CBA Alum Smart Named Cavs Head Coach
Published on January 20, 2003 under Continental Basketball Association 1 (CBA 1) News Release
Cleveland, OH (Jan. 20, 2003)- The Cleveland Cavaliers announced today that former Continental Basketball Association head coach and player Keith Smart has been promoted from assistant to head coach, replacing former CBA player John Lucas. Smart is one of nine current NBA head coaches that played and/or coached in the CBA.
Smart joined the Cavaliers in 2000 as assistant coach and director of player development after spending the previous three years as head coach of the CBA's Fort Wayne Fury (85-83). In his first season (1997-98) as a head coach, the Indiana ('88) standout led Fort Wayne to an American Conference regular-season title (21-25, .554).
Prior to his coaching career, the 6-1 guard played 7 seasons in the CBA (1988-97). Smart averaged 10.3 ppg in 297 games with four different clubs, ranking 23rd all-time on the CBA's games played chart.
In college he scored 12 of the Hoosiers' final 15 points in the 1987 title game versus Syracuse, earning him Final Four Most Outstanding Player honors. He was originally drafted by the Golden State Warriors in the second round (41st overall) of the 1988 NBA Draft, but was claimed off waivers by the San Antonio Spurs just prior to the 1988-89 season. Smart appeared in two games with the Spurs before joining the CBA's Cedar Rapids Silver Bullets.
Continental Basketball Association 1 Stories from January 20, 2003
- CBA Transactions - CBA 1
- CBA Alum Smart Named Cavs Head Coach - CBA 1
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