Hall of Famer Adrian ‘Odie’ Smith Dies
LEXINGTON, Ky. – Adrian ‘Odie’ Smith, a Naismith Memorial Basketball and University of Kentucky Hall of Famer, died April 28. He was 89.
Smith (1957-58) was a beloved member of the ‘Fiddlin’ Five’ who captured the 1958 national championship for the Wildcats. He transferred to Kentucky from Northeast Mississippi Junior College. He averaged 10.2 points per game in two seasons across 51 total games, including 12.4 per game as a senior. Smith averaged nearly 14 points per game in UK’s four NCAA Tournament victories en route to claiming the title.
“Odie holds a special place in the history, and the treasured heritage, of Kentucky basketball,” said Mitch Barnhart, UK Director of Athletics. “His accomplishments on the court – the NCAA championship at UK, two gold medals representing the United States in international competition, and his 11-year pro career – speak for themselves. What I remember most about Odie is that he had such a positive presence. He was a bright light wherever he went, always smiling, always cheerful, and most of all, so incredibly proud that he had played for the Wildcats. Our condolences are with his family, his friends and the Wildcat basketball family that meant so much to him.”
Following his career with the Wildcats, Smith was drafted by the Cincinnati Royals in the 15th round of the NBA Draft but was let go after a brief stint with the team. So, Smith joined the Army. While still serving his country, Smith was picked to represent the United States at the Pan American Games in Chicago and earned the gold medal. He then was selected to the 1960 Olympic Team, alongside the likes of future Hall of Famers Oscar Robertson, Jerry Lucas and Jerry West, and took home gold in Rome, Italy. Smith scored 17 points in USA’s opening win over the host Italians.
The 1960 Olympic Squad was named to the Naismith Hall of Fame in August of 2010. Smith would later be chosen to carry the Olympic torch through Cincinnati as a part of the 1996 Summer Olympic Games in Atlanta.
Smith eventually did suit up in the NBA, joining the Cincinnati Royals in 1961-62. He started alongside Robertson in the backcourt for eight seasons, with the duo known as the “Big O” (Robertson) and “Little O” (Smith). He averaged a career-high 18.4 points per game during the 1965-66 season.
Smith was elected to the 1966 NBA All-Star Game and scored 24 points to go along with eight rebounds in 26 minutes of action in the league’s premier all-star event. Alongside 16 future NBA Hall of Famers, Smith was the game’s most valuable player in front of his hometown fans in Cincinnati. He remains the only player in NBA history to win All-Star Game MVP honors in his lone appearance in the game. He is one of just two UK players to earn NBA All-Star Game MVP accolades, along with Anthony Davis in 2017.
Smith received a new Ford Galaxie 500 convertible in honor of being MVP, which he owned the remainder of his life. He also owned another unique keepsake. Immediately following the 1960 Olympics gold medal game in Rome, Smith thought about getting a souvenir from the game itself. He climbed on the shoulders of teammate Darrall Imhoff and cut down one of the nets, a memento he retained for a lifetime.
Smith finished his NBA career with the San Francisco Warriors, playing two seasons on the west coast, and scored 8,750 career points over 11 total seasons in the league. His final pro campaign (1971-72) came in the American Basketball Association with the Virginia Squires, where he played alongside Julius Erving during Dr. J’s rookie season.
Following his playing days, Smith was an esteemed banker. He worked as a commercial lending relationship manager and was the vice president at both PNC Bank and Fifth Third Bank in Cincinnati.
Smith was an initial member of the 2006 UK Athletics Hall of Fame and was inducted into the (state of) Kentucky Sports Hall of Fame in 2005. Additionally, he is a member of the Northeast Mississippi Community College Sports Hall of Fame, the National Junior College Athletic Association Hall of Fame and the Olympic Hall of Fame.
In August of 2015, his hometown celebrated Odie Smith Day with a monument at Farmington Elementary School and the dedication of Kentucky Highway 121 as the Adrian ‘Odie’ Smith Highway.
He is survived by his son, Tyler and his brother, Kenny. He was proceeded in death by his wife, Paula, his parents and four siblings. A full obituary can be found here.
