far as basketball.

My dad said you can't break a Smith, though. I'll just keep working through it until I have the game I want to have. They're coming. I feel my shot getting better.

I've been humbled a lot. I've never been too much of a guy to brag, but I had a swagger in (his hometown of) Las Vegas. I used to walk around with that, thinking I was this or that. Being an All-American out of junior college, I thought I was this and that.

Now, I'm at the bottom. I have to work hard to get to the top. It's been a good experience for me. I still have one more year left. I talked to my dad, and as soon as I go home this summer, it will be training camp every day, all day. That's the only person I work out with is my pops.

If I'm not happy on the court, I'm not happy at all. Right now, going through ups and downs, it's hard on my personal life. I don't do too much but think about basketball. Sometimes I don't want to do anything or go out.

If the fans were hurt by what they are seeing from me, I apologize. Different circumstances change. Certain coaches coach a certain way. It's hard to make that transition from one to the next. It's a different level, but I'm not too worried about it. I think I've showed in games or spurts that I'm capable of doing some things.

Off-court, I'm a respectful man - likable, not aggressive. On court, it's something different. I'm not going to let anyone push me around. The Wyoming game, that (fight) happened, but that was an accident. I can't tell you the last time I threw a punch before that. It was a heat-of-the-moment thing.

I thought one of my players was going to get jumped, then Bam! If I could take it back, I would. I don't want to be labeled as that type of player. But I am aggressive. That wasn't respectful of the game.

I was embarrassed. I had guys calling from Las Vegas, Iowa, Florida, friends everywhere calling me. (Former junior college coach) Jeff Kidder, I had to talk to him about it. That was tough. He helped me control my emotions. I can feed off bad energy when guys are talking trash. Being an emotional player, I have to keep those emotions in check. The last couple of games I haven't said anything. I haven't gotten too physical.

You have a season like mine, that's all you can think about is next year. The season isn't over, of course. We have five more games. I have four (because of a suspension for the March 3 Wyoming game). We still have the playoffs. But I'm also working today for tomorrow. I'm going to hit it hard over the summer for next year. Next year could be big for me.

The teammate I wouldn't want to be stranded on a desert island with is David (Kanyinda). He'd be confused all the time. That's D.K. for you. I would want to be with Daniel Faris. He's going to make you laugh and he's not going to eat that much. He's a real nice guy, so he'd let you eat before he eats. I also wouldn't want to be on an island with (Jeffrey) Henfield. He'd eat everything.

I think they should find a way to make an airplane with beds. That would be lovely. They could charge an arm and a leg, but it'd be worth it. That would be lovely if the team had a plane. That would make our traveling so much easier.

I got to play with a couple of NBA guys my dad worked out last summer. Guys like (the Atlanta Hawks') Tyronn Lue and (the Phoenix Suns') Marcus Banks. I was nervous, but I was ready to prove. You see guys like (the Golden State Warriors') Al Harrington. (The Warriors') Baron Davis is talking to you, saying we're the only guys here doing our thing. Let's go. Is that Baron Davis talking to me?

My friends told me to go at them. I took it to Lue. I was cocky. I hit a game-winning shot over Lue and gave him a look - like, `That's for real right there.' The guys on the bench are sitting there going nuts. I had a relaxed look on my face. That was one of the best experiences of my life. Lue was mad.