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[Saba Sports News] Former NBA star Joe Smith joined Dwight Howard on his ‘Above The Rim’ podcast to discuss the challenges of sudden wealth, touching on the phrase “More money, more problems.”
Smith explained how difficult it was to adjust to massive wealth at a young age. “I was 19, a sophomore in college, not familiar with having even 10 bucks in my pocket. Then, overnight, you’re drafted and able to do a lot more.”
He emphasized the importance of financial education: “When you get drafted, that’s one of the first things you need to focus on—learning about finances. All we did was focus on basketball.”
Smith also noted the pressure of being a top pick: “You’ve got a target on your back. Teams and players from your draft class want you to prove you’re worthy of that number one spot.” He shared how veteran stars like Charles Barkley and Karl Malone helped him adjust to the league’s competition.