The Sixer Sense
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Philadelphia 76ers: Top 10 Sixers busts since 2000

By Uriah Young

Dec 31, 2017; Phoenix, AZ, USA; Philadelphia 76ers guard Ben Simmons (25) and guard Markelle Fultz against the Phoenix Suns at Talking Stick Resort Arena. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports
Dec 31, 2017; Phoenix, AZ, USA; Philadelphia 76ers guard Ben Simmons (25) and guard Markelle Fultz against the Phoenix Suns at Talking Stick Resort Arena. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports /
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Zhaire Smith: Top 10 Sixers busts since 2000

Philadelphia 76ers
Apr 10, 2019; Philadelphia, PA, USA; Chicago Bulls guard Timothe Luwawu-Cabarrot (7) dribbles the ball as Philadelphia 76ers guard Zhaire Smith (8) defends. Mandatory Credit: Eric Hartline-USA TODAY Sports /

In 2018, the Phoenix Suns selected an athletic wing player out of Texas Tech. He had such speed and agility that it caught the attention of former Sixers coach, Brett Brown. The Sixers traded for him on draft night. With superb quickness and defensive potential, Zhaire Smith was enough of a prospect to trade away Mikal Bridges, whom Philly had just drafted.

Smith was definitely Brett Brown’s pet project, where he was expected to help bolster the Sixers’ perimeter defense. It’s easy to look at how Bridges and Smith traveled different paths in the NBA and place blame on Brett Brown for committing to the Texas Tech prospect. The reality is that nobody knew that Smith would not pan out for Philly, while Bridges would go on to have a grand career launch with Phoenix. What was even more unexpected was the medical issue Smith had in his rookie season.

While out to dinner one evening, Smith ingested ingredients from a meal that caused him to have a severe allergic reaction. A peanut allergy that almost took his life impeded any progress related to his basketball career. As tragic as the experience was for him with not being able to play for the Sixers initially, he’s lucky that he lived to see another day.

Despite playing for the Sixers in the regular season, and even getting minutes in a  playoff series versus the Celtics, things just didn’t work out for Smith the way anyone had hoped. He ended up being traded to Detroit and currently is out of the NBA. He did earn a little over $5 million in the league, and he is still young enough to give basketball another try.