Dennis Smith Jr. is set to continue his professional journey in the G League, with Brandon “Scoop B” Robinson reporting on Friday that the veteran guard is joining the Wisconsin Herd following his release from the Dallas Mavericks last month.
Smith is expected to report to the Herd next week, giving him an immediate opportunity to compete for meaningful minutes in a system designed to elevate guards looking for NBA re-entry.
Robinson reported that the Texas Legends held talks in October to acquire Smith’s G League rights from Wisconsin, but no agreement was reached. That opened the door for the Herd to bring him in despite Dallas’ efforts to keep him in their development pipeline.
Smith’s path back to the Herd comes nearly a year after he initially signed with the team in December 2024, only to depart weeks later for Real Madrid. His brief stretch in Europe included appearances in both Liga ACB and the EuroLeague before he returned to the NBA system in September.
The former No. 9 pick enters this next phase with a seven-year NBA résumé. His standout rookie season in Dallas earned him NBA All-Rookie Second Team honors after averaging 15.2 points and 5.2 assists.
His career has since included stops with the Knicks, Pistons, Trail Blazers, Hornets, and Nets, where he most recently averaged 6.6 points and 3.6 assists during the 2023–24 season. His athleticism and defensive instincts remain central to his guard profile.
Smith’s move to Wisconsin places him under head coach Beno Udrih, who discussed his coaching philosophy this week on the Fullcourt Passport podcast with Ric Bucher and Bostjan Nachbar. Udrih emphasized the importance of communication, saying, “Even when I was playing I always wanted to be a… I knew I want to be a coach.”
Udrih described the responsibilities that come with leading a G League roster, noting, “Being a head coach is like… managing the medical, you manage the coaching staff, you talk to the GM… couple times a day.”
He stressed the importance of listening to players and building trust through consistent dialogue, adding, “Communication is always the key… a lot of people think communication is just talking to players, but it’s actually listening too.”
Udrih also underscored that scoring alone does not determine call-up opportunities, explaining that players must focus on decision-making and playing within the team structure.
His offensive approach is built on movement and spacing, with the goal of maximizing flow and shared involvement. Udrih highlighted the value of mid-range reads out of pick-and-roll actions, noting that guards must take what the defense gives them.
Smith joins a Herd program guided by a coach who prioritizes development and detail, offering a fitting environment for a veteran guard seeking an NBA return.
