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Smart Praises CBA's Influence

January 23, 2003 - United Indoor Football Association (UIF)
Ohio Valley Greyhounds News Release


Cleveland, OH (Jan. 23, 2003)- Former Continental Basketball Association head coach and player Keith Smart was promoted from assistant to head coach of the Cleveland Cavaliers Monday, January 20, replacing former CBA player John Lucas. Smart, one of nine current NBA head coaches that played and/or coached in the CBA, credits his CBA experience for preparing him in his current role.

"One thing the CBA does is it prepares you for every situation you can possibly face. In the event that you come up and become a [NBA] coach, you have experienced some of the things already," Smart said.

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, .515). In his first season (1997-98) as a head coach, the Indiana ('88) standout led Fort Wayne to an American Conference regular-season title (31-25, .554).

"In the CBA you treat player call-ups like the NBA treats an injury to a top player. You have to make adjustments and not get too down. In my experience I have lost some good players, now I have to get the other players ready," he said.

From 1997-2000, Smart had a CBA high 21 players called up to the NBA. Prior to his coaching career, the 6-1 guard played seven seasons in the CBA (1988-92, 1994-97). Smart averaged 10.3 ppg in 297 games with four different clubs, ranking 23rd all-time on the CBA's games played chart.

"You have to focus on day-to-day tasks in the CBA. You have no guaranteed contracts so your last game and your last practice is the best that you got. You could be gone, or a player could get cut from the NBA, come to the CBA and bump you out," Smart said. "You have to leave a lasting impression daily in the mindset of the people that are watching. Being ready day-to-day to play and not worry about tomorrow, that has always been my approach."

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.

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