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Aaron Nesmith

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Aaron Nesmith
Nesmith with the Boston Celtics in 2021
No. 23 – Indiana Pacers
PositionSmall forward / shooting guard
LeagueNBA
Personal information
Born (1999-10-16) October 16, 1999 (age 25)
Charleston, South Carolina, U.S.
Listed height6 ft 6 in (1.98 m)
Listed weight215 lb (98 kg)
Career information
High schoolPorter-Gaud
(Charleston, South Carolina)
CollegeVanderbilt (2018–2020)
NBA draft2020: 1st round, 14th overall pick
Selected by the Boston Celtics
Playing career2020–present
Career history
2020–2022Boston Celtics
2022→Maine Celtics
2022–presentIndiana Pacers
Stats at NBA.com Edit this at Wikidata
Stats at Basketball Reference Edit this at Wikidata

Aaron Joshua Nesmith (/ˈniːsmɪθ/ 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

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Nesmith was born in Charleston, and has two brothers, including William Nesmith who attends UCSF School of Medicine. 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

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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

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Boston Celtics (2020–2022)

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2020–21 season: Rookie year

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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

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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)

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2022–23 season: Starting role

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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

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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, 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

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Legend
  GP Games played   GS  Games started  MPG  Minutes per game
 FG%  Field goal percentage  3P%  3-point field goal percentage  FT%  Free throw percentage
 RPG  Rebounds per game  APG  Assists per game  SPG  Steals per game
 BPG  Blocks per game  PPG  Points per game  Bold  Career high

NBA

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Regular season

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Year Team GP GS MPG FG% 3P% FT% RPG APG SPG BPG PPG
2020–21 Boston 46 1 14.5 .438 .370 .786 2.8 .5 .3 .2 4.7
2021–22 Boston 52 3 11.0 .396 .270 .808 1.7 .4 .4 .1 3.8
2022–23 Indiana 73 60 24.9 .427 .366 .838 3.8 1.3 .8 .5 10.1
2023–24 Indiana 72 47 27.7 .496 .419 .781 3.8 1.5 .9 .7 12.2
Career 243 111 20.8 .452 .374 .808 3.2 1.0 .6 .4 8.3

Play-in

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Year Team GP GS MPG FG% 3P% FT% RPG APG SPG BPG PPG
2021 Boston 1 0 13.6 .250 .250 – 3.0 .0 1.0 1.0 3.0
Career 1 0 13.6 .250 .250 – 3.0 .0 1.0 1.0 3.0

Playoffs

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Year Team GP GS MPG FG% 3P% FT% RPG APG SPG BPG PPG
2021 Boston 5 0 15.0 .278 .286 1.000 2.6 .2 .2 .2 3.2
2022 Boston 15 0 3.5 .235 .091 .750 1.0 .2 .1 .3 .8
2024 Indiana 17 17 32.9 .433 .278 .919 4.9 2.2 .6 .5 10.5
Career 37 17 18.6 .398 .260 .907 3.0 1.1 .4 .4 5.6

College

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Year Team GP GS MPG FG% 3P% FT% RPG APG SPG BPG PPG
2018–19 Vanderbilt 32 19 29.0 .392 .337 .825 5.5 1.4 .7 .6 11.0
2019–20 Vanderbilt 14 14 35.7 .512 .522 .825 4.9 .9 1.4 .9 23.0
Career 46 33 31.0 .442 .410 .825 5.3 1.3 .9 .7 14.7

References

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  1. ^ 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.
  2. ^ 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.
  3. ^ "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.
  4. ^ "24/7 Sports Recruitment profile of Aaron Nesmith". 24/7 Sports.
  5. ^ 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.
  6. ^ "Aaron Nesmith Recruit Interests". Archived from the original on August 14, 2017. Retrieved February 9, 2020.
  7. ^ Bishop, Chad (February 17, 2019). "Nesmith developing into star for Vanderbilt". 247Sports. Archived from the original on February 25, 2022. Retrieved November 15, 2019.
  8. ^ "Aaron Nesmith". Vanderbilt University Athletics. May 4, 2019. Archived from the original on November 15, 2019. Retrieved November 15, 2019.
  9. ^ "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.
  10. ^ 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.
  11. ^ 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.
  12. ^ 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.
  13. ^ 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.
  14. ^ 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.
  15. ^ "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.
  16. ^ 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.
  17. ^ 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.
  18. ^ 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.
  19. ^ 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.
  20. ^ "Celtics Sign Nesmith, Pritchard". nba.com. November 24, 2020. Archived from the original on December 7, 2020. Retrieved November 24, 2020.
  21. ^ "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.
  22. ^ "Aaron Nesmith 2020-21 Game Log". Archived from the original on June 11, 2021. Retrieved June 11, 2021.
  23. ^ "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.
  24. ^ "Aaron Nesmith 2020-21 Game Log". Archived from the original on June 11, 2021. Retrieved June 11, 2021.
  25. ^ "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.
  26. ^ "WATCH: Boston's Aaron Nesmith put up career-high 18 points in Philadelphia 76ers blowout". CelicsWire.USAToday.com. Retrieved December 29, 2022.
  27. ^ "Pacers Announce Trade With Boston Celtics". NBA. Retrieved July 9, 2022.
  28. ^ "Nesmith's free throws, defensive stop clinch Pacers' fourth straight win, 114-113 over Magic". BallySports.com. Retrieved December 27, 2022.
  29. ^ "Aaron Nesmith in a groove for the Indiana Pacers: 'Just playing free, playing to my strengths'". SI.com. Retrieved December 27, 2022.
  30. ^ "Aaron Nesmith gives Celtics reminder of post trade potential in Pacers win over Boston". MassLive.com. Retrieved December 27, 2022.
  31. ^ "Aaron Nesmith (22 Points) Highlights Vs. Cleveland Cavaliers". NBA.com. Retrieved December 29, 2022.
  32. ^ "Aaron Nesmith (24 Points) Highlights Vs. Los Angeles Lakers". NBA.com. Retrieved February 2, 2023.
  33. ^ "Aaron Nesmith (22 Points) Highlights Vs. Milwaukee Bucks". NBA.com. Retrieved March 16, 2023.
  34. ^ "Aaron Nesmith with 25 Points vs. Philadelphia 76ers". NBA.com. Retrieved March 18, 2023.
  35. ^ East, Tony (October 31, 2023). "Contract Extension For Aaron Nesmith A Safe Bet By Indiana Pacers". Forbes.com. Retrieved October 31, 2023.
  36. ^ Daly, Jordan (October 29, 2023). "Ex-Celtic Aaron Nesmith takes shot at critics after career-best game". NBC Sports. Retrieved October 29, 2023.
  37. ^ 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.
  38. ^ Staff, RotoWire (November 7, 2023). "Pacers' Aaron Nesmith: Joins offensive frenzy". CBSSports.com. Retrieved November 7, 2023.
  39. ^ "Aaron Nesmith (25 points) Highlights vs. New York Knicks". NBA.com. Retrieved February 19, 2024.
  40. ^ "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.
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