Jaleen Smith
Jaleen Smith (born November 24, 1994) is an American-born Croatian professional basketball player for Alba Berlin of the German Basketball Bundesliga (BBL) and the EuroLeague.[1]
_by_Sandro_Halank%E2%80%93065.jpg.webp) | |
| No. 3 – Alba Berlin | |
|---|---|
| Position | Shooting guard / Point guard |
| League | Basketball Bundesliga EuroLeague |
| Personal information | |
| Born | November 24, 1994 Freeport, Texas, U.S. |
| Nationality | American / Croatian |
| Listed height | 1.93 m (6 ft 4 in) |
| Listed weight | 205 lb (93 kg) |
| Career information | |
| High school | Brazosport (Freeport, Texas) |
| College | New Hampshire (2013–2017) |
| NBA draft | 2017 / Undrafted |
| Playing career | 2017–present |
| Career history | |
| 2017–2019 | USC Heidelberg |
| 2019–2021 | Riesen Ludwigsburg |
| 2021–present | Alba Berlin |
| Career highlights and awards | |
| |
Club career
In 2019, Smith switched teams from USC Heidelberg to Riesen Ludwigsburg.[2]
For the 2020–21 Basketball Bundesliga season, Smith was elected as Most Valuable Player.[3] He received the award at the same time as his coach John Patrick became Coach of the year. Smith averaged 15.7 points, 5.3 rebounds, 5.6 assists and 1.7 steals per game.[3]
On August 25, 2021, Smith signed a three-year deal with Alba Berlin.[4]
National team career
In July 2022, the Croatian Basketball Federation expressed their interest to naturalize Smith, so he could represent the Croatia national team at the EuroBasket 2022. In August 2022, Smith debuted for Croatia in a friendly against Bulgaria.[5] His first official game was a EuroBasket 2025 pre-qualifier against Poland.[6] Smith is the third naturalized American to play for Croatia, after Dontaye Draper and Oliver Lafayette.[7]
References
- "ALBA Berlin signs German BBL's MVP Jaleen Smith". August 25, 2021.
- Jürgen Frey (March 17, 2021). "Der König der Riesen und sein Traum von der NBA". Stuttgarter Nachrichten (in German). Retrieved April 30, 2021.
- Titel für die Riesen: Jaleen Smith ist MVP der Saison Ludwigsburger Kreiszeitung, May 19, 2021. Accessed May 20, 2021.(in German)
- "Jaleen Smith inks with Alba Berlin". Sportando. August 25, 2021. Retrieved August 25, 2021.
- "Jaleen Smith debitirao za Hrvatsku, upisana pobjeda od 30 razlike". index.hr (in Croatian). August 13, 2022. Retrieved August 30, 2022.
- "Hrvatska velikim preokretom do slavlja protiv Poljske, službeni debi Smitha, Hezonja i Zubac odlučili". germanijak.hr (in Croatian). August 25, 2022. Retrieved August 30, 2022.
- "Hrvatska dobiva trećeg Amerikanca na poziciji playmakera: To je zanimljivi igrač berlinske Albe". gol.dnevnik.hr. Retrieved July 24, 2022.