American basketball player (born 1999)
Aaron Joshua Nesmith
(
NEE
-smith
; born October 16, 1999) is an American professional
basketball
player for the
Indiana Pacers
of the
National Basketball Association
(NBA). He played
college basketball
for the
Vanderbilt Commodores
before being drafted 14th overall in the
2020 NBA draft
by the
Boston Celtics
. He was part of the roster that reached the
2022 NBA Finals
before he was traded to the
Indiana Pacers
in a package surrounding
Malcolm Brogdon
.
Early life and high school career
[
edit
]
Nesmith attended
Porter-Gaud School
in
Charleston, South Carolina
beginning in the fifth grade and was first called up to the varsity basketball team as an eighth-grader. As a sophomore, he won the
South Carolina Independent School Association
(SCISA) Class 3A state title as his team's leading scorer.
[1]
Nesmith led Porter-Gaud to two more Class 3A state championships in his final two seasons.
[2]
As a senior, he averaged 21 points, 4.5 rebounds, and 1.8 assists per game and was named South Carolina
Gatorade Player of the Year
for his success in basketball and academics. He left high school as a three-time SCISA Class 3A player of the year.
[3]
Nesmith was a four star recruit in high school and was the 64th ranked player in the country, the 12th ranked shooting guard in the country, and 2nd ranked in all of South Carolina. Nesmith would end up committing to Vanderbilt on 9/19/2017.
[4]
Nesmith did not receive offers from any high major
NCAA Division I
programs until he was a senior, but he began drawing more attention after an
Amateur Athletic Union
(AAU) tournament in
Charlotte, North Carolina
.
[5]
He was rated a four-star
recruit
by
ESPN
and
247Sports
and committed to
Vanderbilt
over offers from
Florida
,
South Carolina
,
Harvard
,
Virginia Tech
, and
Columbia
.
[6]
College career
[
edit
]
In his freshman season for
Vanderbilt
, Nesmith assumed an important role after
Darius Garland
suffered a season-ending injury and
Simisola Shittu
underachieved.
[7]
He started in a majority of his games and averaged 11 points and 5.5 rebounds per game, leading the Commodores in scoring in conference play.
[8]
On February 18, 2019, Nesmith was named
Southeastern Conference
(SEC) Freshman of the Week following two career games. He scored a season-high 26 points against
Florida
and posted a
double-double
of 24 points and a season-high 14 rebounds against
Auburn
.
[9]
Nesmith made his sophomore season debut on November 6, 2019, scoring 25 points, including seven three-pointers, in a win over
Southeast Missouri State
.
[10]
In the following week, he scored a career-high 34 points, hitting seven three-pointers, in an
overtime
loss to
Richmond
. Nesmith made four straight threes in a span of only one minute and 39 seconds.
[11]
On December 6, Nesmith was named to the
Oscar Robertson Trophy
watch list.
[12]
On December 21, he matched his career-high of 34 points and connected on seven three-pointers in a victory over
UNC Wilmington
.
[13]
Nesmith scored 29 points and made eight three-pointers, the best mark of his career, on January 4, 2020, as his team lost to
SMU
in overtime.
[14]
On January 11, 2020, it was initially announced that Nesmith would miss the remainder of the season with a right foot injury that he suffered in a loss to
Auburn
. In 14 games, he averaged 23 points and 4.9 rebounds per game, shooting 52.2 percent from three-point range. Nesmith was the fifth-leading scorer in the
NCAA Division I
and averaged the most points by a Vanderbilt player since
Tom Hagan
in the 1968?1969 season.
[15]
He had been on pace to have one of the best three-point shooting seasons in college basketball history.
[16]
However, after having surgery on January 28, Nesmith indicated that he might return before the end of the season.
[17]
Nesmith did not return, and after the end of the season declared for the
2020 NBA draft
.
[18]
Professional career
[
edit
]
Boston Celtics (2020?2022)
[
edit
]
2020?21 season: Rookie year
[
edit
]
Nesmith was selected with the 14th pick in the first round of the
2020 NBA draft
by the
Boston Celtics
.
