Former Louisville Cardinals star and current Delaware 87ers guard Russ Smith broke an NBA D-League scoring record Wednesday when he dropped 65 points in a 140-129 loss to the Canton Charge, per ESPN.com.
Smith, who played 27 games for the Memphis Grizzlies and New Orleans Hornets over the past two years, is averaging 27.9 points and 7.9 assists in 22 games with Delaware.
The D-League shared a highlight film of all 65 points, which included only one three-pointer
Smith was the 47th overall pick in the 2014 draft by the Philadelphia 76ers after averaging 14.3 points and 2.8 assists over his four-year career with the Cardinals.
ESPN Stats & Info displayed a graphic that showed how the speedy Smith found his way to the rim for 32 points off layups:
Russ Smith sets a single-game D-League record with 65 points, 32 of those on layups
The No. 1-ranked D-League prospect connected on 16 of 20 free throws in addition to his 24 made baskets and said he learned a lot from the last time he played the Charge, per ESPN.com:
I tried to get in the lane. The last game (against Canton), I think I had about 18 assists, and I didn’t play that whole third quarter because of foul trouble, so the lane was going to be open. I read the scouting report. The big guys were so worried about the lob that I just floated in, and I kept getting layups.
I just sort of did my homework, and I really circled this game on the calendar because Canton’s a good team. They have some good players. They play tough. It was just a good one.
Smith broke Jordan McRae’s record of 61, who also accomplished the feat with Delaware. The Cleveland Cavaliers guard gave props to Smith following his big night.
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