Switching sport codes for family

By Lachlan Everett for NBL1.com.au 

Former Brisbane Lion Archie Smith has decided to swap the boots for sneakers for the second time in his career. 

At 17-years-old, Smith was being recruited by colleges in America to play basketball but the Lions swooped in to transform him into an AFL ruckman. 

But after his brother passed away, he retired from the AFL to focus on his family with his newborn son. 

Longing for somewhere to outlet his competitive spirit and reconnect with his passion for basketball, Smith signed with the NBL1 North South West Metro Pirates for the 2023 NBL1 season. 

“I loved my time at the Lions, I spent eight years there and pretty much went from a kid into an adult, from 18 to a 26-27 year old,” Smith said. 

“I was really lucky to be there [Brisbane], considering when I walked in my first day, I never kicked a football before. So I spent a lot of time trying to convince the football people that I could play football and I did that. 

“Now it’s sort of the inverse where I’m like, I got to tell them that I'm actually a pretty good basketballer as well.

“I know there might be a bit of a target on my back and that's a good thing for me. When I started footy, people thought I shouldn't have got the chance that I got having never played before, then I proved them wrong. Now it’s about going back to basketball, proving that with a nine-year break I've still got it here as well.”

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Smith rekindled his love of playing basketball during his AFL retirement. Playing against NBL1 players in Queensland, he realised it was something he could commit to fully. 

“This is something that I'm sort of doing for fun, my passion is basketball and I'm just looking forward to having another crack at it,” he said.

“I'm a competitor, I just want to win, earn my minutes and play well. I'm really looking forward to it.”

One of Smith’s best experiences so far was running into Lamar Patterson. The former two-time All-NBL First teamer, who recently signed with the club, star-struck Smith when he saw Patterson arrive for individual workouts. 

“A lot of the Lions boys loved going to Bullets games, particularly when Lamar was playing there,” Smith said. 

“I loved watching him, so to play alongside him, I'm just going to sort of pick his brain, go at him hard and see what he does well.

“It’s looking like a good squad and a good group of guys, I'll just work out where I can fit in. I want to make sure I have an impact because I said to myself, if I'm going to do this then I may as well be the best that I possibly can. I am doing it for my enjoyment and something for me, but I'm too much of a competitor not to try hard.”

Archie Smith attending a Brisbane Bullets game

The son of former NBA player and NBL First Teamer Andre Moore, Smith had a decorated resume in basketball as a junior. He was in the Queensland State squad all throughout juniors and took part in the Under 17 Australian national team squad – where eight Division One colleges pitched to him in the US while the team toured. 

“I'm a basketball fanatic and have been my entire life. And now I'm looking forward to putting it into action,” he said. 

“I'm at a point where I realised that all I've ever been is an athlete since I was 12 years old. I think playing the NBL1 is going to give me a chance to have that family life and give myself time to recover while I do something that I genuinely love doing.”

Smith explained that he didn’t enjoy watching AFL as much as basketball, saying he couldn’t watch it without seeing running patterns and watching how the backline defended other forwards. Basketball has always been an outlet for him, keeping track of former teammates through YouTube highlights and watching the NBL and NBA. 

While Smith will lean on his teammates to rebuild his basketball mindset and skills, he said he will be able to provide just as important a role as a leader – being able to teach the younger teammates professionalism with his AFL experience. 

“[I can] bring that professionalism into this area, a lot of guys haven't gotten the chance to play (at a professional level),” Smith said. 

“I think I can lead by example and show what being a professional athlete means, while working on my craft and getting better each week.”

Smith debated returning to footy when his competitive itch returned but he ultimately decided that the NBL1 would be the best for him.

“I was tossing up a bit, a lot of it came down to where I'm at in my life,” he said.

“I've got a young family, but the main thing was basketball was my first love. It's something I watch every day and I thought while I've still got young legs – they're considered old legs in footy if you're over 23, but in basketball, they're still young legs. 

I wanted to really just play it at a high level and the level of competition now in Australia is just so high, I love what’s going on in the NBL and NBL1, I just can't pass up being able to play.”