LANDOVER, MD - CIRCA 1975: Elmore Smith #3 of the Los Angeles Lakers in action against the Washington Bullets during an NBA basketball game circa 1975 at the Capital Centre in Landover, Maryland. Smith played for the Lakers from 1973-75. (Photo by Focus on Sport/Getty Images)
Forgotten box score series: Elmore Smith’s 17-block frenzy
When NBA fans think about the best rim protectors and shot blockers in the history of the league, many people may think of Manute Bol, Mark Eaton, or Dikembe Mutumbo. A name that often gets forgotten is Elmore Smith, the 3rd overall pick by the Buffalo Braves in the 1971 NBA Draft. Throughout his 8-season career, Smith averaged 2.9 blocks per game, but in the 1973-1974 season specifically, Elmore went on one of the most impressive shot-blocking frenzies of all time.
For one week, Elmore Smith became the scariest rim protector in NBA history
In late October of 1973, Smith strung together four straight games with 10+ blocks (10, 14, 17, and 14) for the Los Angeles Lakers. These numbers had never been seen before, mostly due to the fact that blocks were not a recorded stat during the Chamberlain-Russell era, but have also not been seen since. There have been eight games in which an NBA player has blocked 14+ shots and Elmore Smith is responsible for three of them. He still holds the record for most blocks in a game (17) as well as blocks in a half (11).
The night Elmore Smith made NBA history
On October 28th, 1973, Elmore Smith suited up for the purple and gold to face off with the Portland Trailblazers. Being the replacement Center for Wilt Chamberlain, who had started for the Lakers the previous five seasons, blocking shots was nothing new. In fact, just three days prior, Elmore Smith had swatted 10 shots in a game. Despite this, no one could have imagined the onslaught of blocks that he would produce against Portland.
Playing all 48 minutes for Los Angeles, Smith swatted 11 shots in the first half and 6 shots in the second half. He also corralled 16 rebounds and scored 12 points. Even with Lakers’ legends Gail Goodrich dropping 49 points and Jerry West adding 24 points and 14 assists, Elmore Smith was the talk of the night.
Los Angeles went on to win the game 111-98 and Smith went on to lead the league in blocks that year. His 4.90 blocks per game in the 1973-1974 season trails only Mark Eaton (1985, 5.56 blocks per game) and Manute Bol (1986, 4.96 blocks per game).
