The NBA G League Ignite program has rapidly become a premier talent pipeline, boasting 13 alumni drafted into the NBA since its inception ahead of the 2021 NBA Draft. Among its most recent successes, three Ignite stars were selected in the 2024 NBA Draft, underscoring the program’s exceptional track record. Notably, Tyler Smith, a versatile and talented forward, was picked by the Milwaukee Bucks with the 33rd overall pick, joining Ron Holland (Detroit Pistons, 5th pick) and Matas Buzelis (Chicago Bulls, 11th pick) in this year’s draft class.
“It really hasn’t hit me yet that I’m in the NBA,” said Smith on draft night. “It will probably hit me when I do the press conference on Tuesday and get that jersey, but it’s just amazing. I worked my whole life to get here.”
Smith’s journey to the NBA is a story of resilience, determination, and a passion for basketball that began at an early age. Originally from New Orleans, Smith’s life took a dramatic turn in 2005 when he and his family moved to Houston to escape the devastation of Hurricane Katrina. This relocation marked the beginning of a new chapter in Smith’s life and basketball career.
“I was 10 months old. We left New Orleans a day before the floodgates broke and moved to my aunt’s house in Houston,” said Smith.
Smith’s introduction to team basketball came when he was three years old, playing at the Alief YMCA. Although he took a brief hiatus, his love for the game reignited at six when he joined The Bridge church league. Smith’s talent and coordination began to draw attention during these formative years.
“People began to notice and say, ‘Wow, this kid is coordinated.’ I didn’t understand their fascination then, but I understood as it continued. Tyler was tall for his age, and usually, when the kids are taller, they’re not coordinated. But after seeing his coordination, I understood that this kid had it. Everywhere we went, people began to ask who he was,” said Smith’s mom, Nishawn Mackey.
“After working with him at a gym called Field Hoops in the sixth grade, I thought Tyler was a special kid. I told his mother that if he continued this path and continued to work, I believed he had a chance to be a pro,” said Smith’s former coach with Basketball University, Rhossi Carron. “Professional players are a mix of size and athleticism. There are some kids who have great size but lack athleticism and can’t think and process the game. Then there are some kids who can think and process, but they might not have the size. Tyler had the rare combination of elite size, great mobility and ability to process at an early age.”
Under the guidance of Rhossi at Basketball University, Smith’s skills flourished, and he quickly became a standout player. Despite his involvement in several highly competitive AAU programs, such as Houston Hoops, a renowned AAU basketball organization that competes on the Nike EYBL circuit, and Blue Chips, another powerhouse organization, Smith was a multi-sport athlete, showcasing his abilities as a quarterback in football from 3rd to 8th grade.
“At the time, I was playing both basketball and football, but I was more focused on football because I wanted to be Lamar Jackson,” said Smith.
Smith’s height and talent earned him a spot on the varsity basketball team at Ft. Bend Bush High School during his freshman year. Although his sophomore season was heavily impacted by COVID-19 restrictions, Smith continued to develop his game and attract attention from top college programs nationwide. However, when he discovered Overtime Elite Academy, Smith’s ambitions took a unique turn.
“Overtime Elite Academy was new and I had my hesitations, but Tyler kept asking me about it and he really wanted to go,” said Mackey. “I’ve always been the parent who supported my boys 100% in their goals because I never wanted to be that parent whose kids would look back and regret not doing something they were passionate about. So, I made it clear to my boys that whatever they wanted to do, that’s what we’re going to do. However, they had to give 100% effort if they wanted to do this. If not, we would go back to the old plan.”
“The transition to Overtime Elite Academy wasn’t that much of a scary transition from Ft. Bend Bush High School because it was during the COVID phase, so I didn’t get much from my high school experience due to the limited restrictions. So it made the transition easy for me,” said Smith.
OTE offered Smith the opportunity to complete his high school education while focusing on a shot at a professional basketball career. Recognizing his potential and commitment, Smith signed a contract with Overtime Elite Academy before his junior year at Bush, becoming the 16th player overall and the second Houston-area high school star to join the program in August of that year. This decision solidified his path toward a professional career, setting the stage for his eventual selection in the NBA Draft.
“Milwaukee is getting a very versatile forward,” said Smith’s former youth coach Marcus Sloan. “His athleticism is similar to Chris Bosch, a long 6-foot-9 player with a nice left hook who can shoot the three and score in both the mid and low post. Defensively, he can guard multiple positions, block shots, rebound, and run the floor. His attributes in the new NBA will fit in because they like the big guys that play hard and shoot threes.”
Despite achieving his dream of being drafted into the NBA, Smith remains humble and grounded.
“Keep working. Don’t listen to outside people. If you see yourself continuing to get better, just stay in the gym, and nobody can tell you anything,” said Smith.
“Tyler was one of these young men that were ranked at a high level pretty fast, and he’s always been very honest with himself and understanding where his game truly was,” said former NBA standout and Willowridge legend TJ Ford. “He’s a kid that loved being in the gym, he has a good work ethic, but he was one of the few kids that just didn’t buy into the hype. He had a good structure with his mother and brother and they did an excellent job of guiding him through this process to the ultimate goal. Now he’s being drafted by the Milwaukee Bucks, the same team that drafted me over 21 years ago.”
Smith’s journey from New Orleans to the NBA is a testament to his resilience, hard work, and unwavering dedication to his craft. As he embarks on his professional career with the Milwaukee Bucks, his story inspires young athletes everywhere, proving that dreams can indeed become reality with determination and perseverance.
