By Nikola Miloradovic / info@eurohoops.net
Real Madrid have officially announced the signing of Nick Smith Jr. on a deal running through the end of the 2026–27 season.
The 22-year-old guard arrives in the Spanish capital after three seasons in the NBA, where he made 147 appearances for the Charlotte Hornets and Los Angeles Lakers.
Selected with the 27th overall pick in the 2023 NBA Draft, Smith showed his scoring ability during his second season in Charlotte before joining the Lakers on a two-way contract. Last season, he averaged approximately 20 points per game in the G League, while contributing 5.6 points across 36 NBA appearances.
Smith will now begin his first spell outside the United States and enter a deep Real Madrid backcourt led by Facundo Campazzo, Theo Maledon, Andres Feliz and Sergio Llull.
Head coach Pedro Martinez had all but confirmed the signing shortly before the club’s official announcement, although he warned against placing excessive expectations on a young player adjusting to European basketball.
“He will be very young, without experience outside his country or knowledge of how basketball is played and how teams practice in Europe. We have to help him understand that things here will probably be different from what he has experienced during his short professional career,” Martinez said.
The Real Madrid coach stressed that Smith is expected to contribute within the collective rather than carry the team’s offense.
“One way to help him is not to expect huge things. We should not expect one player to score 35 points every night and leave everyone speechless. We want a balanced and unpredictable team that does not depend on one or two players. Sometimes, placing great expectations on someone simply because he comes from the NBA can work against him. What we expect from the new player, as well as everyone else, is to contribute, help and make sacrifices for the good of the team.”
Smith could travel with Real Madrid to Abu Dhabi for the inaugural EuroLeague Super Cup, where Los Blancos will face Dubai Basketball in the semifinals.
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