2025-26 Season
DRU SMITH
2025-26 Season
DRU SMITH
PBP Credit: Every play is analyzed from play-by-play data. Scorers get difficulty-adjusted credit, assisters get creation value based on the shot opportunity they created, and turnovers are classified by type. Shot difficulty is derived from 1M+ shots across 4 seasons. Full methodology
TEAM COMPARISON
of 14 teammates (10+ games, 10+ min)
Similar Players
Same position, closest production profile this season.
SKILL DNA
Percentile rank vs 245 Guards with 10+ games
THE SEASON SO FAR
Dru Smith's opening stretch of the season was defined by extreme volatility, toggling violently between defensive menace and offensive liability off the bench. Take his 11/05 vs DEN performance, where he scored a meager 5 points but still posted a stellar +8.1 impact score. That positive mark was entirely driven by his suffocating point-of-attack defense, which completely disrupted the opponent's offensive initiation despite his quiet scoring night. He reached his absolute peak shortly after on 11/08 vs POR, operating with surgical precision to rack up 13 points and 6 assists. By consistently finding the roll man and avoiding mistakes as a secondary creator, he generated a staggering +16.6 impact score. Yet, when his offensive aggression vanished, his overall value cratered. During a disastrous 11/24 vs DAL appearance, Smith went completely scoreless on 0-for-6 shooting, suffering a -6.9 impact score because his absolute nightmare of an offensive showing simply could not be masked by effort alone.
Dru Smith’s midseason stretch was defined by dizzying volatility, oscillating between spark-plug efficiency and total offensive invisibility. During a massive +13.3 impact performance on 01/08 vs CHI, he tallied 11 points, 5 rebounds, and 5 assists. That stellar rating was driven entirely by his relentless energy on loose balls, which completely shattered Chicago's offensive rhythm. Conversely, when his jumper vanished, his high-motor defense could barely mask the damage. On 12/18 vs BKN, he shot a disastrous 1-for-8 from the floor for a -1.5 impact, dragging the lineup into the mud despite his excellent gap discipline. Even worse than poor shooting was outright passivity. On 01/04 vs NOP, he took just a single shot in 19 minutes, generating a brutal -5.1 impact because his refusal to attack allowed his defender to roam freely and trap primary scorers. Smith is a gritty backcourt presence, but he simply cannot survive in an NBA rotation when he becomes a zero-threat offensive player.
Dru Smith spent this twenty-game stretch acting as a chaotic, defense-first wrecking ball who completely abandoned any pretense of scoring efficiency. Look at his 01/24 vs UTA performance, where he bricked his way to a 2-for-10 shooting night but still posted a massive +10.5 impact score. He offset that offensive ineptitude by grabbing 10 rebounds and transforming into a relentless terror on the defensive end. However, his lack of touch occasionally cratered his value, notably on 01/17 vs OKC. His horrific 1-for-8 finishing around the basket that night resulted in empty possessions that killed the offense, dragging his impact down to a dismal -4.7. When Smith actually managed to hit a few shots, he became a highly dangerous rotation piece. On 02/01 vs CHI, he tallied 10 points and 6 assists while putting on an absolute clinic in off-ball denial, earning a stellar +10.2 impact score. He remains a glaring floor-spacing liability, but his manic hustle ensures he always leaves a heavy imprint on the game.
IMPACT TIMELINE
Game-by-game performance vs average. Green = above average, red = below.
Struggling. Smith has posted negative impact in 77% of games this season. The production rarely outweighs the cost.
Middle-of-the-road efficiency — shoots 45%+ from the field in 44% of games. Not automatic, but not a problem either.
Defensive difference-maker. Smith consistently forces tough shots and protects the rim — opponents shoot worse when he's guarding them.
Small downward trend. First-half impact: -3.2, second-half: -4.9. Not alarming yet, but trending the wrong direction.
In a rough stretch — 8 straight games with negative impact. Longest cold streak this season: 11 games.
MATCHUP HISTORY
Based on 76 games with tracking data. Shows who guarded this player on offense and who he guarded on defense, with their shooting stats in those matchups.
ON OFFENSE: WHO GUARDED HIM
His shooting stats against each primary defender this season
ON DEFENSE: WHO HE GUARDED
How opponents shot when he was the primary defender. Lower FG% = better defense.
SEASON STATS
GAME LOG
70 games played
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