[19]
On November 24, 2020, the
Boston Celtics
signed Nesmith to a four-year, $16.5 million rookie contract including team options in the third and fourth year.
[20]
With fellow rookie teammate,
Payton Pritchard
, absorbing many of injured
Kemba Walker
's minutes, it was difficult for Nesmith to crack the regular rotation for the first few months of the season. With injuries and Covid protocols plaguing the Celtics all season, extended absences from
Marcus Smart
,
Kemba Walker
, and other key players gave Nesmith enough opportunities to showcase not only his shooting capabilities, but also his gritty hustle and winning attitude.
[21]
By April 23, 2021, coach
Brad Stevens
had seen enough from the rookie to warrant consistent rotation playing time to which he hovered around 20 minutes per game for the rest of the regular season.
[22]
On April 28, 2021, Nesmith put on a show with multiple career?highs including 15 points, 9 rebounds, three steals, and three blocks in a winning effort against the
Charlotte Hornets
.
[23]
He continued this momentum into the next two games where he eclipsed, and then matched his then career?high with back to back 16 point performances.
[24]
2021?22 season: NBA Finals appearance
[
edit
]
He played for the Celtics in the
2021 NBA summer league
.
[25]
On February 15, 2022, Nesmith recorded his Celtic career?high with 18 points in a win over the
Philadelphia 76ers
.
[26]
In his second season, Nesmith and the Celtics reached the
2022 NBA Finals
and lost in 6 games to the
Golden State Warriors
.
Indiana Pacers (2022?present)
[
edit
]
2022?23 season: Starting role
[
edit
]
On July 9, 2022, Nesmith was traded, alongside
Daniel Theis
,
Malik Fitts
,
Juwan Morgan
,
Nik Stauskas
and a 2023 first-round pick, to the
Indiana Pacers
in exchange for
Malcolm Brogdon
.
[27]
On November 19, Nesmith scored 19 points off the bench on 5?8 three-point shooting, while making two game-winning free throws with 9.6 seconds remaining, to defeat the
Orlando Magic
114?113.
[28]
On December 18, he became the Pacers starting
small forward
for the remainder of the season after posting new career-highs with 23 points and 10 rebounds in a loss to the
New York Knicks
.
[29]
On December 21, in a win over his former team, Nesmith recorded 15 points and six rebounds as a starter, defeating the Celtics 117?112.
[30]
On December 29, Nesmith recorded 22 points on an efficient 7?10 shooting from the field in a win over the
Cleveland Cavaliers
.
[31]
On February 2, 2023, Nesmith posted a then career?high in scoring with 24 points, 3 rebounds, 2 steals, and a block, on 9?12 shooting in a loss to the
Los Angeles Lakers
.
[32]
On March 16, in a win over the
Milwaukee Bucks
, he recorded 22 points and 5 rebounds, on 8?11 shooting from the field, and a career?high 6?9 from three.
[33]
The next game, on March 18 against the
Philadelphia 76ers
, Nesmith tallied a then career?high in scoring with 25 points and 6 rebounds, on 9?16 shooting from the field, and 4?9 from three.
[34]
2023?24 season: Contract extension
[
edit
]
On October 23, 2023, Nesmith agreed to a three?year $33 million contract extension with the Pacers.
[35]
Five days later, Nesmith put up a new career?high 26 points along with 9 rebounds in a 125?113 win over the
Cleveland Cavaliers
.
[36]
On November 6, Nesmith recorded an efficient 15 points, 2 rebounds, 2 assists, 2 steals, and 3 threes made in a 41?point blowout win over rookie
Victor Wembanyama
and the
San Antonio Spurs
, giving head coach
Rick Carlisle
his 900th career win.
[37]
[38]
On December 30, 2023, Nesmith made a career-high 7 three-pointers in a victory over the
New York Knicks
, on a night where teammate
Tyrese Haliburton
tied the Pacers franchise record for assists in a game with 23.
[39]
[40]
Career statistics
[
edit
]
Regular season
[
edit
]
Play-in
[
edit
]
Playoffs
[
edit
]
College
[
edit
]
References
[
edit
]
- ^
Mansfield, Frankie (November 9, 2017).
