That’s because while Smart is a heck of a defender, he’s also a bit of a comedian, according to his fellow NBA rookies. In a poll of 39 members of the class of 2014, Smart was voted the best defensive player (tied with Philadelphia 76ers swingman K.J. McDaniels) and the second-funniest player (behind Sixers center Joel Embiid).
Smart is clearly highly thought of by his fellow rookies. He also was named the third-best playmaker, right behind the Phoenix Suns’ Tyler Ennis and the San Antonio Spurs’ Kyle Anderson. Both of those players were considered elite-level playmakers as prospects, so receiving 13.5 percent of the vote in that polling is not too shabby for Smart.
We’re sure Smart has a fine sense of humor, but Embiid’s supremacy as the biggest cut-up among rookies is no surprise. His exploits on Twitter alone make him one of the few professional athletes who qualifies as a must-follow.