After going undrafted in 2023 and then being shipped off to four different NBA G League teams, former Gonzaga Bulldog guard Malachi Smith has secured a roster spot with the Brooklyn Nets for the rest of the 2025-26 season and potentially further. Smith’s two-year deal comes after two 10-day contracts with the organization.
He made $73,153 on each of his two 10-day contracts and will now be earning $65,838 for the remaining five games of the regular season.
Smith has averaged 7.3 points on a shooting split of 52.7 percent from the field/54.5 percent on three-pointers/100.0 percent at the free throw line, 2.1 rebounds, 2.1 assists, and 1.0 steals per game in 10 appearances with the Nets after playing for the team’s G League affiliate, the Long Island Nets.
Along with more bottom-tier franchises at this point in the end of the regular season, Brooklyn took a shot on someone from their development team. Smith used that opportunity and proved his worth amongst the world’s best.
He fought through the grind that is the G League to get in this position. Smith had stops with the Portland Trail Blazers’ Rip City Remix, Milwaukee Bucks’ Wisconsin Herd, Memphis Grizzlies’ Memphis Hustle, and Long Island over the last three years.
Smith started his collegiate career with the Wright State Raiders from 2018-19, transferred to the Chattanooga Mocs from 2020-22, before making his way to Spokane, Washington. He was named the West Coast Conference Sixth Man of the Year in 2023 before entering his name into the 2023 NBA Draft, bypassing his final season of college eligibility.
This further proves not only how much professional talent coach Mark Few has been able to bring through the program, but also players who are willing to work their way to this uber-selective pool of NBA talent. Smith could have opted out of the G League experience with barely any fans in attendance and moved over to Europe or Asia while making more money. He had trust in his abilities and work ethic to continue improving his overall game.
Shows a lot about the type of competitors that the Zags search for and want to be involved with.
Arden Cravalho is a Gonzaga University graduate from the Bay Area… Follow him on X @a_cravalho
