Nets Smith
The Nets signed guard Malachi Smith to a two-year deal Saturday.
It was the ultimate case of grit paying off, as Smith went undrafted in 2023 and has labored in the G-League since.
After excelling in Long Island, he got a pair of 10-day contracts and parlayed them into a standard deal in a move first reported by ESPN and confirmed by The Post.
“It’s been like a blessing, for sure,” Smith said after Friday night’s loss to the Hawks about his opportunities of late. “But I think it’s just a testament to my work and my journey. If anyone knows my journey, it’s anything but easy.
Malachi Smith has signed a two-year deal with the Nets. NBAE via Getty Images
“And for me, I’m just trying to stay present, and just be the same player; but just be grateful and just do what got me here.
So obviously there’s a transition: physically, athletically, thinking the game a lot faster. But at the end of the day, it’s still basketball. So just having that same mentality, just going out there having fun and controlling the things I could control.”
Smith averaged 7.3 points and 2.1 rebounds across two 10-day contracts with the Nets as they’ve gone into full tank mode and played the tail end of their bench.
Malachi Smith during Friday’s game against Atlanta. Gregory Fisher-Imagn Images
The guard has given them a spark, never more so than Friday against Atlanta. In a five-minute burst spanning the first and second quarters, Smith shot 4-of-4 overall and 3-of-3 from behind the arc to lift the Nets to within four with 10:59 left in the half. He even hit a wild heave from well past the half-court logo that nearly beat the buzzer.
“I think just the mentality is leave it all on the floor,” said Smith. “I’m someone that has been praying for this opportunity and working for this opportunity for years, so I’m not going to take any minute for granted.
“I always tell myself I don’t care if I get 1 minute or 10 minutes, I’m gonna be able to go to sleep at night knowing I play as hard as I can. And then whatever happens after that, I can live with the results.”