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“I don’t like it here, Daddy!” – Josh Smith on struggling to fit in as the only Black kid in his class
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- “I don’t like it here, Daddy!” – Josh Smith on struggling to fit in as the only Black kid in his class
Everyone experiences moments in life when they feel like the odd one out. For Josh Smith , who grew up watching his family move around different parts of Atlanta, that feeling came when he found himself as the only black kid in a predominantly white classroom.
That sudden change in his surroundings exposed him to a cultural shock at an early age.
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More notably, one particular experience that stayed with Smith involved his father giving him a heart-shaped haircut on the back of his head for Valentine's Day. What may have seemed like a harmless gesture at home suddenly made him stand out among his classmates.
Having grown up around barbershop culture, Smith understood that hairstyles were more than just a fashion choice; they were also a source of pride and identity. But in his new surroundings, he found himself among people who did not understand his style, leaving him uncomfortable and out of place.
"Imagine moving to College Park to Kennesaw. You know what I mean? You know, back in the day, you having like hearts in the back of your head," Smith said. "It was Valentine's Day; my dad put a heart in the back of my head. So it's like a cultural shock because I'm like the only black kid in the class. I'm like, 'I don't like it here, Daddy!'"
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Smith never blamed his parents
For a child, being placed in an unfamiliar environment and suddenly feeling different from everyone around them can be difficult to process. It might even lead them to question why their parents put them in that situation.
Smith, however, never held his parents responsible for the discomfort he experienced. In fact, he understood that they were simply doing their best to provide a better life for their family, even if that meant moving into neighborhoods and environments that were unfamiliar to him.
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"We were just all over Atlanta. That molded me," Smith continued. "My parents were regular people; they were just trying to put a roof over our heads, do the best they could."
Rather than viewing those experiences negatively, Smith recognized how they helped shape his personality.
Moving between different communities exposed him to situations that many children might not encounter growing up. He ultimately appreciated his parents for giving him those experiences, which helped him develop the mental toughness to adapt to unfamiliar surroundings from an early age.
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Smith became a legend for the city of Atlanta
In a full-circle moment, Josh eventually returned to Atlanta as a professional basketball player after the Hawks selected him with the 17th overall pick in the 2004 NBA draft. He spent nine seasons with the franchise, averaging 15.3 points and 8.0 rebounds per game while becoming one of the most recognizable players in the city's basketball community.
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Moreover, Smith also helped the Hawks establish themselves as a playoff team, reaching the postseason every year from 2008 through 2013 and advancing to the second round in three consecutive seasons.
In many ways, the city where he had once struggled to feel at home eventually became the place where he built his NBA legacy.
And the constant moves his parents made while he was growing up played a significant role in developing his adaptability and mental toughness, which helped him navigate the challenges of the NBA.
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Related: Josh Smith wonders why LeBron James is not appreciated like Tom Brady
This story was originally published by Basketball Network on Nov 6, 2026, where it first appeared in the Off The Court section. Add Basketball Network as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
