Vernon Dean Smith (October 23, 1958 – July 7, 1992) was an American professional basketball player.

Instead, Smith spent one season with multiple teams in the Continental Basketball Association (CBA) before playing in Italy and Spain.

[4] In October 1982, Smith was signed by the Indiana Pacers but was released later that month before the start of the 1982–83 NBA season.

[5] After playing his final season in 1986–87 with CEB Llíria, Smith returned to his hometown of Dallas, Texas.

He had been sitting in his car outside an Oak Cliff apartment block when a man, who had argued with a dice game opponent moments earlier, approached Smith and shot him.