Zhaire Smith is on a training camp deal with the Cleveland Cavaliers. He knows he’ll have to win a spot on the roster, but Smith is used to fighting to get back on the court.
When Smith was with the Philadelphia 76ers, he had a severe allergic reaction to Thai chicken. The reaction was so bad that it became life-threatening.
“It was Thai chicken. I ate that and the first symptoms started where my lips started swelling, so I drove home to try to heal. I started to brush my teeth and I was okay for about 10 minutes, then I started catching hives,” Smith said.
Then once that happened, I called somebody to come to try to give me Benadryl. Once I took Benadryl my toes started swelling and I called 911. Everything on my body felt like I was on fire. So 911 came, and I was just in the back of the van and was in the hospital for about a month and a half. Lost about 60 pounds, and my body was deteriorating so I really had to start from scratch on a feeding tube and wires all throughout my body. It was a tough situation to go through, but it made me stronger.”
Smith has spent the last few seasons working to get back to the NBA. He said he’ll consider overseas options after training camp, but he hopes to stick on the regular roster or to land a two-way contract in the NBA.