"Porter-Gaud's Lanford and Nesmith: From ghost stories to championships"
.
Moultrie News
.
Archived
from the original on November 15, 2019
. Retrieved
November 15,
2019
.
- ^
Shelton, David (February 24, 2018).
"Porter-Gaud boys three-peat as SCISA Class AAA state champions"
.
The Post and Courier
.
Archived
from the original on November 15, 2019
. Retrieved
November 15,
2019
.
- ^
"Porter-Gaud's Aaron Nesmith named Gatorade SC Player of the Year"
.
WCSC-TV
. March 8, 2018.
Archived
from the original on November 15, 2019
. Retrieved
November 15,
2019
.
- ^
"24/7 Sports Recruitment profile of Aaron Nesmith"
.
24/7 Sports
.
- ^
Miller, Andrew (December 8, 2017).
"Porter-Gaud basketball star Aaron Nesmith defining student-athlete 'in every sense of the word'
"
.
The Post and Courier
.
Archived
from the original on November 15, 2019
. Retrieved
November 15,
2019
.
- ^
"Aaron Nesmith Recruit Interests"
.
Archived
from the original on August 14, 2017
. Retrieved
February 9,
2020
.
- ^
Bishop, Chad (February 17, 2019).
"Nesmith developing into star for Vanderbilt"
.
247Sports
.
Archived
from the original on February 25, 2022
. Retrieved
November 15,
2019
.
- ^
"Aaron Nesmith"
. Vanderbilt University Athletics. May 4, 2019.
Archived
from the original on November 15, 2019
. Retrieved
November 15,
2019
.
- ^
"Aaron Nesmith Named SEC Co-Freshman Of The Week"
. Vanderbilt University Athletics. February 18, 2019.
Archived
from the original on November 15, 2019
. Retrieved
November 15,
2019
.
- ^
Schneider, Max (November 7, 2019).
"Out with the old: Vanderbilt's win shows promise with Stackhouse at the helm"
.
The Vanderbilt Hustler
.
Archived
from the original on November 8, 2019
. Retrieved
January 16,
2020
.
- ^
Sparks, Adam (November 14, 2019).
"Vanderbilt falls to Richmond in OT despite career nights from Aaron Nesmith, Saben Lee"
.
The Tennessean
. Retrieved
January 16,
2020
.
- ^
Gallagher, Michael (December 6, 2019).
"Vandy's Nesmith named to National POY watch list"
.
NashvillePost.com
.
Archived
from the original on January 15, 2020
. Retrieved
January 16,
2020
.
- ^
Hinchman, Brian (December 21, 2019).
"Nesmith powers Vanderbilt past UNC Wilmington, 88-73"
.
Associated Press
.
Archived
from the original on December 22, 2019
. Retrieved
January 16,
2020
.
- ^
Gentry, Jack (January 4, 2020).
"Nesmith's big night takes a backseat to another heartbreaking loss"
.
A to Z Sports Nashville
.
Archived
from the original on March 3, 2020
. Retrieved
January 16,
2020
.
- ^
"Vanderbilt's Aaron Nesmith (foot) likely done for season"
.
ESPN
. January 11, 2020.
Archived
from the original on January 13, 2020
. Retrieved
January 16,
2020
.
- ^
Larson, Cody (January 15, 2020).
"Following injury, Aaron Nesmith's season deserves more praise"
.
Busting Brackets
.
Archived
from the original on September 27, 2020
. Retrieved
January 16,
2020
.
- ^
Norlander, Matt (February 5, 2020).
"Court Report: Murray State is still thriving even after losing NBA Rookie of the Year favorite Ja Morant"
.
CBS Sports
.
Archived
from the original on February 6, 2020
. Retrieved
February 6,
2020
.
- ^
Boone, Kyle (March 26, 2020).
"2020 NBA Draft: Vanderbilt star Aaron Nesmith, a projected first-rounder, declares and intends to hire agent"
.
CBS Sports
.
Archived
from the original on March 26, 2020
. Retrieved
March 26,
2020
.
- ^
Bilodeau, Kevin (November 18, 2020).
