Robert Smith

One collector is trying to find a single signature from every man who ever played for the Jazz — all 370 of them, from the 1974 New Orleans team to today. For many of them, this page is the only one on the internet. Here is Robert Smith: what he did on the floor, a few things most people never knew, and every card that carries his name. If you own something he signed — or you know who might — there is a note at the foot of this page.

One of UNLV's fabled 'Hardway Eight,' the 5-foot-11 point guard helped Jerry Tarkanian's Runnin' Rebels reach their first Final Four in 1977 — the school honored his jersey in 2022. Denver drafted him in the third round in 1977, launching a seven-team, seven-season pro career. His Jazz chapter was brief — traded to Utah in October 1979, he was waived after six games and landed with New Jersey.

Smith settled into Las Vegas life and gave the game back at the grassroots, coaching AAU ball at the Bill and Lilly Heinrich YMCA alongside his old UNLV teammate 'Sudden' Sam Smith. He suffered a stroke in 2019 and was still working through recovery as of 2022.

HOW HE CAME & WENTDenver traded him to Utah in October 1979 and by November he had signed with New Jersey, making his stint one of the briefest on the franchise's all-time roster.

Full name

Robert Leroy Smith

Utah Jazz tenure

1979–80

Position

Guard

Born

1955, Los Angeles

Height

5′11″ (180 cm)

Weight

165 lb (75 kg)

College

UNLV

Drafted

1977, 3rd round, Denver