Dru Smith Q&A: 'There were plenty of days of frustration'

Dru Smith, a two-way guard for the Miami Heat, is rumored to be soon converted to a standard multi-year contract after the team traded Thomas Bryant creating cap flexibility.

At 6-foot-3, Smith has impacted coach Erik Spoelstra's rotation with his defensive energy, a knack for hitting open looks, and ability to play on-or-off ball. After an impressive college career at Evansville and Missouri, he has spent the past four years bouncing between the NBA and the G League with the Sioux Falls Skyforce (and briefly with the Long Island Nets), where he was consistently a standout performer.

In an interview with HoopsHype, Smith shared how he has been navigating his career obstacles like recovering from a torn ACL, making the most out of every chance he gets and more.

What has been the biggest key to your success over the past four years that brought you to this point?

Dru Smith: I mean, I would say the biggest key to success has just been finding different ways to be on the floor. It's not gonna be really just buying into a role. I'm not gonna be out there shooting a bunch of shots in the game. I gotta find a different way to be on the floor. I gotta find a way to impact the game. So, I'd say that's been the biggest key.

You've steadily scaled up throughout your career, from Evansville to Mizzou. How have you managed to adapt to the increasing level of competition?

DS: Yeah, I mean, I think one is just kind of knowing who I am. Like, being okay with trying to be a defender and finding your way on the floor that way and then expanding the role from there. But also just continuing to work on your game. Every chance I get through the summers, everything like that, always trying to do something, work on something, be intentional with it.

Did you ever feel frustrated bouncing between a two-way contract, playing in the G League with the Long Island Nets, and then going back, knowing you were so close to making it?

DS: Yeah, no, there were plenty of days of frustration. Just questioning, is this what I'm supposed to be doing? You feel like you're chasing something that just keeps getting further away. But it was all worth it and just continue. But I'm still in the same position. I'm still here on a two-way, still trying to do the same thing. So, keeping that in mind at the same time, always trying to appreciate my opportunities that I get. I try to take advantage of them to the best of my ability.

Your mentality and demeanor on the court seem different this year—what changed, or what switch flipped for you?

DS: Honestly, I think it's more just having confidence in myself and my ability to be out there on the floor. Feeling like the things that I bring are good enough to get me out there and that I am able to impact them.

Looking back on this past year, what area of growth stands out, and how did it come about?

DS: I think, like I said before, it's just kind of fitting into a role. Finding a certain spot that is going to be beneficial to you. It's not always gonna be the same thing. Even if I were to be somewhere else, it may be something completely different. So, just being willing to accept that, I think, is a huge thing. Finding your role and then buying into it and just trying to be the best in that that you can.

What do you see as your role on the Miami Heat, and mentally, what do you think would be the ideal role for you?

DS: I think my role here is just trying to be as disruptive as possible on defense. Bring energy, impact plays on the defensive end, and then obviously make open shots, get the ball where it needs to go. And just play the right way on offense, not forcing anything, let the game come to me on that area.

What do you think was the biggest obstacle you had to overcome to get to this point?

DS: Yeah, I mean, obviously the ACL was the biggest obstacle, I would say. But I think it was probably that year where I was here on a two-way, I was cut, signed back, cut again, signed to Brooklyn. Then I didn't re-sign with Brooklyn in the summer. I'd say that was probably the biggest challenge mentally. The ACL was also tough, but it was kind of something that you had to accept. You had no other option. The two-way thing was up and down, and just really tough mentally. So, I'd say that was the biggest obstacle.

Was it tougher to handle from an ego perspective or dealing with the uncertainty?

DS: Yeah, I think not necessarily ego-wise, but like you said, I think just the unknown, you always kind of have that feeling. I think it's very fickle, even if it's not necessarily always how you're playing, it could be a numbers thing, they could need somebody else. So, yeah, that was definitely tough.

What's an aspect of your game that you feel is overlooked or underrated?

DS: Honestly, I don't know, I don't necessarily, I have no idea. And if I was going to say something, I maybe don't wanna put it out there. Let them keep overlooking whatever it is that they need to. So, just keep giving me open shots, I appreciate those.

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This article originally appeared on Hoops Hype: Dru Smith Q&A: 'There were plenty of days of frustration'