NBA Wordle #4
Thursday, July 9, 2026 · already played
The answer
Spoiler for the puzzle of Thursday, July 9, 2026. Today's puzzle is not revealed anywhere on this page.
SMITH
Randy Smith
G · 1971–1983
Randy Smith's career
Randy Smith played 12 seasons between 1971 and 1983, across 4 franchises — Clippers, Cavaliers, Knicks and Hawks. Over 976 regular-season games he averaged 16.7 points, 3.7 rebounds and 4.6 assists, finishing with 16,262 career points. He was 2× All-Star and 1× All-NBA.
He entered the league in the 1971 draft, taken 104th overall in the second round, well outside the picks that carry guarantees. That makes him a product of the 1970s, and his career totals should be read against the pace and rules of that period.
Across a long career of 12 seasons he was a consistent starter at 16.7 points per game.
- Games
- 976
- PPG
- 16.7
- RPG
- 3.7
- APG
- 4.6
- Points
- 16,262
- Rebounds
- 3,597
- Assists
- 4,487
- 3PM
- 17
Teams
- Clippers · 1972–1979
- Cavaliers · 1980–1981
- Knicks · 1982
- Hawks · 1983
- Clippers · 1983
Honours
2× All-Star · 1× All-NBA
About the answer
The answer was SMITH — 5 letters, made up of 5 distinct letters and beginning with S.
The optional hint offered that day read: “Shooting guard · debuted 1971”.
Why this was a fair answer
Answers are never obscure by design: the pool is every NBA All-Star who debuted in the 1969-70 season or later, plus current players carrying a real scoring role. Randy Smith qualifies on the first route, with 2 All-Star selections — a repeat selection.
With 4 franchises on his record, the shared-team clue was a genuine filter rather than a giveaway. The debut arrow was the fastest way in: anyone opening with a modern player would have been sent back decades immediately. He never won a title, which quietly rules out a large share of the most-guessed names.
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