Wee Willie Smith

Who was Wee Willie Smith?

William T. "Wee Willie" Smith was an American professional basketball player.

The 6'5" Smith was one of the first great African American basketball players. He played for several amateur leagues in the Cleveland area before being signed by the New York Renaissance, an all-black professional team, in 1932. From 1932 to 1936, Smith and his six teammates won over 400 games, including an 88-game winning streak from January 1, 1933 to March 27, 1933. The entire 1932-33 Renaissance team was collectively inducted into the Basketball Hall of Fame in 1963.

Smith played for several other professional teams, including the Cleveland Chase Brassmen of the NBL. He was one of the few black players in the history of the NBL. After basketball, he worked as a custodian in the Cleveland Public Schools and operated a beverage shop. He was inducted into the Harlem Hall of Fame and the Greater Cleveland Sports Hall of Fame in 1977.