I remember watching Dennis Smith Jr's NBA debut back in 2017 and thinking this kid had superstar written all over him. The explosive athleticism, the fearless drives to the basket - he looked like the next great point guard. But professional sports rarely follow straight trajectories, and Smith's journey has been one of those fascinating stories of resilience that makes you appreciate the mental aspect of the game as much as the physical.
When I look at basketball careers that have taken unexpected turns, I can't help but draw parallels to situations like what happened with the Cebu Greats in the MPBL. That team was facing what looked like an insurmountable challenge early in their season - suffering five consecutive losses by an average margin of 18 points under their previous ownership. The situation felt hopeless, much like how many viewed Smith's career after he bounced between four NBA teams in three years. I've always believed that sports narratives can change dramatically with the right leadership and mindset shift, which is exactly what happened when Junthy Valenzuela stepped up to coach the Cebu Greats. The transformation wasn't immediate, but the foundation for redemption was laid through that coaching change.
Smith's own redemption arc began when he signed with the Portland Trail Blazers in 2022. What impressed me most wasn't just his improved three-point percentage - which jumped from 21% to 33% in his first season there - but how he reinvented himself as a defensive specialist. He went from being a score-first guard to someone who understood that contributing to winning basketball meant doing the dirty work. I've spoken with several NBA development coaches who emphasized that this kind of transformation requires incredible humility from a player who was once the 9th overall draft pick. Smith had to essentially deconstruct his identity and rebuild it from the ground up.
The mental aspect of these comebacks fascinates me. When Valenzuela took over the Cebu Greats, the team's defensive rating improved by 12 points per 100 possessions within the first eight games under his leadership. That doesn't happen just with strategic adjustments - it requires changing the entire culture and belief system of the organization. Similarly, Smith's defensive transformation involved reprogramming years of offensive-minded habits. I recall watching him during his Dallas Mavericks days, where his defensive effort was inconsistent at best. The version we see today - averaging 1.8 steals per game despite playing only 26 minutes - represents a complete philosophical shift.
What many casual fans don't appreciate is how much work happens behind the scenes. I've had the opportunity to speak with NBA trainers who've worked with Smith during his offseason preparations, and they describe an almost obsessive dedication to film study and defensive drills. One trainer told me Smith would spend two hours daily just working on defensive slides and close-out techniques - the unglamorous fundamentals that rarely make highlight reels but win coaches' trust. This mirrors the kind of cultural reset that Valenzuela implemented with the Cebu Greats, focusing on process over results during their turnaround season.
The financial realities make these redemption stories even more compelling. Smith went from earning $4.5 million annually on his rookie contract to minimum deals before proving his value again. That kind of financial pressure would break many athletes, but it seemed to fuel his determination. Similarly, the Cebu Greats were operating with one of the smaller budgets in the MPBL, proving that strategic coaching and player development can overcome resource disadvantages.
I'm particularly drawn to how both stories demonstrate the importance of fit and environment in sports. Smith struggled in systems that wanted him to be a traditional distributor, but found his niche as a defensive disruptor who could create transition opportunities. The Cebu Greats, under Valenzuela, developed an identity built on defensive intensity and ball movement that maximized their roster's strengths rather than trying to fit square pegs into round holes.
Looking at Smith's current trajectory, I believe he's established himself as a valuable NBA rotation player who can contribute to winning basketball. His journey reminds me that early career struggles don't define a player's legacy - it's how they adapt and respond to adversity. The same principle applied to the Cebu Greats' season turnaround, showing that in basketball, as in life, resilience often matters more than raw talent alone. These narratives continue to reinforce why I love this game - it's never just about where you start, but where you finish, and more importantly, who you become along the way.
