SAN FRANCISCO – When you’ve played for eight different teams over a five-year NBA career, you’ve experienced an unlimited number of unique situations and circumstances. However, Ish Smith is quick to note that nothing from his recent past quite compares to today, when the team he joined less than 24 hours ago will be playing on national TV against the defending NBA champions.
As a result of New Orleans preseason injuries at point guard to Tyreke Evans and Norris Cole, the Pelicans became short-handed at the position, causing the mid-October signing of 11th-year veteran Nate Robinson. Given that the team’s only other point guard, Jrue Holiday, is on a minute restriction and short-term won’t play both ends of back-to-backs, further help was needed.