About Bobby Smith
Lived 1937 – 2020 (aged 83). Bobby Smith was an American basketball player.
Robert Joseph Smith (born August 20, 1937 – October 24, 2020) was an American professional basketball player and coach.
A 6'4" guard from West Virginia University, Smith was drafted by the Minneapolis Lakers in the third round of the 1959 NBA draft and appeared in 13 games with the Lakers over two seasons. He scored 37 points in his career. Smith was head coach for the men's varsity basketball at George C. Marshall High School during the 1960s and 1970s. Smith returned to West Virginia University (WVU) to serve as assistant coach from 1978 to 1985. He was inducted into the WVU Sports Hall of Fame in 2009.
Career statistics
NBA Source
Regular season Year Team GP MPG FG% FT% RPG APG PPG Minneapolis 10 13.0 .241 .688 3.3 1.4 3.7 L.A. Lakers 3 2.3 .000 – .0 .0 .0Career 13 10.5 .236 .688 2.5 1.1 2.8
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Important facts
People in Bobby Smith's life
Named in this biography and alive at the same time
Related people
Same field, nearest in time
Contemporaries
People whose lives overlapped Bobby Smith's
Frequently asked questions
Who was Bobby Smith?
American basketball player
When was Bobby Smith born?
Bobby Smith was born on 20 August 1937 in Charleston.
When did Bobby Smith die?
Bobby Smith died on 24 October 2020.
What was Bobby Smith's occupation?
Bobby Smith was a basketball player.
What nationality was Bobby Smith?
Bobby Smith was American.
Sources & further reading
· DBpedia: Bobby Smith (basketball)
Cite this page
APA: Biography.guide. (2026). Bobby Smith. https://biography.guide/bobby-smith-basketball-player/
MLA: "Bobby Smith." Biography.guide, https://biography.guide/bobby-smith-basketball-player/.
Chicago: "Bobby Smith." Biography.guide. https://biography.guide/bobby-smith-basketball-player/.
Data last updated: 2026-09-20 · Spot an error? Report a correction.
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