Former NBA player Craig Smith talks life after basketball, mentoring youth

HONOLULU (HawaiiNewsNow) – From NBA player to Los Angeles Clippers ambassador, Craig Smith is using his platform to inspire the next generation.

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Smith sat down with Billy V while the Clippers were in town to talk about giving back and sharing his love for the game.

“To see the Clippers and how they embraced the community by doing certain events and then just coming out and really having a wonderful preseason game, I think it’s really cool,” Smith said.

The Inglewood, Calif., native said his NBA journey inspired his love of storytelling, which included a children’s book titled “Craig and His Magical Basketball.”

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“I think it was just a part of my journey, being able to conquer my goals and dreams, and being able to travel due to the game of basketball. It’s kind of turned me into a storyteller,” Smith said. “I’m able to now put my stories on paper and to be able to inspire the next generation, to be able to do anything they would want to do going forward in their endeavors.”

Smith said he wants youth to find their passion early and hold onto it.

“I was able to find my passion at an early age, and that for me, propelled me to really say no to distractions, gave me that power to say no, and then gave me a speaking voice to really go after what I wanted,” he explained, “and that’s just what I want for the younger generation.”

Smith founded the nonprofit Taylor Rhino Foundation to provide scholarships, financial literacy programs, and mentorship opportunities for youth.

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