"Porter-Gaud alum Aaron Nesmith taken in 1st round of NBA Draft by Boston Celtics"
.
Live 5 News
.
Archived
from the original on November 19, 2020
. Retrieved
November 18,
2020
.
- ^
"Celtics Sign Nesmith, Pritchard"
.
nba.com
. November 24, 2020.
Archived
from the original on December 7, 2020
. Retrieved
November 24,
2020
.
- ^
"WATCH: Celtics rookie Aaron Nesmith's energy and effort earn him a role"
. April 13, 2021.
Archived
from the original on June 11, 2021
. Retrieved
June 11,
2021
.
- ^
"Aaron Nesmith 2020-21 Game Log"
.
Archived
from the original on June 11, 2021
. Retrieved
June 11,
2021
.
- ^
"Nesmith is first Celtics rookie since Paul Pierce with 15+ points, 3+ steals/Blocks"
. April 29, 2021.
Archived
from the original on June 11, 2021
. Retrieved
June 11,
2021
.
- ^
"Aaron Nesmith 2020-21 Game Log"
.
Archived
from the original on June 11, 2021
. Retrieved
June 11,
2021
.
- ^
"Boston Celtics vs Atlanta Hawks Aug 8, 2021 Box Scores | NBA.com"
.
www.nba.com
.
Archived
from the original on August 9, 2021
. Retrieved
August 8,
2021
.
- ^
"WATCH: Boston's Aaron Nesmith put up career-high 18 points in Philadelphia 76ers blowout"
.
CelicsWire.USAToday.com
. Retrieved
December 29,
2022
.
- ^
"Pacers Announce Trade With Boston Celtics"
.
NBA
. Retrieved
July 9,
2022
.
- ^
"Nesmith's free throws, defensive stop clinch Pacers' fourth straight win, 114-113 over Magic"
.
BallySports.com
. Retrieved
December 27,
2022
.
- ^
"Aaron Nesmith in a groove for the Indiana Pacers: 'Just playing free, playing to my strengths'
"
.
SI.com
. Retrieved
December 27,
2022
.
- ^
"Aaron Nesmith gives Celtics reminder of post trade potential in Pacers win over Boston"
.
MassLive.com
. Retrieved
December 27,
2022
.
- ^
"Aaron Nesmith (22 Points) Highlights Vs. Cleveland Cavaliers"
.
NBA.com
. Retrieved
December 29,
2022
.
- ^
"Aaron Nesmith (24 Points) Highlights Vs. Los Angeles Lakers"
.
NBA.com
. Retrieved
February 2,
2023
.
- ^
"Aaron Nesmith (22 Points) Highlights Vs. Milwaukee Bucks"
.
NBA.com
. Retrieved
March 16,
2023
.
- ^
"Aaron Nesmith with 25 Points vs. Philadelphia 76ers"
.
NBA.com
. Retrieved
March 18,
2023
.
- ^
East, Tony (October 31, 2023).
"Contract Extension For Aaron Nesmith A Safe Bet By Indiana Pacers"
.
Forbes.com
. Retrieved
October 31,
2023
.
- ^
Daly, Jordan (October 29, 2023).
"Ex-Celtic Aaron Nesmith takes shot at critics after career-best game"
.
NBC Sports
. Retrieved
October 29,
2023
.
- ^
Wilson, Philip B. (November 6, 2023).
"THaliburton, Pacers get Carlisle his 900th win with 152-111 rout of Spurs"
.
ABCNews.go.com
. Retrieved
November 6,
2023
.
- ^
Staff, RotoWire (November 7, 2023).
"Pacers' Aaron Nesmith: Joins offensive frenzy"
.
CBSSports.com
. Retrieved
November 7,
2023
.
- ^
"Aaron Nesmith (25 points) Highlights vs. New York Knicks"
.
NBA.com
. Retrieved
February 19,
2024
.
- ^
"Haliburton ties franchise record with 23 assists in second straight 20-20 game as Pacers beat Knicks"
.
CBS News
. December 30, 2023
. Retrieved
February 19,
2024
.
External links
[
edit
]